Advice on growing my own

[daniT1D]

Hi all, I am considering growing some vegies but have never done so before (just got my first home and garden ) do you have any suggestions to ease me in? x


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[Totto]

What vegetables do you like? How large area do you have to grow things on?

 

[daniT1D]

This is the current state of my garden!

I have done the patio at the bottom and was going to turf the rest but then thought the area in the back left behind the shed could make a nice area to grow some vegetables

I like most veg - still not getting on with cauli though!


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[Sancho panza]

Nice garden and well sheltered by the look
I would put in raised beds in the area you suggest they are easier to maintain and depending on the amount of sun it gets I would also consider a small lean to type greenhouse against the back wall of the shed.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

My advice would be to grow courgettes in raised beds. They are very easy to grow. They grow faster than you can eat them and are a great low carb veg. I am growing a yellow variety this year as they look more like spaghetti than the green ones.

 

[Enclave]

Snap .. Avocado .. I had a little kit for Christmas with yellow courgettes in and tomatoes, chard and carrots all in fancy colours .. I gave up my veggie patch when I was unwell a few years back .. Easing back into it now..
Raised beds for veggies are great .. I used to grow everything .. Enjoyed the most for me, and still grow .. Runner beans, French beans .. Courgette are great as the flowers can be used as well as the courgette .. I also grow herbs .. Best pick the veg you enjoy .. Some are quick to grow .. Lettuce radish and spring onions ... Others no so fast like asparagus ..
First test your soil .. Kits can be got from the garden centre .. Find a local allotment and see what is looking like it's growing well and you cannot go wrong .. Enjoy

 

[daniT1D]

Thank you all for the advice so far .. Now here come the silly questions ... Why is a raised bed preferable to ground level? Is it just for easier access or are there further advantages?


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[Sancho panza]

Easier access is one thing, you can plant a little closer together than in a normal plot it's supposed to help with weed suppression , they supposedly warm up quicker than the surrounding ground allowing for a longer season and pest controll is easier too.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

Thank you all for the advice so far .. Now here come the silly questions ... Why is a raised bed preferable to ground level? Is it just for easier access or are there further advantages?


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Also, if you have rubbish soil or poor drainage, you can fill your raised bed with good soil.

 

[Brunneria]

Which way is South?

With all that wall and fence, you are sure to have a really sunny sheltered bit - excellent for dangly cherry tomatoes and strawberries in hanging baskets.

Yum.

 

[Sancho panza]

Hi all, I am considering growing some vegies but have never done so before (just got my first home and garden ) do you have any suggestions to ease me in? x


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Besides the veggies congrats on getting your first home and garden, it's all yours to do with as you like.
But beware gardening is addictive I spend more time pottering in the garden than the house these days it's a great place to unwind.
Have fun with it and post the odd photo to show us how you are progressing.

 

[iHs]

Raised beds can be created using pallet board (the stuff that builders use re bricks). Also, its possible to use those waxed storage laundry bags to grow veg in and also the large rubble bags that DIY places sell.
This year Ive done really well growing runner beans up long bamboo canes with plastic trellis wound round the
Canes in an old black plastic dustbin that someone had chucked out in a skip. The beans are now making their way along an old clothes line.

 

[daniT1D]

Which way is South?

With all that wall and fence, you are sure to have a really sunny sheltered bit - excellent for dangly cherry tomatoes and strawberries in hanging baskets.

Yum.

It's north facing, so house end is sheltered all day, sun trap in the evenings is down the bottom where we've laid the patio. Built the back wall up as I live on my own so wanted to feel safe


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[daniT1D]

Besides the veggies congrats on getting your first home and garden, it's all yours to do with as you like.
But beware gardening is addictive I spend more time pottering in the garden than the house these days it's a great place to unwind.
Have fun with it and post the odd photo to show us how you are progressing.

Thank you yes I'll post updated pics as it progresses


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[Avocado Sevenfold]

I would not bother with veg like onions as they are so cheap to buy in the shops. Something like celeriac on the other hand would be worth the space and time as they are quite expensive.

 

[dawnmc]

Caulis arnt easy to grow. Best thing is to prepare your beds at this time of year. But there is still time to grow some salad leaves.
You could also Google 'square foot gardening', some great ideas on your plot. Also vertical veg, on facebook.

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

You could sow some garlic in the autumn. Much tastier than shop bought.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/how-to-grow-garlic

 

[Totto]

It looks a bit shaded but I suggest you go for stuff you like to eat and learn what works and what doesn't. Lettuce, spring onions, herbs, mange-tout and one zucchini plant is what I would try.

 

[ElyDave]

I would go with stuff that's hard to buy or expensive in the shops, plus a few staples that you know you'll use regularly. Also think about things that span the seasons as well.

Things like garlic for example can be planted in September, grows over the winter, harvest June/July in time for another short crop like lettuce or radish in the same area. I also have some lettuces and other annual crops planted inbetween things like Sea Kale and asparagus.

For me, I always grow
- parsnips - we eat them by the lorry load and nothing better thna your own parsnips at christmas
- some form of brocolli - PSB, Cavolo nero, cima di rapa
- carrots - but I might stop these as they're always rubbush
- radishes
- a couple of different beans - this year broad beans for early (can also over winter), runner and french
- lettuces
- courgettes
- beetroot
- tomatoes, cucumbers and chillies in my greenhouse (get used in the winter for bonsai protection)

I've also got espaliered apples and pears, autumn fruiting raspberries, gooseberries, and soem new plum and cherry trees. All of these are dotted around the flower beds so not taking up a dedicated space. Only the veg has it's own plot.

What I'm getting at really is think what you like, how much of it you eat and whether your have the right soil (mine's wrong for carrots) and be prepared to experiment.

One last tip - if you grow jerusalem artichokes, put them in containers/ a separate rasied bed, or they will go everywhere - they're a bloody weed , but very tasty.

 

[Enclave]

If you have a local horticultural society in your area then go to a flower and produce show run by them .. This will give you a very good idea of what grows well in your area .. If they have their own store then it great to ask advice for growing and they should sell plant-lets at a fraction of the garden centres prices.
They can also advise on how to stop carrot fly (most cover with horti fabric or companion planting) if you grow carrots that is ... Bug control in general around your veggies .. Feeding your veggies .. And best of all exhibiting your produce ..
I did yes to grow a lot of my own veg, but between ill health .. Rabbits and deer eating it before I could I gave up growing .. Have just started again this year .. It's been wonderful watching the deer eating my runner beans