Veg growing for newbies - advice required!

**Capsid** · 30-03-2010, 11:54 AM

Radish and lettuce are easy to grow along with beans such as runners and french/dwarf beans (but they shouldn't be sown just yet as they won't survive a frost). The beans have nice flowers which will attract the insects.

I'd start compost bin and then you can use that to dig back into the soil. Or find a local stable that has well rotted horse manure. Most composts or soil dressings are quite expensive.

Oh, and don't forget potatoes, this weekend is traditionally for potato planting. They are easy to grow.

**Dane End Dolly** · 30-03-2010, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by emily84 View Post

I think I officially love this website - you guys are so much more helpful than google!

I am a new vegetable grower and very excited to finally have a veg patch on the go! Pay day soon and looking to make a trip to my garden centre for more supplies but wanted to get some ideas from you first of easy to grow plants and veggies.

My veg patch has carrots (from seed, not yet sprouting - not v hopeful they will! How long does this normally take?) as well as onion (red baron) and garlic which I got as small plants and seem to be doing well. I also have toms, leeks & basil seedlings on my window sill.

Any ideas for nice, easy to grow vegetables? Also looking at plants that look good and attract good bugs to garden for my borders.

Oh, and was also hoping for some advice about additions to soil for feed etc. I dug in some peat free compost before I started but think I prob need something else but not sure what!

Thanks in advance,

Emily

Hi welcome to the vine,

firstly, easy to grow veg, I started with Swiss Chard bright lights, looks decorative and cook the leaves like spinach and the spine like celery. Courgettes (1 bush can feed an army), sow some potatoes now, they break up the soil easily and there is nothing like boiling a new potato you have just pulled up. I cannot recomend beans both french and runner enough, easy to grow up either wigwams or trellis and prolific. there is many more but i hope this starts to give you ideas.

I grow amongst my allotment and garden Poached Egg Flowers, nasturtions, french marigolds and cosmos amongst loads others.

Keep us informed on how you are getting on

regards

Kx

**emily84** · 30-03-2010, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by Capsid View Post

Radish and lettuce are easy to grow along with beans such as runners and french/dwarf beans (but they shouldn't be sown just yet as they won't survive a frost). The beans have nice flowers which will attract the insects.

I'd start compost bin and then you can use that to dig back into the soil. Or find a local stable that has well rotted horse manure. Most composts or soil dressings are quite expensive.

Oh, and don't forget potatoes, this weekend is traditionally for potato planting. They are easy to grow.

Thanks Capsid, that's great! I have some sprouting potatoes which I was hoping to get a bag for, is this a good option for them?

Re the compost bin, I have been putting my kitchen scraps in a bucket for a while and my partner has just brought home a woodern pallet frame which we will be converting. Never had one before though, when is the compost ready to use? At the mo it's kind of gooey and slushy. Will it rot right down to literally compost or just be gooey? Prob a v stupid question I know!

**emily84** · 30-03-2010, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by Dane End Dolly View Post

Hi welcome to the vine,

firstly, easy to grow veg, I started with Swiss Chard bright lights, looks decorative and cook the leaves like spinach and the spine like celery. Courgettes (1 bush can feed an army), sow some potatoes now, they break up the soil easily and there is nothing like boiling a new potato you have just pulled up. I cannot recomend beans both french and runner enough, easy to grow up either wigwams or trellis and prolific. there is many more but i hope this starts to give you ideas.

I grow amongst my allotment and garden Poached Egg Flowers, nasturtions, french marigolds and cosmos amongst loads others.

Keep us informed on how you are getting on

regards

Kx

Hi Dolly, thanks for the tips!

I have been looking at swiss chard, never had to before but think i may try that!

Re courgettes, i actually have some seeds but am only looking for enough to feed 2 people, should I just plant maybe a couple of seeds and grow 1 plant?

Beans sound good too, just need some trellis! I have a garage at the back of my garden I was hoping to grow something up. It is well lit but does not get direct sunlight, would beans be ok here?

Also, anybody any clues about my carrots? I planted them a couple of weeks ago and still no sign. I understand they will take a while from seed but i don't want to just keep waiting for those ones and they don't do anything and I've wasted growing time! I have Nantes 2 (early)

Thanks

**Dane End Dolly** · 30-03-2010, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by emily84 View Post

Hi Dolly, thanks for the tips!

I have been looking at swiss chard, never had to before but think i may try that!

Re courgettes, i actually have some seeds but am only looking for enough to feed 2 people, should I just plant maybe a couple of seeds and grow 1 plant?

Beans sound good too, just need some trellis! I have a garage at the back of my garden I was hoping to grow something up. It is well lit but does not get direct sunlight, would beans be ok here?

Also, anybody any clues about my carrots? I planted them a couple of weeks ago and still no sign. I understand they will take a while from seed but i don't want to just keep waiting for those ones and they don't do anything and I've wasted growing time! I have Nantes 2 (early)

Thanks

Well, i would say that one plant will definately do for 2 people, but saying that i shall be growing 2 yellow and 2 green only for the simple reason, i always end up freezing produce so it lasts the year, hubbie loves chocolate courgette cake (sound yuck but is scrummy) and i share with my neighbours, family and other lottie holders.

I am not sure about the beans, they should still grow if it is a light area and not in the shade

If your spuds are sprouting get them in, i have growm mine in both sacks and ground, i have to admit i got a better crop from them being in the ground but if space is limited, potato bags/sacks is a good option. I also have to say salad leaves are always a good crop as the bags of mixed salad leaves are extortionate and beetroot, tomatos and radishes are so easy to grow.

i have to say be patient with the carrrots, give them some more time.

Kx

**Bigmallly** · 30-03-2010, 12:21 PM

Hi Emily, like yourself I also have a tub of carrots that aren't showing yet. I will leave them another few weeks & hopefully when they start showing I will sow another tub to keep them coming. With regards to your compost, do a search on the vine, there is lots of info on the subject. the main thing with compost is having the right ratios between "greens" i.e kitchen waste , grass clippings etc & "browns" i.e twigs, clippings, old plants.As I say, do a search & you will find everything you need to know. Good luck.

**emily84** · 30-03-2010, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by Dane End Dolly View Post

Well, i would say that one plant will definately do for 2 people, but saying that i shall be growing 2 yellow and 2 green only for the simple reason, i always end up freezing produce so it lasts the year, hubbie loves chocolate courgette cake (sound yuck but is scrummy) and i share with my neighbours, family and other lottie holders.

I am not sure about the beans, they should still grow if it is a light area and not in the shade

If your spuds are sprouting get them in, i have growm mine in both sacks and ground, i have to admit i got a better crop from them being in the ground but if space is limited, potato bags/sacks is a good option. I also have to say salad leaves are always a good crop as the bags of mixed salad leaves are extortionate and beetroot, tomatos and radishes are so easy to grow.

i have to say be patient with the carrrots, give them some more time.

Kx

Great, thanks again!

Chocolate and courgette cake?! Sounds interesting!

I was looking at sacks for spuds due to limited space, my patch is only 5'x3' ish so wanted stuff that can grow in pots/bags to do so, esp something big like spuds!

I got a salad leaves mix from Lakeland free with thier gardening mag and was going to have some in a tray on my windowsill, once I've got a tray that is!

Emily

**Capsid** · 30-03-2010, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by emily84 View Post

Thanks Capsid, that's great! I have some sprouting potatoes which I was hoping to get a bag for, is this a good option for them?

Re the compost bin, I have been putting my kitchen scraps in a bucket for a while and my partner has just brought home a woodern pallet frame which we will be converting. Never had one before though, when is the compost ready to use? At the mo it's kind of gooey and slushy. Will it rot right down to literally compost or just be gooey? Prob a v stupid question I know!

Bags or buckets are great for spuds. Place them on a layer of compost and cover them with a thin layer of more compost. As the green leaves appear, add more compost to cover them and start watering. Repeat until you fill the bucket.

Compost should be like the growing medium (correct term) you buy. Dark and crumbly and not too wet with a nice earthy smell. If you are using mostly kitchen scraps then you should add some woody material such as paper and cardboard.

**emily84** · 30-03-2010, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by Capsid View Post

Bags or buckets are great for spuds. Place them on a layer of compost and cover them with a thin layer of more compost. As the green leaves appear, add more compost to cover them and start watering. Repeat until you fill the bucket.

Compost should be like the growing medium (correct term) you buy. Dark and crumbly and not too wet with a nice earthy smell. If you are using mostly kitchen scraps then you should add some woody material such as paper and cardboard.

Thanks Capsid, that's great! I don't have a green recycle bin so I will start adding my garden offcuts to the mix as well; think I have some newspapers and scrap paper to add as well.

V excited about the spuds; didn't realise you had to fill them over time like that, thanks for the tip!

**Two_Sheds** · 30-03-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by emily84 View Post

when is the compost ready to use? At the mo it's kind of gooey and slushy.

It takes as long as it takes

Quicker in sunshine, slower in the shade
Quicker if you add accelerators (urine, comfrey, grass clippings), and if you can turn the contents

It definitely should NOT be gooey and slushy. You need to wrap your kitchen peelings in a sheet of newspaper: that will add the "browns" that you need. A heap should be roughly 50/50 greens (peelings) and browns (card, paper)

**emily84** · 30-03-2010, 01:46 PM

Thanks everyone!

Just found this green manure online, anybody any experience or opinions on it? Green Manure (Seeds)

**Two_Sheds** · 30-03-2010, 01:48 PM

You need to do a bit of research on green manures: different ones suit different soils/aspects/months/uses. There's plenty of advice on here, on older threads.

**oldie** · 30-03-2010, 02:09 PM

Personally I'd use individual ones rather than a mix. I have used mustard. phacelia and buckwheat. I now have a small patch of alfalfa which I intend to leave for 2 or more years to see how it does. I have not used things like grazing rye which are hard to dig in. I am also this year sowing limnanthes(poached egg plant) which has been sometimes recommended on this forum by ........now who was it?

**Two_Sheds** · 30-03-2010, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by oldie View Post

I am also this year sowing limnanthes(poached egg plant) which has been sometimes recommended on this forum by ........now who was it?

norty step for you! you know it was me

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