Gardening novice...

[~max~]

Hi all! Well, I moved into a new ground floor flat recently, and there is a wee space where the fire-escape stairs are, that is concrete but I have sole access to it(nobody uses the fire escape stairs). I thought maybe I could grow some things in pots? Does anyone know what would grow well in pots, with not much sun (It's west facing, and well...it's northern ireland!), be it flowers or veggies? I'm really tempted to brighten that area up a bit, as I love colors! Also, I was thinking of clearing it up, and putting a wee table and chairs for the summer there, so it'd be nice to have lovely flowers around! Any idea? Thanks!

[madboutcats]

busy lizzies are lovely little flowers and should grow well in pots. not sure though about how much shade they like but they are quite hardy.

[~max~]

Can I find those as seeds, or do I get them already in pots as plants? Sorry...Really don't know squat about flowers!

[lindapinda]

Oooh you're getting all domesticated Max ,first quiches and now gardening lol..Good for you!! I love my wee garden and it's amazing how much satisfaction you get from seeing something grow etc....Is there a gardening centre near your new place ? You could have a good look around for some ideas and the plants etc always have the growing conditions required,printed with them.Unless,you get a plant that requires full sun,like Livingstone Daises etc.you could probably get a good wee area going;-)..Btw,did you move far?

[madboutcats]

you can get them in pots/tubs in garden centres and probably as seed as well. or you could do what my partner does and sneak a cutting off a plant, place cutting in water until its got roots then transfer to compost in tubs. (how he's never been caught i do not know) back to busy lizzies they are a small flower and vary in colour. another lovely flower for pots etc are pansys and also violas. they to can also be bought as plants in tubs or as seed.

[lindapinda]

Omg madabout cats!! I've managed the odd cutting from pay to see gardens,but,your partner's got way more nerve than me lol !!

[~max~]

I'd love pansies, and also poppies....Would these grow in those conditions?

Lindo, I might have to hire you as my private gardener! lol

[~max~]

Ha ha! Madaboutcats! My mum is a wee thief too! Whenever they go for a drive round in the country and she likes something...she'll stop and take a cutting! lol
She's been known to wait until dark to go and take one from the council's! lol

[~max~]

Lindo??? Obviousy I meant Linda!

[weeal]

max you could have a few climbers which can attach to the staircase in a west facing position such as

jasmine (scented too)
passionflower
buddleia (butterfly bush) also

[weeal]

http://www.gardeninghelpuk.com/plants_for_sout h_&_west_facing_walls.htm

[~max~]

Ok...Weeal, you DEFINITELY have to come over....and we'll get Linda round too! lol

Greedy, me???

[weeal]

yeah and after a 'few' we can all fall over the plants n stuff lol

[lindapinda]

Lindopindo here !! Could be a good variant!...Poppies don't last very long,and i think they need full sun,but,pansies will last all summer and into autumn as long as you keep dead heading them. Love to hear ways of "valu" flowers and plants ;-)

[~max~]

lol@you two!!!

I'm only putting up an innocent gardening question and look what I get....Sigh...;O)

So, when are we meeting Lindo?

[madboutcats]

our buddleia came from waste ground near a college, and i cant watch him when we go into lidls and theres plants for sale. my first busy lizzie came as a cutting from a railway station forecourt courtsey of my partner. my mum also many years ago took a cutting from a plant at the seaside and planted it in my old sand pit and its now a very large tree.

[theonlyone]

Fuschias grow in pots and baskets ..
buy one plant let it mature ..then do
cuttings ..one of the easiest hardy plants ..
I grew 3 standards last year ..cost was
pennies ..buy a decent book on container
gardening as you can grow beans ,toms,
herbs etc ...have fun ...

[Buddie]

sorry to butt in, how about some herbs? some Herbs have really nice flowers and you can buy small plants from supermarkets and Woollies as well as garden centres. I have lived in NI many moons ago, so I know the climate is great for growing stuff. Herbs are usually dead cheap and believe me if I can grow them any idiot can! They can be useful in the kitchen too.