veg growing Newbies- Feb 2010! lets learn together!

misskool

katholicos wrote: »

This is my first year of attempting to grow ANYTHING ever! I shall be using tubs and containers and a raised bed. I shall be attempting to grow potatoes, carotts, onions, leeks, tomatoes, courgettes, rhubarb, beetroot, lettuce and peas. I feel exhausted just remembering them all, let alone growing them. I figure that if I plant enough of everything, something has to grow out of that lot, surely?

yup, it'll all be fine. I started growing last year and just planted stuff. I've learnt loads and that includes doing things your way

Have you sowed your leeks and tomatoes yet?

alliwantistosave

Wow Kirsty that is quite a list you have got going there ...... Good luck

Kath I'm sure something will grow from what you have listed, We had our 1st attempt last year and I have to say providing the weather is on your side you will do ok. It is a fast lerning curve

Pink_numbers we have/did square foot gardening last year for the 1st time we were well impressed as we don't have tonnes of space. So this year we have built another one for out the back and have lots of plans. So I wish you the best of luck. The square foot garden book is a good read if you don't have it. It has the best advice for spacing and planting times etc....

We have been to Asda today and got some of the flexi tubs to plant our sweetcorn into (if they grow!!) I just wish it would warm up a little so we can start planting outside...... I can't wait for my first home grown salad the supermarkets are making a fortune out of me on lettuce etc.... :eek:
Made the mistake of looking at the long range weather forcast last night And I don't think we will be planting outside in the next 2 weeks oh well more time for prep.

lynzpower

Furny wrote: »

LYNZPOWER-Do get the Titmarsh book it is good. I got my copy at WHSmiths for £10 reduced from £20 i noticed someone on here got theres scanned through at £6 i wasn't that lucky but i think mine has paid for itself already the amount of time i have used it for reference.

Yup! I had one out from library, it is fantastic. So Ive popped to Smiths and yes it scanned at £6! Very pleased as I had a Love2shop voucher from surveys so free to me :money::j

Went to http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk/ for the produce & plant fair. Managed to keep a rein on my finances ( could have gone mad)

Did buy some seeds from the very knowledgeable fellas from http://www.pennardplants.com/

I am buying no more!

I got tubers for Maincrop ( im learning the terms now;) ) they said good for containers "camelot", good allround and heavy yield.

Seeds I got 6 for a fiver and got
Globe courgette ( they reckon this will train up the pagoda)
Golden delicious squash ( red heart shaped fruits)
Watercress which Ive been looking for anyway for salads
Butternut squash "ponca" early cropping small. ( not sure about this, mighgt give them away)
Early Scallop patty pan green ( easy to grow I understand and trail well appareltnyl)
And French climbing bean - long podded cow pea- chosen by them as it will go up the pagoda, and give off big purple flowers.

I also got some twine for 60p.

I then went to 99p stores and got 2 more blueberrys at titchmarsh says they do better in 3 or more.

Also went to a little £shop and got little betterware watering can and 2 plastic yellow pots for £.

So quite a good shopping day today I feel like Im really starting to get started. I now know nows the time to cull some of my seeds so will sort through the beans as I know I have too many and they will go to waste if I dont give some away. Also I have iceberg lettuce seeds I def wont use please let me know if you want them. :A

misskool

lynz : don't forget blueberries go in ericaceous compost. they don't like lime. be a shame to kill them. I've got to go and buy some before I pot mine from wilko's on.

Might have to go to the 99p store for a few more bushes thanks.

pink_numbers

katholicos - That is almost what I am doing, closing my eyes and praying lots that something will grow. I did that last year and I did get some vegs! I have planned a bit more this year, read up on what's better where in the garden, etc.

alliwantistosave, thank you for your encouragement on the square foot gardening, I am very much looking forward to doing it once the beds are ready. I've been glued to my spreadsheet trying to plan what goes where. It's looking like this atm:

I haven't bought the book yet, I read a lot online, and figured that it's enough to get me started. Maybe I will ask for one as a present I'm just amazed at how many square foot we've managed to sqeeze into our tiny back yard! How many square foots have you managed to gather together?

lynzpower

misskool wrote: »

lynz : don't forget blueberries go in ericaceous compost. they don't like lime. be a shame to kill them. I've got to go and buy some before I pot mine from wilko's on.

Might have to go to the 99p store for a few more bushes thanks.

Yes, I know that, so glad you mentioned it.

I wa looking for ericacious feed today? Is that something I can get.

I did read this in the Titchy book and have the plants but need to find what Ericacious IS. Do they sell it in B&Q??

Need the confused smiley here!

macma

misskool wrote: »

lynz : don't forget blueberries go in ericaceous compost. they don't like lime. be a shame to kill them. I've got to go and buy some before I pot mine from wilko's on.

Might have to go to the 99p store for a few more bushes thanks.

and they only like to be watered with rainwater:)

misskool

lynzpower wrote: »

Yes, I know that, so glad you mentioned it.

I wa looking for ericacious feed today? Is that something I can get.

I did read this in the Titchy book and have the plants but need to find what Ericacious IS. Do they sell it in B&Q??

Need the confused smiley here!

yes, you can get ericaceous feed. Ericaceous is just acidic (not limed) compost. If it's not labelled ericaceous, then just look for rhododendron/azalea/heather compost.
b&q do sell it


Ah yes, as macma says they don't like tap water too.

katholicos

Yes MK, i have sown my tomato and leek seeds and I forgot to add, i also planted 3 x blueberry bushes, 1 x redcurrant bush and 1 raspberry bush (bought the bushes from poundland) they are covered in fleece at the moment.

lynzpower

Thanks Miss K, will pop into B&Q tomorrow as really need to get these blueberry plants on the go!

Incidentally, John Innes compost was in 99p stores today, Ill need more so will look for reviews on this before I buy it.