Winter Vegetables in Pots
Presenter: Melissa King
Episode: #15 28/07/07
Melissa loves the whole garden to table concept. Nipping out into the garden and harvesting your own dinner fresh from the vine.
But what if all you have got to work with is a small balcony or courtyard. Don’t think that just because space is limited you can not grow your own vegetables. There are so many delicious varieties that are tailor-made to grow in pots and winter has got a lot to offer.
In a small space, pot sets work really well. If you mix and match too many different containers it can look cluttered and messy. You can also create a stylish modern look by sticking to materials or colours that complement your home,
The size and depth of the container will influence what you can grow. A pot about 20-25 cm deep is fine for varieties with shallower roots, like lettuce but if you are growing taller varieties or root crops they like a bit more depth
Some of the easiest vegetables to grow in containers are compact, fast-growing leafy crops like lettuce, spinach and silver beet, which can be grown year round in most regions.
There are so many different varieties; there is four flavours mix that is made up of two types of Cos lettuce. There is also some red Radicchio which is nice and bitter and then Endive which is slightly spicy – these are all perfect for pots.
The beauty of these lettuce varieties is that they are a cut-and-come-again vegetable which means that you can harvest a few leaves as you need them, and the plant just keeps on growing, so you get a continuous supply of salad greens.
The Brassica’s really come into their own in the winter time, that is things like cauliflower, cabbages, and broccoli and in pots it is worth trying some of the mini varieties with more compact heads just 15 cm across.
It is also worth mixing in a few pansy’s (viola, Hybrid Cultivar, ‘Egg Flip’) not just for brilliant winter colour, but because the flowers are edible and great for brightening winter and spring salads.
Just a few tips for success:
The starting point is always a good quality potting mix. Pots have a tendency to dry out quickly, so it is always a good idea to choose a water wise mix like this that contains water storing crystals, which help keep moisture around the plants root zone.
Nutrients are quickly leached from pots and vegies are hungry little things, so keep up the liquid feeding. Leafy vegetables in particular with benefit from a good nitrogen-based liquid fertiliser every few weeks.
Also look at how much sun your pots are getting, most crops like at least five to six hours a day. But do not forget one of the big advantages of pots is that you can move them around to capture sunlight.
So if you are little patch of green is restricted to a balcony or patio, you can still enjoy all the benefits of home-grown.
Episode: #15 28/07/07
Melissa loves the whole garden to table concept. Nipping out into the garden and harvesting your own dinner fresh from the vine.
But what if all you have got to work with is a small balcony or courtyard. Don’t think that just because space is limited you can not grow your own vegetables. There are so many delicious varieties that are tailor-made to grow in pots and winter has got a lot to offer.
In a small space, pot sets work really well. If you mix and match too many different containers it can look cluttered and messy. You can also create a stylish modern look by sticking to materials or colours that complement your home,
The size and depth of the container will influence what you can grow. A pot about 20-25 cm deep is fine for varieties with shallower roots, like lettuce but if you are growing taller varieties or root crops they like a bit more depth
Some of the easiest vegetables to grow in containers are compact, fast-growing leafy crops like lettuce, spinach and silver beet, which can be grown year round in most regions.
There are so many different varieties; there is four flavours mix that is made up of two types of Cos lettuce. There is also some red Radicchio which is nice and bitter and then Endive which is slightly spicy – these are all perfect for pots.
The beauty of these lettuce varieties is that they are a cut-and-come-again vegetable which means that you can harvest a few leaves as you need them, and the plant just keeps on growing, so you get a continuous supply of salad greens.
The Brassica’s really come into their own in the winter time, that is things like cauliflower, cabbages, and broccoli and in pots it is worth trying some of the mini varieties with more compact heads just 15 cm across.
It is also worth mixing in a few pansy’s (viola, Hybrid Cultivar, ‘Egg Flip’) not just for brilliant winter colour, but because the flowers are edible and great for brightening winter and spring salads.
Just a few tips for success:
The starting point is always a good quality potting mix. Pots have a tendency to dry out quickly, so it is always a good idea to choose a water wise mix like this that contains water storing crystals, which help keep moisture around the plants root zone.
Nutrients are quickly leached from pots and vegies are hungry little things, so keep up the liquid feeding. Leafy vegetables in particular with benefit from a good nitrogen-based liquid fertiliser every few weeks.
Also look at how much sun your pots are getting, most crops like at least five to six hours a day. But do not forget one of the big advantages of pots is that you can move them around to capture sunlight.
So if you are little patch of green is restricted to a balcony or patio, you can still enjoy all the benefits of home-grown.
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