I started a veg garden about 3 months ago. I dont have much space to grow in the ground so started growing lettuce, parsley and basil in containers. Bought seedlings form Builders Warehouse and planted in potting soil. My initial mistake was planting the seedlings too close and so when they grew, they did not have enough space. With lettuce i have found that the more you harvest the leaves, the better they grow. I eventually was cutting more lettuce than i could eat and ended up giving to family and friends.
The challenge with planting in containers was that the soil did not retain much moisture and the plants dont have access to nutrients from the ground. I now use potting soil mixed with coconut coir. The coir is great for retaining the moisture. I also use a liquid feed every 2 weeks and some slow release organic fertiliser about once a month. Also make sure the plants are getting enough sunlight, about 5-6 hours a day.
So im now successfully growing lots of herbs - basil, mint, thyme, lavender, fennel, dill, chocolate mint, bay leaf, flat leaf parsley, origanum, coriander, fenugreek, lemon verbena and lemongrass.
Ive also started growing cherry tomatoes, and harvesting about 15 tomatoes a day, chillies which have just started producing fruit and brinjal which has just started flowering. The only major problem ive had thus far was powdery mildew with the cherry tomatoes which i sorted out by using a mixture of bicarb of soda and water sprayed on the leaves. Im also now trying to grow coriander and marigolds from seed.
Due the the lack of space, Im now also looking into vertical gardens.
