Reply To: Guinea-pig litter, lost allotments, container growing

[sue_s lost plot]

Hi again Charles and Forum readers. ABOUT MY 2 sq.m. PATIO ALLOTMENT !!!
An update on my trial run this year, before we all lose the plots at our allotment site at Wollaton, Nottingham, next April. I write this in a spirit of “don’t give up, give it a try”, and perhaps to inspire others likewise. I suppose the proof of the pudding (or otherwise) will be in the kitchen soon!
The following containers are ranged in four rows; the first row is on the patio paving, the second raised by one paving sett, the third by two setts, and the fourth by three setts. The setts were free from neighbours who have replaced their driveway. The containers were free from the local police force.
13 containers 22x22x25 cm. From front to back (low to higher):
Row A: [1] Patty-pan squash ‘Sunburst’ x 1: [2] Cucumber ‘Marketmore’ x 2: [3] Cabbage ‘Greyhound’ x 4: [4] Patty-pan squash ‘Sunburst’ x 1: [5] Shallow tray Lettuce C&CA.
Row B: [6] Rainbow chard ‘Bright Lights’ x 8: [7] Butternut squash ‘Walnut’ x 1: [8] Kohl rabi ‘Olivia’ x 6: [9] Courgette ‘Romano’ x 1: [10] Carrot ‘Chantenay’ x 20 in large round pot
Row C: [11] Broccoli ‘Inspiration’ x 4: [12] Kale ‘Cavalo Nero’ x 4: [13] Broccoli ‘Purple Sprouting’ x 4: [14] Cauliflower ‘Romanesco’ x 3: [15] Cauliflower ‘Mayflower’ x 2
Row D: [16] Carrot ‘Maestro’ x 9: [17] Fennel ‘Florence’ x 4: [18] Carrot ‘Maestro’ x 9: Two pots 35x35x35 cm – [18] Runner bean ‘Benchmaster’ x 8: [20] Runner bean ‘Moonlight’ x 8.
Edging: two 1-metre narrow trays, [21] Little Gem and [22] Red & Green Salad Bowl lettuce.
Elsewhere on paths:
Three troughs 60x15x15 cm. [23] Dwarf French bean ‘The Prince’ x 14: [24] Dwarf French bean ‘Safari’ x 14: [25] Dwarf French bean ‘Kinghorn Wax’ x 14.
One square pot [26] Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ x 9.
Tomatoes: 10 pots 30 dia x 25 h: [27-37] varieties – San Marzano, Sweet Aperitif, Shirley, Cherry Cascade, Roma.
Pros
Pigeons can’t land on the pots – can’t believe I don’t need netting, which is a major investment at the allotments. Watering and feeding; tap is only a few steps away, is more accurate and therefore less waste (only have one small hut to harvest water). Slug pellets only on the slabs, not on the pots – all leaves are perfect – don’t know where the cabbage white butterflies are! Staking is easy with the square pots – one cane each corner plus string. The pots can be turned to minimise draw to the light. Almost no bending.
Cons:
Well the first is obvious, the cost of the compost! Also: Plants are getting leggy due to the shade for part of the day. The pots get a daily sprinkle of fallen leaves from my favourite cherry tree. And one trough has been decimated by slugs; don’t know why, but the troughs are lower than the pots. No onion family. No potatoes. No soft fruit yet – all projects to consider for next year. But my space is very limited.

So, quite a lot of work but my own version of NO DIG !!! Sorry I can’t work out if I could send you a photo of my patio plot. Kind regards, SUE