Grown our own, complete novice questions

nicola00

Will the space work - Its big enough to grow some crops - does it get sun? Yes, Most of the day until about late afternoon

I have some planks of wood, should I box it off - if you want to but there is no need and will add to the cost

Is my list of proposed Veg achievable - depends how much you want . Potatoes take up a lot of room. You could do them in pots but i have never done so. For carrots you need to move as many stones from the soil as you can. Tomatoes - if it gets sun you could stake them against the wall. Lettuce and strawberries would be fine.
Only problem with a small space if things getting overcrowded - ie strawberries will put up runners which will easily fire over that area. to start with not too bothered with large quantities, if we get anything that makes it to the dinner table every now and again I'd be happy with that until we get the hang of it of course

£30 budget Workable - yeah. Look for free or cheap seeds. Tomorrows homework

What sort of freebies could I get to help, Seeds? Yup - do a search on here for free seeds. Same

Books or online references, where to look - work out what you want to grown and then look up specific questions or ask here. An allotment forum is ideal Carrots, potatoes, tomatoes are a definite as i know they will get eaten, and I am also keen on diff types of lettuce as I really enjoy that and again would definitely get eaten

Should I buy the upside down planters for Strawberries - begtter in the ground if you wasnt anything like a decent crop Would the planters work to start with, just to give me more room in the ground

Other tips and advice would be so very much appreciated, as the kids are off on holiday now would be good to make a start this week and also if today is anything to go by I am going to get my head nipped until its done - Again - think about exactly what you want to do then research or ask questions.

Thank YOU, I think Luck and you guys is all we need.

gazza975526570

Here are few freebies to get you on your way.

Free tomato seed:
http://www.papasbigtomatochallenge.com/register-and-order-seeds

Free pea, sweetcorn and carrot seed:
https://www.facebook.com/birdseye/app_167705676678807

Codes for the one above are - Then enter codes: GROWCARROTS, GROWPEAS or GROWCORN using L2025

mrbadexample

Instead of those planters I'd buy the kids a growbag (or 2) each. Cheaper, and they're already full. You can grow salad crops in them, radishes etc, but they won't be deep enough for carrots unless you cut them in half around the middle and stand them on end.

You can certainly grow something in the little space once you've taken the turf off. Dig it over and see what the soil's like. You could perhaps try a few strawberry plants in there.

I wouldn't be buying anything (except growbags / seeds) just yet, as people out there are giving things away left, right and centre.

SailorSam

There's a double glazing place down the road from me and they always have a skip outside full of the old window frames they've taken out, i've seen people taking these to make cold frames with.
Is there anything similar where you live where you could get freebies.

gazza975526570

nicola00 wrote: »

Will the space work - Its big enough to grow some crops - does it get sun? Yes, Most of the day until about late afternoon - brill that would suit most crops

I have some planks of wood, should I box it off - if you want to but there is no need and will add to the cost

Is my list of proposed Veg achievable - depends how much you want . Potatoes take up a lot of room. You could do them in pots but i have never done so. For carrots you need to move as many stones from the soil as you can. Tomatoes - if it gets sun you could stake them against the wall. Lettuce and strawberries would be fine.
Only problem with a small space if things getting overcrowded - ie strawberries will put up runners which will easily fire over that area. to start with not too bothered with large quantities, if we get anything that makes it to the dinner table every now and again I'd be happy with that until we get the hang of it of course

£30 budget Workable - yeah. Look for free or cheap seeds. Tomorrows homework

What sort of freebies could I get to help, Seeds? Yup - do a search on here for free seeds. Same

Books or online references, where to look - work out what you want to grown and then look up specific questions or ask here. An allotment forum is ideal Carrots, potatoes, tomatoes are a definite as i know they will get eaten, and I am also keen on diff types of lettuce as I really enjoy that and again would definitely get eaten. Ok carrots need soil that has been worked well, ie not too compacted. You dont add any manure to carrots. Remove as many stones as possible. You could either grow them in containers or in the ground. Potatoes i would grow in deep planters but because of the amount of room they would take up in your ground. You need some seed potatoes - have a look around - B&Q and the like may well be selling them off now. Lettuce - easy peasy. Have two tubs - get some mixed salad leaf seed - you can pick this up cheap as anything. 99p here on Ebay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LETTUCE-BABY-LEAF-SALAD-MIXED-INC-7-DRIFFANT-VARIETIES-90-SEED-FREEPOST-/360415327506?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item53ea6d7512. Sow them in a tub, cover lightly with compost and water. After a few weeks/a month - sow another tub - easy to grow and so much cheaper than shop bought bags of salad.

Should I buy the upside down planters for Strawberries - begtter in the ground if you wasnt anything like a decent crop Would the planters work to start with, just to give me more room in the ground - they would - Poundland sell stacking strawberry planters, errrr for a quid!

Other tips and advice would be so very much appreciated, as the kids are off on holiday now would be good to make a start this week and also if today is anything to go by I am going to get my head nipped until its done - Again - think about exactly what you want to do then research or ask questions.

Thank YOU, I think Luck and you guys is all we need.

Updated responses above.

poodlegal

Yeah, forget the strawberry planters, they are expensive, dry out quick and are not MSE as they dont allow the plants to spread (strawberrys put out runners and form new plants) so you need to use your patch or another wee patch for them. Make sure you protect from slugs/birds when fruiting,

nicola00

gazza975526570 wrote: »

Here are few freebies to get you on your way.

Free tomato seed:
http://www.papasbigtomatochallenge.com/register-and-order-seeds

Free pea, sweetcorn and carrot seed:
https://www.facebook.com/birdseye/app_167705676678807

Codes for the one above are - Then enter codes: GROWCARROTS, GROWPEAS or GROWCORN using L2025

Excellent just sent for them

nicola00

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vip/default-incentives/garden-equipment-collection/inc96029TM

is this one of those too good to be true moments??

P&P seems high just for seeds

becs

I'm also a complete novice but did grow salad and courgettes last year! Re your space issue, I saw this recently and not only is it ingenious but I think it looks fantastic as well!
http://pinterest.com/pin/24066179228814690/

nicola00

becs wrote: »

I'm also a complete novice but did grow salad and courgettes last year! Re your space issue, I saw this recently and not only is it ingenious but I think it looks fantastic as well!
http://pinterest.com/pin/24066179228814690/

That's clever eh?

Now that attached to my fence would be good