Page 22 - Oundle Life April 2024

If you have a container about half a beer barrel in size pumpkins and squash can be grown, they can take up a lot of space if allowed to trail but if trained up a support system take up little space. Make sure you support the fruits as they are heavy and will pull the plants off the support if not tied up. Sow the seed in mid to late April indoors and plant outside after the last frosts which is usually late May early June.
Once you have your containers and compost
vegetables to grow either in the garden or containers and can be harvested over a long period. Either sow directly into the compost or buy plug plants for planting. Feed weekly with a nitrogen fertiliser during the summer and pick off leaves as required.
Many herbs grow well in containers as they are tolerant of dry conditions, these include rosemary, sage, lavender, mint, basil in a sunny position, coriander, marjoram, oregano, and
it pays to make use of them throughout
the year by growing some winter
crops. These are usually sown in late
summer and planted when the summer
crop has finished by September /early
October. Good winter crops include
corn salad also called lambs lettuce,
Claytonia (miners’ lettuce) both of
these are very hardy. Kale is a good
useful and healthy vegetable and can
be picked from the autumn to May if not over picked. Winter lettuce, some of the hardy salad leaves and rocket all grow well in containers and will be ready to pick by late March. As mentioned above leeks are good in containers and will survive well into the New Year as long as the compost is not severely frozen which can damage the roots. To prevent this, wrap the containers with a couple of layers of bubble wrap and place the containers in a sheltered position near to the house.
Swiss chard and spinach are good useful
thyme. Do not over water as this reduces the flavour and only feed monthly during the summer and not at all in the winter. Grow near to the kitchen door and just nip out and pick the leaves as you want them!
If I have not mentioned a vegetable, you like just give it a go as most will grow in decent sized containers with good compost and regular feeding.
The main thing is to keep them watered during dry periods in the summer and feed weekly or fortnightly, so they have plenty of food. Keep an eye open for any pests or diseases when you are watering and pick off affected leaves or squash any pests. If slugs are a problem, put a copper ring around the top of the container or water with parasitic nematodes.
Enjoy the satisfaction of growing some of your own fresh food and reducing your carbon footprint and food miles.
Kelvin V. Mason
Many herbs grow well in containers as they are tolerant of dry conditions
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