Page 11 - Thrapston Life February 2024

GROWING
YOUR OWN
Growing vegetables in containers
Virtually any container can be used to
grow vegetables in as long as it has some drainage to stop the growing media becoming waterlogged. Many recycled containers are good for vegetable growing including buckets, paint tins, large builder’s bags, wooden boxes as well as grow bags, pots and hanging baskets. The larger the container the
better as there is more volume for
compost and plant roots. Ensure there
are some drainage holes in the base,
and it can be helpful to put some pea
gravel or similar in the bottom to
make sure the holes do not block.
The growing media, also called
compost, can be home-made or purchased most peat free multipurpose composts are fine as
also are John Innes composts. If making your own it should be a mix of sieved well-rotted compost (from your compost heap) garden soil
and leaf mould, if you have any worm compost this can also be added. Ensure the growing media has good drainage, holds some moisture and nutrients and is weed, pest and disease free. Whichever growing media is used water retaining granules can be mixed in to help
Virtually any container can be used to grow vegetables
reduce watering as also can a slow- release fertiliser.
Most multipurpose composts have enough feed for six weeks and will then need liquid feeding or have slow-release fertiliser added.
The position of any containers will depend on what you have available
but if growing tomatoes, peppers or
cucumbers these need a sunny warm location. If a partly shaded site is available this will be fine for lettuce, salad leaves, radish, carrots, beans, and strawberries.
If the containers are heavy especially when
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