First Time Gardener!

MissMuppet · 10 February 2008 at 4:00PM

I moved to a garden flat last summer and am determined to do some gardening this year... Unfortunately my garden is all slabbed though so I'm a little bit stuck where to start.

I want to start off small as I don't have much money, I'd like to grow my own veg (well some of it at least). I quite fancy potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and maybe runner beans!! Can this be achieved in pots/planters?

Can anyone help me out on what I'd need to get started? I think apart from a watering can I don't have anything!!

tanith · 10 February 2008 at 4:07PM

You can probably grow all those things in pots but would it not be possible to lift some of the slabs so that you can at least grow your potatoes and beans in the ground?

If not you are going to be needing the largest pots you can manage and compost to fill them ... canes shortish ones for the toms and long ones for the beans.. and a small trowel and fork for a start...

Jack's_mummy · 10 February 2008 at 4:16PM

Carrots and runner beans - definately in a pot but the better the size the better the crop.

Potatoes can be done in a growbag on it's end apparantly - am about to try this theory this year

MissMuppet · 10 February 2008 at 4:21PM

I rent my flat so I'm not sure the landlord will want me lifting up the slabs...

Thanks for the tips!!!

When's the best time to plant these? I don't even know how to plant them!

tanith · 10 February 2008 at 4:27PM

Hi again, maybe you could go to the library and borrow some gardening books just to give you some ideas... but you could start gathering some basic tools , fork and trowel , some large pots, gro-bags and canes you will need for your toms and beans... you can either buy seeds and grow them on a sunny window sill or buy the young plants and put them out when the danger of frost is passed but that won't be for a while yet..

MissMuppet · 10 February 2008 at 4:34PM

Thanks, maybe a trip to the library is in order... have been looking online, so maybe I can find something useful there!

I think for my first time I might buy the plants, plus I have a cat and I'm sure he would destroy my seedlings when I'm not around. I grew catnip once from seed, it did quite well until I left it outside one night and the next day it was gone, I think one of the many neighbourhood cats had eaten it! :rotfl:

Well I will let you know how I get on... I think I need to find some cheap pots/tools over the next couple of weeks.

arkonite_babe · 10 February 2008 at 9:30PM

these links might be of use to you:

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/container.htm

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0106/veg_containers.asp

http://www.allotment.org.uk/container-growing/growing-vegetables-containers.php

Maxjessdru · 10 February 2008 at 9:43PM

You can easily grow salad potatoes in compost bags - I tried this last year and it worked really well! All you do is empty about 2/3 of the compost out of the bag, roll the bag down to just above the compost and put 3-4 seed potatoes in. Remember to !!!!! some holes in the bottom then, as the potatoes start growing, just roll the bag up a little bit and top up the compost. When you want to harvest the potatoes just slit the bag open. Cherry tomatoes are great for pots because you don't need any canes or supports. I planted 6 plants last year and had oer 24lb of tomatoes. Happy growing!

paulabear · 11 February 2008 at 12:00AM

I'm in the same situation, only without the slabs! We have a concrete yard that I'd like to grow htings in, so I'm going to watch this thread for advice, thanks

First Time Gardener!

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