new to gardening

nodwah

Well done, glad you've got the bug!

See the potato thread (don't know how to link it) for ideas about growing spuds for Xmas.

maria340

Hi,
Last week I sowed some more peas, radishes,spinach and salad mix (rocket/pakchoi etc) seeds, these are great for small tubs or pots.

I have grown Red bell peppers, melons and sweetcorn for the first time this year, in tubs, all doing great. The sweetcorn is incredible, my son measures it every day, it's now over 6 foot.
Every year I grow, Runner beans(Recommend 'Red knight'), Peas, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Radishes, spring onions, watercress, stawberries and different herbs.
The cucumbers ('marketmore')are my favourite, nothing like you get in the supermarket.

Never grown potatoes before but i'm going to give them a go along with cauli, mooli, raspberries, chillies, and carrots.
I save all the cardboard tubes from kitchen roll (school now have enough but can't bring myself to chuck them), have about 60, someone suggested I use them for starting off carrots as you can then just plant the whole thing out (I knew they would come in handy).

chinatown_2

Well I havent even started yet but the idea is there.
We have a paved back/front garden. The front gets no sunshine until 5-6pm ish. The back gets sun all day but its small and I cant fill too much space with pots as I have 2 little one who like to play out there with a large sand pit.
I have a long narrow stetch leading from 'garden' to the back door which gets sunshine morning until 1pm then it moves onto the higher 'garden'. (shouldve taken pics). The sun stays on the main part all day.
Is there anything I an start to grow now? Ive read that many posts Im confused. Some say potatoes are fine others say move into a greenhouse.
I have no room for a greenhouse (not even a small one).
What could I plant in pots? Im interested in growing potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, salady things etc. These are what we buy most in shops.

Jack's_mummy

Carrots and potatoes worth a try now (my potatoes in a pot only got the sun up until 1pm and were fine.Spring onions worth a try but with limited space I wouldn't bother with onions (which I think you are looking are too late for this year )

Salady things are definately a goer!

FROSTYFRECKLE

Hi,

I buy seeds from Real Seeds and have bought bunching onion seeds - for planting out Aug/Sept - they are meant to be a bit like leeks, think they are Japanese. How about rhubarb - does not mind shade, grows anywhere even in pots. Saw carrot seeds on Victoriana Nursery website for year round carrots - so might be able to plant some just now (never tried these seeds but have thought about it, have bought other things from Victoriana Nursery) Do you use herbs - what about parsley and chives - both perennials can be sown anytime. Other herbs are more suitable for planting in Spring. Ooh forgot about blueberries - grow in pots brilliantly but you must use ericaneous compost. Some blueberry bushes have beautiful red foliage in Autumn - Lidls are selling blueberry bushes on Thursday for £1.29. They are also selling rasps, goosberry plus others. What about radish - can plant out until September. Cress - plant year round indoors - great for kids to grow. Do you like Rocket - can be panted out until the end of the month, the same for Lambs Lettuce and mixed lettuce leaves. Okay now I'm out of ideas but good luck

chinatown_2

Thanks for the replies.
Ive got the day without LOs tomorrow so might see if pound stretcher have any cheap large pots.

We use herbs sometimes so that info is useful. What is 'ericaneous compost'?

If I get some pots and seeds shall I just buy some compost (used to have a composter in old house but since moved with a paved garden we cant have one) or do I need to buy normal soil too? Im a complete novice as you can tell lol.

FROSTYFRECKLE

Hi Chinatown,

For pots I go to Morrisons and buy the pots used for the fresh flowers - 8 for 99p. You usually find them hidden under a table near to the plants section. The pots are really easy to drainage holes in. Ericaneous compost is a compost with an acidic pH. Normal compost is either slightly alkaili (spelling?) or neutral. Lidls are selling off "normal" compost cheap just now. I normally need to get ericaneous compost in a garden centre or B&Q. Loads of places are selling seeds off cheap - buy a few and try growing them. Another idea as you have a couple of wee ones why not grow sprouting seeds like alfalfa etc. Saw Woolies were selling them off cheap.

I like cheap:D

I have raised beds and use pots as I have rotten soil and drainage. With my pots I make sure there are plenty of drainage holes - you can never have too many. Then I fill the pots to about an inch off the top with compost. My pots are on top of chips so drainage holes are clear. If you are placing your pots on concrete/slabs etc then before you put your compost in you need to help drainage. If you have any bits of polystyrene put it in first then the compost. Alternatives are broken plant pots, stone chips etc.

chinatown_2

Ive just found an old Kerb-it recycle box behind our shed thing. I thought when we moved in we didnt have one so phoned the council for a new one, oops. Anyway would this be ok to grow carrots or potatoes in? It has holes in the bottom I think or we could put a couple in.

Thanks for the other advice too.

Forgot to add does anything grow well in a shaded area? It seems a shame to waste a shaded wall which could have wall pots on and the ground below if I could get something in there.

chinatown_2

Ive been having a quick read of things about sowing seeds and when they are ready. How do people grow things all year round? Do they just eat carrots in spring, herbs in summer etc then buy from shops the rest of the time?

Jack's_mummy

If you plan well you can have something from the garden most of the year. I have been eating home carrots since June and have enough in pots probably for another couple of months. Sowing successionally is the key. Little and often. There are lettuces that will grow through the winter (lambs lettuce is one). If you can get hold of it the Carol Kein Grow your own veg book is quite good. Try your library for that and others.

Also this website http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Indexes/index.htm is great for what to sow when.

Oh and the recycle box would be great for carrots. You could divide it up on the surface with a bit of wood and sow carrots a few weeks apart in each section to get a succession.