Stuff in pots I need HELP!!

[ELR]

ok so gonna do some veg this year mainly in pots, maybe a small raised bed, but confused about a few things.
Want to grow peppers, courgettes, beans, cucumber and butternut squash
1.Do i need a pot for each thing or can two or three things go in together

1. how many plants of each do i need

3.butternut and courgette look like they will grow on the ground so will pots be ok or will grow bags be better?

1. also want to do some herbs are these better in pots or straight in beds?

Gonna do strawbs and toms in hanging baskets is there a particular type which is better
Thanks

[sophierosie]

ooh lovely

You generally need more than one plant to encourage germination and fruiting - I'd go for three of each the you can get enough to last you through the season.

1. Do peppers in pots - you'll probably need to keep them in a warmer spot or sunny window unless of course you live in the med!
2. Courgettes in grow bags - you can then do three plants per bag
3. Same for butternut squash, although these can really spread so depends how much space you've got.
4. green beans you can grow up a wigwam made of canes.

Cucumber you can grow as a climber, do you have a shed or fence you can use?

Not sure about what strawbs for baskets but I had heard of tomato called tumbler which is supposed to be good for baskets. You have to keep an eye on them in basket as they need a regular supply of water, especially when they are ripening otherwise they can split.

Hope that helps!

[sophierosie]

Meant to add - if you have space grow the toms in the ground!

[ELR]

thanks that is helpfull.
I have got fence i can use to grow things along but was thinking of keeping it for some raspberry canes

[Frizbe]

and watch for slugs on your courgettes, had huge fecker on one of mine last year, swine.

[BoysOnToast]

theres a basket variety of tiny sweet juicy toms called millions or something... use the water retaining gel mixed in with your compost in hganging baskets - i know id never keep baskets alive, im far too unreliable liek that.

strawbs are great and really easy (i surmise this bcause mine seem to do really well and i am total amateur.)

courgettes spread more than i imagined they might. and theyre spiky too (the leaves).

if you have big pots you can cram them a bit. i had 5 leeks in a big pot last yr, and 3 pepper plants in a windowbox type/shape pot. my peppers were outside and they did ok. they need good constant supply of water and tomatofeed when fruiting or theyre a bit feeble. oh, and they dont go red on the plant, they go red after you pick em if you leave em in a sunny/warm spot (go figure)

have opted to do herbs in pots as i think some have a tnedency to spread like wildfire and take over the place if not contained.

[BoysOnToast]

ah frizbe that reminds me i need to order some nemaslug. ta

[Tangle]

How about dwarf beans? You don't need to worry about supports at all that way

[ELR]

thanks everyone been and bought a book about veg in pots ect so am alll sorted now well apart from actually getting the plants ect