Looking for a frit and veg gardener!

**shirlthegirl43** · 29-05-2008, 11:49 AM

Welcome to the vine and good luck with your growing. I think by reading through the various bits of the vine you should get a pretty good background to start you growing your own. The Let's Grow Veg magazine is geared to new gardeners too and has lots of free seeds to get you started. I would recommend you buy a book (from most garden centres, Focus DIY and Homebase) by Dr Hessayon - called the Vegegable and Herb Expert - it is easy to follow and gives a good background on how to grow your own food.

And, of course, get a copy of Grow Your Own Magazine each month and have a read and learn from everyone else's experiences that way too.

The best way to get started is to get a container or bit of dug earth and sow a seed or buy some plug plants to get you going. You will soon be hooked!

**Paul Knapp** · 29-05-2008, 11:54 AM

Thanks Shirley

My time is very limated due to owning a large company.

I am 35 years old and planning to retire taking the easy life in 5 years.

I intent to go self sufficient and I need to learn the right way

It's not though laziness I'm willing to do all the work on that day but there is so much to learn I just do not have the time to do the research it deserves, so employing someone 1 day per week is a good idea for me

**shirlthegirl43** · 29-05-2008, 12:08 PM

That is fair enough, will you have time on the other days to care for things that get planted? They will require weeding and watering more often than once a week I am afraid.

**Shortie** · 29-05-2008, 12:14 PM

Hi Paul

That's a good point Shirl. Not to put a dampner on things Paul, but maybe you need someone to also keep a check on things once during the week too? Especially during the growing season when the weeds seem to grow faster than the fruit and veg, lol!

I can understand though wanting to learn now before you retire so that you can jump in full fledged at the time... Otherwise why not look at just starting off a few easy crops on your own, like tomatoes and squash? You can learn lots from other people but sometimes making the mistakes all on your own is the best way to learn (that's how I convince myself to keep at it anyway

)

**Paul Knapp** · 29-05-2008, 12:19 PM

I would be willing to get up earlier in the morning to do that

I get up earlier anyway to attend to my koi!

**Shortie** · 29-05-2008, 12:23 PM

Yum, koi... we're having a pond added soon to our garden to house some koi.... I especially like the look of ghost koi, but I digress, sorry

Early in the morning would be a good idea because if any watering needs doing, early morning or early afternoon is best, so quite ideal...

**Shortie** · 29-05-2008, 12:27 PM

Sorry, thinking on... so any local grapes have an idea if they canhelp, etc... what are you hoping to get from it? As in... are you wanting to learn how to compost / dig / sow seeds... and/or how to care for the plants (on that, are you wanting to grow specific groups of fruit and veg or just a bit of everything to fill the plate?) What day in the week are you thinking of?

You know, that kind of stuff

**jackie j** · 29-05-2008, 12:51 PM

Wish I lived nearer, although by no means experienced myself, sounds like just what Im looking for.

**Phattaff** · 29-05-2008, 01:03 PM

Paul
First off let me say i'm no expert, i've only just started growing me own this year but i really don't think you would be gaining much by having a person in for one day a week, i think shirl is right why not get some pots, planters, containers etc and start with those, there is a vast amount of knowledge to be had by just reading through the fourm posts, and it's all for free, if your looking to retire in approx five years (lucky sod) why not give yourself a few seasons growing in pots and build up your own experence again if your not sure if what your doing is right post in the fourm and i'm sure you will get no end of help and advice, then start looking at getting and allotment or even a piece of land/small holding so when you do retire you can devote as much time as it needs, you can spend your one day potting up your Plants then as you say the watering and care can be done in the mornings. Grownig veg takes time, even those who have been doing it for ever don't always get it right, start small maybe some tomato plants in a organic growbag, some potatoes in a large tub, a few pots of runnerbeans and see how you get on.
Again i really don't think having a person i one day a week to tell you what to do is going to give you the knowledge you require, just get out there get your hands in the soil and give it a go, what have you got to lose.
Good luck
Taff

**mapcr77** · 29-05-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by jackie j View Post

Wish I lived nearer, although by no means experienced myself, sounds like just what Im looking for.

Lol! Exactly my thoughts!

Good luck, Paul! Early retirement and striving for self sufficiency hit the spot for me too, pity I don't own a big company, so hats off to you!

I agree with other grapes, start with what you can in your garden, even if it is in growbags. If you can fit in a raised bed and a greenhouse, it would help too. But build up gradually as and when you're ready. Also, start learning the arts of composting, you can read all you want, but nothing beats trial and error!

**Paul Knapp** · 29-05-2008, 01:47 PM

WOW what a great bunch you lot are

Thanks for the imput and it's intresting what you all say.

Just a quick one for a mod! I tried to subscribe to the mag but the links do not work.

Grow Your Own Magazine none of them work LOL

Somone needs putting on the compost heap lol

**Headfry** · 29-05-2008, 01:51 PM

Hey Paul, welcome to the vine! I would love to help, but alas I work full time, have 2 and a bit plots, bees, a love for sailing, two cats and Mr HF! and my priorities all wrong....
sorry Mr HF you are top of list really!

Love you style though Paul and wish you all the very best may your fruit be sweet and your veg tender!

**Novice Gardener** · 29-05-2008, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by Paul Knapp View Post

WOW what a great bunch you lot are

Thanks for the imput and it's intresting what you all say.

Just a quick one for a mod! I tried to subscribe to the mag but the links do not work.

Grow Your Own Magazine none of them work LOL

Somone needs putting on the compost heap lol

I had the same problem when I tried to buy a subscription for my father in law - I ended up ringing them and doing it over the phone.

**Winged one** · 29-05-2008, 02:17 PM

Take a couple of hours (a looong couple of hours) browsing through a good bookshop on one of the alloted days very soon - in a half day you'l pick up lots of tips from various books, while also finding which books look useful to actually purchase. I spent (yet another) lunchtime browsing one near my office and have nearly decided to get one of John Seymour's books (twas John, wasn't it? nappy brain today and could be mixing up with FIL

) - now I only have to decide which one.

Joy Larkcom is also a good resource book (I think it's called "The Art of growing Veg" or something very similar) - and she is very into organic and making best use of space etc.

Get a few from the library too rather than buying straight off. Some will be good for a read, but not long term helpful resources, whereas others could be ones that you go off and buy later.

We have similar dreams ourselves, but won't be able to act on them quite so fast. In the meantime, the toddler is learning about digging and she is getting very very good at podding peas straight off the plant!!

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