| Patio Vegetables |  |
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| The vegetable plants we supply have been grown using organic methods. To continue growing your plants organically is fairly straight forward but you will need to avoid using harmful sprays and manufactured fertilisers. Greater benefits are also achieved if you apply organic growing principles to the rest of your garden as it not only helps keep your garden healthy, but also provides safe habitats for wildlife. |
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| On arrival| • | Unpack your plants as soon as they arrive and check that everything you expect is enclosed. | | • | Water any plants that have dried out in transit. | | • | Ideally your plants should be potted up within a day or two, but they should stay in good condition for a week or so if well-watered and fed every few days with a liquid plant food. Plants should be left in a light frost-free, sheltered, place until you are ready to pot them on. | | • | Sometimes plants appear bent on arrival from being in the dark. They will however straighten up in a few days once stood upright and placed in the light. |
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| Planting in containers| • | Get together all the things you'll need:
- Containers for each plant - these should ideally be about 25 - 30cm (10-12") diameter and 30cm (12") deep; Tomato Tumbling Tom, however can also be planted in a 30cm (12") hanging basket.
- Good quality (organic) potting compost. | | • | Place broken pots in the bottom of each container to help with drainage. | | • | Fill your containers with potting compost so that the level is about 5cm (2") from the top. | | • | Plant by scooping out a hole just large enough for the roots and so the top of the root-ball is at compost level and firming in around the plant. | | • | Top up with compost if needed to about 2cm (?") below the rim of the container. | | • | Water thoroughly and place in a sheltered spot for a week or so before placing in its final position, which should be protected from cold winds and late frosts. |
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| Aftercare| • | Tomato Totum may need tying to a stout 60cm (2ft) cane to keep it upright as the fruits develop. | | • | Water frequently even if it is overcast and breezy outdoors. | | • | Liquid feed plants about once a week using an organic plant food. | | • | Keep an eye out for Red Spider Mite on Chilli Pepper and Tomato and spray if necessary. | | • | Greenfly may affect Chilli Pepper and Tomato and may be treated with insecticidal soap. | | • | Slugs can be a problem with Beans and other soft leafy vegetables in their early stages of growth. Prevention is best and helped by watering young plants in the morning. Slug traps are also available. |
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