Suggestions for fairly-newbie

Hello Paula, welcome to the Vine.

How much space do you have for growing? Do you grow in the ground or in pots, and do you have a greenhouse?

Hey Rusty 😊

I grow my fruit n veggies mainly in pots, I have a large garden but also have 3 boys so the garden is used for football etc apart from 1 side that we've put flowers in, lots of evergreens so it looks nice all year, but am trying to find some nice winter flowering plants to add some colour later.
I am hoping to get a greenhouse, a friend is willing to give me 1 FOC so just trying to size up the best place for it, if any!


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

there is a thread on here somewhere about what people would do differently next year - this may provide some inspiration/an opportunity to steal ideas

Ok, lack of response heeds a bump

Planning in doing some work in the garden over the BH weekend so would like to get some supplies in to work with.....

What veg can I start now, either in pots or in the GH, apart from lettuce - I want to be busy busy Monday n Tuesday n have something to show the OH when he comes home

I have a south facing garden and can accommodate lots of pots


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

Try this for ideas and look at September jobs too August / RHS Gardening

Could have a go at overwintering onions?

Just bought 2 lots of seeds myself to plant out soon.
Picked up Senshyu and Hi Keeper, I use Moreveg for the simple reason they supply in smaller quantities and have a fair selection of seeds. The packs I have are 50 or 60 per pack. Find these better for a garden - less waste.

Think Sturion is also an overwinter possibility.

Normally takes about 3 days to come through the post. They sell a fair number of seeds so depending on other options could be worthwhile looking through.

Howdy Paula,

I have just started again this year after a break and for the first time am looking at doing more, cramming more in for longer and preparing for next year.

Having searched and read on here I am doing some over winter things and some late crops:

- Pak Choi - NOW, these apparently grow fast, you should get some edible within a month and a half
- Mizuna - NOW, I want salad leaves and I am trying these
- Spinach - NOW, it is getting cooler, it's unlikely to bolt and I have just taken delivery of a winter variety (giant winter)
- Spring Onions - NOW, hopefully I might get some skinny ones this year, if not they can take their chances in a trough in the greenhouse when it gets colder
- Onions (Wintering) - As per Kirk I have just gotten some Senshyu seeds. Gonna sow soon as in modules and plant them out when they are big enough
- Garlic - Soon I will be ordering for planting in October will prob use some supermarket bulbs as well
- Potatoes - Soon I will do some in tubs/planters to sit in the greenhouse once the tomatoes are finished
- Herbs (Coriander/Basil), I am continually sowing these to keep supplied.
- Carrots NOW, I have just sown some chantenay in troughs and pots and some fast nantes in the ground. Probably a bit late - but you never know. the pots/trough can alway move into the GH if it gets too cold
- Broad Beans - Soon for over wintering (aquadulce / GRANO VIOLETTO)
- Turnips - NOW, I've got some little seedlings in modules, they'll go in the ground when they are a little bigger and stand a chance against slugs
- Beetroot - NOW, might be a bit late, but perhaps a cold hardy variety?

Few things to consider there!

Oh and Spring Cabbages - NOW.

Oriental greens, mustards and kales are good ones as they are quick to grow and take the cold.
I've heard you can get a crop of french beans if you plant them now undercover (planted mine about 2 weeks ago as a experiment).
Potatoes should be fine as long as you cover them then it gets frosty.
Radishes should get a crop before the weather gets too bad, winter radishes after that.

Hey David thanks for the list! Are these all to just put in pots and keep in the greenhouse or do I need to germinate indoors first?


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

Suggestions for fairly-newbie

Thanks Kirk I wouldn't mind growing onions, I have bought some spring onion seeds already so will make a start on those


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

I wouldn't mind trying potatoes, any suggestions on varieties? I don't have the 1st clue with those, I only buy white potatoes at the supermarket lol!


🐞Every ☁has a silver lining🐝Every 🌸 has a 🌿

Hi greenfingerpaula , I grew several different varieties of first earlies this year , just to compare .
I personally liked the variety called rocket , they have a nice flavour with pure white flesh . Not everyone's choice , but they cropped well


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

Bit of a mix, I tend to start things off in trays and modules and then plant out when they are sturdy enough. Some though like the carrots are directly where I want them - they are in pots and troughs. I've also got some carrots in the ground. Turnips, cabbages, spinach, beetroot etc will go in the ground. Spring onions will probably stay in containers. You could do spinach in pots.

Just thought, you could also start off leeks. JoeDaStudd makes a good point about kales. I have a new packet of dwarf kale I was going to use next year, but I might get a few started now.

I should add; I will provide protection to some of these things when it turns cold.