new to gardening

[Deleted User]

Can I ask for some help - I'm new to growing veggies.

I only have a small garden and no room for proper vegetable beds so things like runner beans will need to grow in flower beds (between other bushes) - plus I'll put some things in Pots.

My question is - how do I get the soil ready to plant things like runner beans out (I've heard they're very "hungry" !)

Am also considering: Outdoor tomatoes, herbs (esp coriander and parsley and basil), a courgette plant (as I've heard they're quite ornamental?) rocket and spring onions.

tlck9

Hi there

I am new to this also, however I grew runner beans last year in a pot about 2 foot aRound - I have four plants and grew them up a metal trellis type thingy.

I have lots from it, but made sure they were in the sun

They do need watering, although I was never good at remembering - although last summer we had rain rain and rain so it didnt matter

I've done this quite a bit and used a combination of compost from my bin, soil from the garden and compost from abag

My carrots didnt so so well - they came out about 2" long

peppers are good to grow in grow bags and easily from the seeds in your pepper and then I usually dry them and plat them

hungrynurse_2

one word: pots

we have a largish but cheap pot which has all out herbs in which stops them over growing too, and we are planning for vegies this year in pots too- there are varieties which are taylored to pots, just browse through the seed catalogues

Shelley84

Hi,

We are in the process of sorting our garden out. I am going to have a vegetable patch on one side of the garden.

I would like to know how I go about it. Do I need certain soil/compost or will the stuff thats there be ok? How big will it need to be?

I'm thinking of carrots, potatoes, cabbage, runner beans maybe. Strawberries too. This is to start with, then onto more complicated things?!

So if anyone has any advice on how to 'prepare' the ground and where to start that would be fab!!

Thanks

Farway

First requirement is a good strong back!

You do not need special soil, what you have will be fine [assuming it is not an old scrapyard], however the more compost & rotted manure etc you add to it will gradually help to improve it

Prepare ground is really easy, but can be hard work if all done at once and you are not used to it, it is manual labour, hence the need for a strong back

You need one fork, start at the end, stick fork in, turn soil over, working backwards, repeat until it is all done

Remove weeds as you go

pototoes are good crop to start with, because the action of you having to plant, earth up & harvest will turn the soil over again

gilly1964

I am fairly new to this gardening lark and have decided to grow some runner beans, tomatoes, strawberries and herbs but have no idea what to do

I have an old Belfast Sink in the garden which has become the herb/strawberry garden

It has chives, oregano and dill in, these are the main herbs I use. I am also going to plant some mint as we use this in the summer - should I leave this in the pot, as I am sure I read somewhere that this can take over?
The strawberries are planted in it also and I have placed some bark underneath to stop the nasties getting to them - is this the right thing to do.

I have cheated with the runner beans and tomatoes and bought plants. I have 5 runner beans plants - they only cost me £1 from the local charity garden shop. I was going to put them into pots - the pots are 12 inches deep and 15 inches in diameter - I thought a maximun of 3 plants to this size, supported by canes - does that sound about right? But what do I do with them once they are in the pots, do I have to stop them growing too tall. I presume you pick the beans when they are about six inches long for best taste. If I am lucky and end up with too many, do I just blanche and freeze?

I have another pot for the tomato plant - it is Moneymaker and only cost 50p from the same place. I was going to move it into another pot till it gets bigger and then move it permamnetly outside in about 3 weeks. I know you have to pull the bits betweem the stem and main leaves off, but is there anything else I need to do? How tall should I let it get before I cut the top off.

I told you I was new to this, but now I have written that out I feel almost proficient. I know what I want to achieve and have a vague idea of how to do it, it's getting to the end result that is the problem.

What do I use to feed the plants? Do I need something different for everything or will water be enough?

I look forward to hearing your advice. And the best bit I read here is what I am aiming for - a hoe in one hand and a glass of wine in the other :beer:

Thanks in advance
Gilly

Jack's_mummy

You sound like you know more than you give yourself credit for

I just use a dose of tomato food for most things once they start to fruit (£1 in the pound shop for a big bottle - just dilute in watering can as per the back of the bottle)

The runner beans I take out the op of the plant when it reaches the tops of the canes and pick the beans as soon as they are big enough. Blanch and freeze any extra. I think 2 or three in those pots will be fine.

Tomato I think you let them get as big as 3 fuiting branches tall??

Mint - yes keep it in the pot or it will take over.

Best of all have fun - everything has 2 chances - grow or not!!

gilly1964

Jack's_mummy wrote: »

I just use a dose of tomato food for most things once they start to fruit (£1 in the pound shop for a big bottle - just dilute in watering can as per the back of the bottle)

Start to fruit - is that when the flowers appear?

Thanks
Gilly

Jack's_mummy

Sorry, when they start to produce something, beans, tomatoes etc.

starlightdisco

We are new to growing veggies. DD is loving it lol.

We have planted a blackcurrent bush this year and it growing well. I assume we'll get fruit next summer.

We have just harvested a pot of carrotts that DD grew and they are small and odd shapes but really nice.

We are growing 2 lots of runner beans, one set planted a few weeks ago so probably won't come to much.

Our cherry toms are great from a hanging basket

Really want to plant spuds in a dustbin - is this too late?

What else can you suggest for a tiny garden with lots of tubs