Overwhelmed

[Droppey]

At the moment I'm feeling completely overwhelmed with what to do when, where, why etc. Just as I'm beginning to think I know something I read something else and am more confused than ever

Do other people feel like this at the beginning? And any advice as to what is best to read to learn everything?

Thanks

[zazen999]

Concentrate on doing a few things, well, the first year.

And remember that to grow, a seed needs to be sown. Most other stuff is just opinion.

And don't always sow the full packet unless you really want 300 cabbages all ready in 1 week.

If you want a book, there are a few recommendations in Grapes Recommendations section, but go to s bookshop/library and browse. Gardening starts with planning, so if you find something you like to read, it helps greatly.

[Eyren]

Hi Droppey!

The trouble with gardening is that there are a thousand opinions on how to go about things! I would suggest finding a book that you like (writing style, clear layout, lots of photos - whatever floats your boat!) and just sticking to the advice in there for starters. Then, if you find that something doesn't work for you, do some more research - find another book, ask here, Google, whatever!

For a beginner I would recommend "Grow Your Own Veg" by Carol Klein, as it's not too technical but covers all the essentials and has nice clear double-page spreads of all the common vegetables, with sowing/harvesting charts, photos and instructions for each one - but any similar book would do. Just read the general chapters, then dip into the specific sections for the veg you want to grow.

Good luck, and if all else fails, digging is a great stress-buster

[OverWyreGrower]

Oh, I read lots and lots of stuff and then usually ignore all of it and do it my own way anyway!

Make sure you've got some seeds sown and somewhere to plant them when they get bigger.

Only grow what you like/will eat (I don't grow sprouts, ever).

If your plot is big, just deal with a bit of it at a time. Cover what you're not using.

Enjoy getting excited about a teeny little seedling poking through the soil (Mr OWG is in raptures over the borlotti beans and peas this year)

Don't plant a full packet of seeds at once! What will you do with 50 tomato plants?

[jackie j]

I still feel overwhelmed after 18 months of having my allotment, This year I have planted loads of potatoes and still have 30 ( ones I got free ) to plant, where I have no Idea yet I might put them in pots at the lottie rather than in the ground. I know I havent got enough room with 1/2 a plot and would like to grow lots more.
Just do a bit at a time, read books magazines etc and find what is right for you, non of us are the same. Try something this year and if you dont like it for one reason or another try something else next year after all its a bit trial and error for all of us. It could be the weather or bugs or something else that makes something work or not.
Good luck with it and sow something.

[Irie Jan]

Hi there!

This is my first year growing most things that I am trying. It has been years since I grew anything in my garden. I used to grow Tomatoes and cucumberss a few herbs and flowers. I once tried a melon plant in my greenhouse which produced 2 small melons. lol

I have decided to just bung it all in seed trays and pots to start with. I'm just trying anything and everything in small no's, and see how it goes. I have read loads of things on here and elsewhere and can understand where you are coming from. Sometimes the more you read the more confused you can become: rolleyes:

My advice would be to work out what you like to eat the most! Make a list then decide if you have the room to grow them.

Remember things like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, squashes and things like that can take a fair amount of room in the ground.

Are you growing in the ground or in containers or perhaps a mixture of both?

Try just a little of each thing for this year and see how it goes for you. You can always do more of what does best next year!

Take your time do just a couple of things at a time one after the other. Make a To Do list and tick it off as you go if needs be.

Make notes of when you plant seeds and label everything clearly, that way it won't be a guessing game for you!

Follow indications on the seed packs be guided by them.

About the last thing I can think of at the moment, is that you can always ask more specific questions on here if you get stuck.

Remember everyone will do things just a little differently to each other, we all find our own way in the end !

Good luck with it all I am sure you will be ok!

[quark1]

Hi Droppey and welcome to the Vine!

Good advice already given that I would endorse.

Dont try and be self-sufficient in year one unless you are an expert - even they might have a problem with a 'virgin patch' which might need heavy weeding, turning and improving.

Try some fast starts such as the salad bowl varieties of your/family's favourites. This will encourage you as a novice as you will prove to yourself and your 'admiring family' that it is worth while! Things like radish, baby lettuce, spring onions can be grown in window box type containers - or anything really which you might want to adpat so long as it holds earth/compost and can deliver drainage. Just keep an eye on watering/feeding during dry spells.

Once these are started you can concentrate on perhaps 3-6 tom plants and chilli/sweet peppers - which, again can be container grown. Flower buckets - an often free resource of which I'm a huge fan - I love FREE! - will be an ideal size. Don't forget to stake them as they can get rather tall and weighty and will suffer if the wind gets up.

You can also grow a few spuds in these - keeping one tuber per container for some nice new pots around Jul/Aug time if you haven't yet started (but do it this weekend). Leave longer for bigger 'keepers' for the early Autumn/Winter months. Beauty of a container is you an bring inside - space permitting - and have new pots on the table for Xmas Dinner!

If you've ground space you could try a few things like cabbage, parsnips, beetroots, carrots. Start as seeds or you could buy small plants from a garden centre to get you going. But grow what you like to eat.

Start and think small this year and as your confidence grows and results follow expand your ambitions in future years. I always think its nice to have a hobby item on the go on a try it and see basis - this could be a first step into an exotic such as saved seed from a supermarket fruit or veg which you just have a go at. Who knows - you might even become the next forum expert on such an 'oddity'!

And if you should suffer a few disasters along the way - there are plenty of friendly expert peeps here who know far more than me who are always willing to offer advice and help when requested. You may also enjoy the seed swap section and get a few ideas there.

Look forward to hearing of your results later in the year.

[Two_Sheds]

I was feeling seriously overwhelmed yesterday (my 1st day off for ages).
I tipped out all my April seeds (I sort the packets by month-to-be-sown) and there were, no kidding, about 500.

I sorted them into piles: beans, sweetcorn, squash (to be sown end of the month) and things to sow this week. That halved the pile.

I have spent 2 days sowing now, and the pile is greatly reduced and I feel much calmer.

The moral is - one step at a time, I think

[Droppey]

Thanks very very much for you advice I really appreciate it

I've definitely decided to start small this year as I have a lot of ground to sort out, getting rid of weeds and old grass etc - still not sure whether I need to add manure of some description or not /

What I would like to know is, while I'm getting the ground ready am I able to start growing some seeds in a propagator? So that when I have the ground ready I can plant them in?

Also I have bought some charlotte potatoes to plant in the ground, do I need to pop these in the ground by the weekend? Also Quark1 mentioned bigger "keepers" of potatoes do I plant these now or later on?

Sorry for all the questions

[quark1]

'Keepers' is the word I use to describe the bigger spuds you save for use throughout the autumn/winter months for eating. Its not recommended but I often use any 'sprouters' which are beyond eating for crops the next year - usually around Jan/Feb time. At least mine are not treated or sprayed with muck to retard chitting - drawback - possible susceptibility to disease?

[taff]

Work out how much space you have, work out what you like eating, read about that particular veg to see what it needs ( manure/lime etc), get the ground ready for it, plant it
Read the back of the seed packet for info on when to sow (should be colour coded of they're uk seeds) to see if they're ok to stick in the proagator now.Some stuff doesn't like frosts but we're getting to the bit of the year now that most stuff should be ok.
They don't have to be in by the weekend, the next couple of weeks sometime would do I think.

[Two_Sheds]

while I'm getting the ground ready am I able to start growing some seeds in a propagator? So that when I have the ground ready I can plant them in?

Yes definitely.
It's a juggling exercise - and your windowsills will soon be covered with pots
Mine are, and I have 4 plastic greenhouses too.

[Droppey]

LOL Two Sheds

K my next question is on the back of the seeds it had sow, planting out and harvest on the back. What is the difference between sowing and planting out? And is the sowing in propagators?

Sorry for keep asking I'm just a bit thick /

[Two_Sheds]

Sowing - sow in modules/seed tray, under cover
Planting out - you put the plant in the ground, outside

I only use a heated propagator for germinating things that need heat (chillies, tomatoes etc)

[Droppey]

Thanks for that Two Sheds already things are starting to become a bit clearer, thanks