Buy now or Later? (forum)

Quag starts with ...
Hi,

I can only provide my plants (pot plants) at the moment with morning or afternoon sun on a balcony (sometimes both if I'm home to move them around), not full sun as some of them would like.

Should I hold off buying any more plants till I can provide them their recommended sun? Or would it be better to let them grow a year or two in partial sun and then move them to full as soon as i can? I thought if they grow in partial sun they might not get as big as quickly, but should still fruit quicker then buying the plants in 1-2 years and then waiting for them to grow fruit.

Perhaps a more conservative environment might help the young plants grow even though sun is limited? Its very well sheltered from the elements.

Whats everyone think?

Cheers for help.

Time: 1st February 2011 11:09am

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About the Author Quag
NSW
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Jantina says...
Quag this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I think that if you are going to get a bit of land in the next year or two, it's better to wait and put the plants straight into the ground. The plants will soon outgrow anything in pots. It must be frustrating when you are so keen to grow things, perhaps you could get seed of some rarer things that need to be started off in pots that you can be going on with to satisfy that urge to grow food plants in the meantime. Not to mention lots of annuals like lettuce or basil, or things like carrots or tomatoes can do well in pots.
Others may well disagree with me.

Time: 1st February 2011 12:18pm

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About the Author Jantina
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Quag says...
Thanks for your reply.

I will be keeping them in pots probably for at least a few years till i buy somewhere, as I am renting. That's why all my fruit trees are dwarf, I was looking at getting a few more but don't know if they will be adversely affected by partial shade. I will probably be renting elsewhere within a year and will look at having a full sun position for them.

Time: 1st February 2011 2:14pm

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Brad says...
It also depends on what you want to grow in my opinion. e.g. want figs? start some cuttings this winter. I'd say the same about blueberries. But if you want grafted stone fruit, I'd wait. Good luck - I think you can find plenty to start.

PS I went from small garden to large garden and brought quite a lot, while leaving relatively little. my edibles links to my previous edibles which shows you what varieties if you're interested. (At this stage everything that came in a pot is still in a pot)

Time: 1st February 2011 9:15pm

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About the Author Brad2
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ringelstrumpf says...
We moved some plants and this isn't easy. Especially if you come to a new place the garden is not ready and you need to prepare the soil. Your house looks like a mess you have to do renovations unpack etc. you easily forget about your trees.

However starting some rare stuff from seed this might be a good idea, because it takes ages to grow into something sizable (at least for cold climate stuff).

But you should only start some rare trees if you are going to buy a big block, if not, you're better off with the usual stuff. But you always can sow something small like smaller fruit bushes, herbs etc. You might have a looks at horizon seeds in the US.

Time: 1st February 2011 10:03pm

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About the Author ringelstrumpf1
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