Reply To: "no dig" container gardening

[Kevin Anderson]

Hello Christine.
Without knowing the details of your soil and the extent of your stones, can I be rash enough to suggest a trommel (a circular sieve) or a horizontal (or nearly so) sieve.

Here are two examples:

&

The issue of compost and its quality is separate. Actually, they do share a few things, including needing time to solve all the challenges working towards the solution. And quite a few cups of tea to work through the maze! But in my experience, a trial solution is well worth working towards.

Carrots typically prefer a soil that is not too fertile so I would suggest waiting until it is the container’s second or third crop. In my experience, carrots do really well on “the smell of an oily rag”! I have had excellent results with Mr Fothergill’s F1 Navarre carrots – expensive but practically 100% germination rate. And a gorgeous taste!

Sorry: I am not familiar with carrot fly.

Yes, the recycling element will appeal to a lot of people because every family has a fridge and/or freezer that eventually stops working. My fridge was about 25 years old, inherited when I moved into my house almost 18 years ago. Now, it and the shelves continue with their sterling work! In my local re-cycling centre (and I only live in a small village) at last visit I saw more than 20 unloved fridges and freezers that would grow excellent carrots!

Hope this all helps.
Kevin (blustery Tasmania, 41 degs S, practically at sea level)