Ask Deb

[Sonya]

Hi Deb, it’s only January and it’s very cold but the sun is shining and that springtime itch is already starting so I’ve got my seed catalogues out and am starting to plan!

This will be my 3rd year of growing in a tiny, half shade/half sun garden, pretty much entirely in pots. So was just wondering what zone are you in and what herbs/veg/fruit are the ones you couldn’t possibly live without?

Also, I’ve been buying mainly heirloom varieties and avoiding F1 hybrids as I want to collect my own seed. But not everything I’ve bought is certified “organic” plus I get a lot of free seeds from a magazine. Obviously at my end there will be no chemical or non organic input but just how important is it that the actual seed is labelled “organic”? I mean it’ll grow okay and be looked after by me but will it affect the integrity of the plant someway, or still contain something I wouldn’t want to put in my body, or be compromised energetically? Or will being kind of grown with love be enough?

Discussion

[deborah]

Sonya,

I know how you feel. I’m getting my garden ready now even though we are experiencing extreme rainfall and have been for 2 months. However I noticed yesterday that my daffodils are coming up which means Spring is on the way!

In order to make a recommendation to you for plants that would do well in your garden containers please let me know the zone you live in. I have lived and gardened extensively in several zones so I know we can dial in what would work best for you.

As for the seeds to use I personally use only certified organic for my food, because I know they come from sources that have not been tainted by chemicals, pesticides, etc. Another great resource for seeds in almost every area of the country is your local Master Gardener group. They have seed exchange programs and sales that are often generational and hardy for your area.

I’ll look forward to hearing from you!

[Sonya]

Thanks loads Deb, it’s always exciting when bulbs start sticking their little noses through the soil, winter aconite is my favourite around here.

Iv’e googled and I’m in the equivalent of zone 8b. I’m in the UK so we tend to talk in terms of up north, down south and in the middle as the UK is so tiny!

Yes, I’d love to know what you think would grow successfully in pots but also what your favourites are, what you wouldn’t want to live without in your life.

It’s only my 3rd year of growing but I just have to grow peas even if they don’t provide masses of food by volume as eating podded peas in the garden is one of my favourite things in life. I’ve always loved courgettes even though lots of people seem to think they’re boring, Bianca Di Trieste was a revelation, I’d never eaten a creamy courgette before, when roasted with cheese and walnuts. I grew just one tiny blackcurrant bush in a pot last year and made the most amazing cordial. And I grew Fat Baby Achocha last year which I hadn’t heard of before. The slugs don’t eat it, it seems to endure all weathers, grows for miles and produces loads of pods that taste like a cross between green beans and green bell peppers!

[Author]

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