Well, did you have any success growing so far this season? Mine
I have to say was rather mixed if I’m being honest. I did try varieties that I
hadn’t tried before and through no fault of the particular varieties didn’t perform
the way I wanted them too. I mainly, if not exclusively, planted in
pots/containers/hanging baskets and grow bags. As Flowers & Foliage
specialise in growing and maintaining hanging-baskets and planted
containers , I was experimenting as to
what we could grow (and seeing also what sold !), and what varieties did best
in each group.
WHAT WORKED:
Strawberry
Hanging-Baskets - the alpine variety worked extremely well in the baskets,
almost too well. Fruit was absolutely beautiful if slightly scented when ripe
and fruited in abundance (still is!). Filled the basket so it looked as good as
it tasted. One slight amendment for next year is that I would probably only put
two plants to a 14” basket (or use a 16”) as I think it slightly overfilled
it.No runners from them yet though, all other varieties have stopped fruiting
and have sent out masses of runners which I have potted up.
Runner Bean Pots – Once again, think I over did it on
numbers in our 40cm pots, I put three in but think one or two would do. Cropped
well. Great idea if you’ve no vegetable garden.
Tomato Pots – this year we planted Gardeners Delight into
40cm pots. They grew & cropped well, but the biggest success was their
excellent taste. Can’t praise them enough – small cherry type tomatoes but sweet!
Tomato Hanging Baskets – used three Tumbling Tom in a 14” basket
grew well but I think one would have done. Wasn’t mad on taste of these cherry
type tomatoes, but were a little better later on in the season. Produced masses
of fruit though, which we mainly cooked due to amount of different tomatoes on
hand.
WHAT DID NOT
WORK:
Strawberry
Hanging-Baskets – Two varieties I
felt didn’t work well in baskets were HONEOYE and ELSANTA both great plants in
their own right but I think should be planted traditionally to reap full
rewards. HONEOYE was particularly good on taste and also benefits from being an
early to mid-season species.
Fibre growing pots -
I tried these with tomatoes seed and I felt they fell apart a little before the
plants were ready to transplant. Maybe I over watered them but they were also beginning
to get a fungal growth on the outside of the pot. But it didn’t affect the
final product – all plants grew up strong & healthy.
Well there is much more to review but it will wait for another day. Love to hear from you if things went better ( or worse!) for you this season. Lots to plant , so untill next time Happy Gardening .
