Newbie veg gardener! MERGED

Plum_Pie

Here are some other threads posted by newbie veg growers:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=427650&highlight=newbie+veg

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=387047&highlight=newbie+veg

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=437226&highlight=newbie+veg

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=374219&highlight=newbie+veg

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=359179&highlight=newbie+veg

If I were you, I would think of some fruit and veg that you would like to eat, google how to grow them and then decide if you think you're capable of the work (in terms of time and skill). I think you might be a bit late to grow certain things from seed, but you could get round that if you have a cheap source of seedlings (local nursery/freecycle/friends).


HTH.

melou

I was wondering if you lovely knowledgeable lot could help me. I have just moved into a place with a sizeable roof terrace in Amsterdam (so the weather is comparable to Birmingham most of the time but during the summer we have found it to be roasting hot in the City).

The terrace is decked and has a wall that things could be trained up (I suppose), it has a corner which is not quite so exposed but is mainly open to the elements. We have a gorgeous table and chairs up there but otherwise it is a bit bare.

I am very keen to get a container pot veg garden going (I am more of a produce fan than a flower fan) but with absolutely no knowledge of gardening at all, I haven't a clue where to begin.

Could anybody please point me in the direction of links/sites/books which are virtually idiot proof so I can get started?

TIA

Melou

olibearhorse

The Royal Horticultural Society books ('plants and flowers' and gardening) have been an absolute saviour to me. You can also access their website which is very helpful, just search on RHS.

Amersterdam - how lovely!

leona71

This is a great site http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/

I use it lots, gives great tips and advice. Plus there's a forum for beginners etc.

You could always try growing a raspberry bush in large pots, they climb and add some colour to your terrace.

Leona

redmel1621

Hi

This is my first time in here, I'm usually over in Old Style.
Anyway, I have decided i would like to grow some veggies/fruit etc. The only problem is I haven't got a clue where to start and when browsing the web I feel swamped by all the info out there (some of which seems contradictory )

My garden is a nice size but the back is taken up with a kind of decking area that doesn't quite go edge to edge, which isn't big enough for table and chairs, has a big tree trunk poking through the middle, and is not even level....so I have decided to remove the decking, put a nice lttle fence/edging thing across the front and slate/stone/bark it all.....Bear with me, this is where the veggie bit comes in.....

On this nice new level area I want to grow some veg/fruit BUT I want it all to be in pots, now I don't even know whether this area is shady or sunny, North/south/east/west facing etc. etc.....How do I find this info out (sorry, but I really haven't got a clue!!!) Also is it even possible to grow these thngs in pots??? I have seen somewhere some mini apple trees in pots, but are they worth it? how many apples come off them? also once you have picked the apples do more grow back?

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I really would love to start doing this and need all the advice I can get. So if anyone can reccomend a good (simple) website that would be good too. Or a book as I am planning to go to the library too.

Thank you and sorry for the long post. ask me questions if you need to!!

Mel x

hooby_groovy

Its easy to grow vegetables on patios and in pots, things that work well are salads like tomatoes (look for outdoors varieties), lettuce (buy mixed cut and come again which lasts a good part of the season) and things like radishes.

Carrots can grow in pots and even individual cauli's etc.

Potatoes can be grown in bags on the patio and you can grow strawberry's or fruit canes like raspberries.

We had some success with cucumbers in one of those plastic greenhouses that are in the shops at the moment, plus chilli's and jalapaeno's.

Cherry tomatoes can be grown in hangoing baskets.

Best start is a visit to your library to get a book on vegetable gardening - most have some sort of reference.

There is a great choice, and the taste of your own vegetables is fantastic, so good luck!

WestonDave

Last summer as a bit of an experiment before taking things more seriously this summer we had strawberries grown from seed in pots (not much fruit but didn't expect much first year on seed grown plants), runner beans in a big pot with a tripod of canes above for them to climb. Courgettes do OK in pots, tomatoes can either be in growbags or hanging baskets (get the right variety).

In terms of fruit - you can container grow apples if you get the right sort of tree (go to a specialist nursery or at least a really good garden centre). My parents have two but you're looking at planting them in half barrels rather than "pots" as they need plenty of root room. Apples tend to be a bit of a case of all in one go when they are ready for harvest and you won't get that many from one tree but enough to enjoy. Apples can be stored quite readily if you read up on how to do it.

One thing which is very trendy at the moment and almost has to be grown in pots is blueberries. They like acid soil and so need special ericacious compost rather than normal garden soil which is why they are better pot grown.

I think Fothergills now do a range of seeds specially for "compact" gardening which are all varieties happy in containers.

Hope that gives you some ideas - for other ideas why not try some of the magazines currently around like Grow your Own or Kitchen Garden which are catering for the current fashion for starting to grow stuff at home.

bina72

Have a look here for a quick guide to planting veg.
It's from the crocus website (pricey, but do offer free advice by email)
http://web7.crocus.co.uk/images/email/vegetable_harvest_TABLE.doc

Zazen999

Hi Mel
The best way to find out if your patch is sunny or not is simply to look at it during the day and watch the amount of sun it gets. It will get more up until the midsummer and then it will get less. If it faces the south then it will get more than if it faces north - only you know where north/south and how high your walls are etc.

On the subject of container gardening - search through this forum and you will find loads of older posts on containers and their use.

As in life, there is never a fundamental answer for anything, and you only learn through trying things, and there's loads of advice on this forum in past posts; and there's a month by month guide that is currently running for Jan.

Most of all, enjoy.

redmel1621

I love the tomato in hanging basket idea. Can this be done with standard size toms or just cherry?
And the potatoes in bags...I have some plastic round bins so I have seen i could use those.
Can lettuce be grown in pots! how exciting we go through about 2/3 a week. so that would be great. How do you do this??

Thank you Hooby Groovy, I can't wait to get planning and planting...

Mel x