How do I get started?

FairyPrincessk

I'm fairly new to gardening, but we've just (as of Sunday!) moved into a house with a very small plot. The LL has said we can put in whatever we want and I would love to get a few things in. I've watched the plot the past few days and most of it gets sun from mid morning until sundown, although one patch gets very little sun as it is shaded by the fence. Currently they are a few strawberry plants already in, with blooms!:T

So, I know it is a bit late for some things, but I'd like to get a few edibles in as money is very tight for us. However, I have virtually no budget for this. Whatever I spend needs to come out of the grocery budget for this summer.

What I have:

2 Pitchfork like things
2 Large rake like things
I think a large shovel
A tiny bit of potting soil left from another project
Some old lettuce seeds
Some old Lavender seeds
A friend who has offered her leftover carrot seeds, pots, a bit of soil, her leftover chitted spuds (have no idea what to do with these!:rotfl:) and anything else she and her partner have leftover from their allotment.

I would like to put in some courgettes as I understand it isn't too late for those and they're a good return on investment.

So, what else do I need, and how should I get started? I have grown things before--mostly flowers, and know a bit about gardening as I come from a long line of ladies who grow their own--but they're not from the UK so they tend to know about hot climates.:rotfl:

I was thinking I should start by putting my lettuce and lavender seeds in water and seeing if they're still goo enough to sprout, then getting them in some toilet roll tubes as seedlings. Will also try to get out in the garden this afternoon and turn over the soil that isn't inhabited by strawberries.

I've been putting eggshells around since we moved in to let the slugs know its time to move along..but I have a feeling this might be a turf war...:eek: