Newbie Gardeners..

Rummer

The edition I bought was first published in 2008. What I love about it is the fact it has info on all aspects of gardening including how to store and cook the different foods you grow. It is an all in one guide.

Lotus-eater

Oh they did make a new version then! Mine dates from the 70's and is exactly the same as yours, in that it has loads of advice for storing and cooking.

verbyl.belch

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies.

We'd like to grow (wait for it):

Tomatoes, peppers, chillis, courgette, cucumber, runner beans, carrots, salad leaves (rocket, spinach, lettuce) and herbs. We've also seen some little fruit trees/bushes that we'd like to pot and then eventually plant in our own garden - blueberries, raspberries and strawberries (in hanging baskets?).

As for flowers, we are not sure. We thought that we could get some trailing plants, eg Jasmine but we weren't sure if it would grow happily in a corner planter with trelis so we could take it away with us.

We're not entirely sure if the borders are empty, but to our untrained eyes there is nothing growing in them at the moment. The soil has been turned over - if thats the right term?

Many thanks! :rotfl:

PS We are in Bedford - so no frosts now.

Lotus-eater

Tomatoes, peppers, chillies, start off inside in modules or pots now. Bit late for these from seed really, but you should be OK if a little behind. Buy plants in garden centres if you want to. They can go into the greenhouse when you move.

Courgette, cucumber, runner beans, start off in modules either just before you move, or I would suggest as soon as you get there, ready to go out when they are big enough and the chances of late frost has gone. Bedford is not immune to late frosts.

I would suggest starting your salad leaves off in the ground when you move. They will grow straight away and quickly then.

Blueberries in large pots, try to get 3 different varieties.

Raspberries you can do in pots, search google for the details.

Strawberries, yes in hanging baskets is OK, go and buy some now and get them in the baskets. Outside.

Herbs, either buy now and put into pots, or when you move. Tender ones inside, rest out.

Carrots start off from seed in the ground when you move in, or in pots now, outside.

teachergirl

Hi there, You can easily grow blueberries in pots . Ideally it is best to have two bushes because it helps with pollination. However blueberries like acid soil so you will have to buy special compost from your local garden centre. It is usually labelled for azaleas and camellias. raspberries won't like being in a pot so much but depending on how long you are going to stay in your rented house it could be worth putting them in the ground, they will send up runners which you can dig up and take with you. Strawberries will not mind pots but they could also be put in the ground which is easier because you will not have to water so much. They will also throw out runners which will produce new baby plants in the soil where they land. In the first year you should cut these off as it lets the parent plant grow strong after that pot them up and hey presto you have new plants. We have loads which we give away to friends and other allotment holders for free. After three years you should replace the original parent plants as they will become less productive. If you can't find anyone giving away baby strawberries pick them up at the local garden centre and get a selction of varities and that way your strawberry season will last longer. Another good source of cheap plants is church fetes, charity sales and open garden days where again people sell off plants for charity usually cheaper than garden centres.
Hope this helps.

fay66

Im going to subscribe to amateur gardening and nip to wilkos and bm before close of day and get that book food from your garden will update x

fay66

Amateur gardening is now 6 for a £1. https://www.magazinesubscriptions

MrsChips

Amateur gardening is now 6 for a £1. https://www.magazinesubscriptions

Thanks Faye - I was looking everywhere last night for the 6 Issues for £1 (That's the one I subscriped too). I couldnt find it anywhere and thought they must have changed it to 3 issues... 6 Issues is much better!!:T

Jake'sGran

If you have a look at Allotments4all there might be someone giving veg seed away. They have a swop shop on that site but you don't necessarily have to have something to swop. It's worth a look. I grow chillies for my son and we have just been counting the number of plants we've got. Chillies are easy by the way. Also, there is a seed seller who sells everything for 50p but I can't remember his name and he's disappeared from my "favourites". Marigolds are very easy to grow but it's a shame about the smell. They keep greenfly away from tomatoes.

Rummer

teachergirl wrote: »

Another good source of cheap plants is church fetes, charity sales and open garden days where again people sell off plants for charity usually cheaper than garden centres.
Hope this helps.

Thank you for that reminder teachergirl! We have bought fabulous plants from our local church sale for the last few years and thanks to your reminder I have just checked their website and the date is firmly in my diary, you are a star!:T