Starting off

Irishmummyof2

Dh and i have decided that we would like to grow some veg of our own, just a few lettuces, tomoatoes, is it possible to do strawberries?
What others would you recommd? How much space would we need?
Any info would be great.
Thanks

Debt_Free_Chick

Lettuces grow pretty quickly. If you have some prepared ground, get some seeds in now.

Toms - if you can find any plants, you might get a crop this year, but it's a little late.

Strawbs - you won't get anything this year. Better to plan for next year.

Why not take a visit to a garden centre and see what plants are on offer. These would be seedlings that have grown and are ready to put in the ground. See what they have and if you fancy growing any of them.

Right now, we are transplanting brassicas which we'll grow through the winter.

Currently harvesting lettuce, asparagus, beetroot, carrot, turnips, broad beans, potatoes, strawberries, raspberries (and others). And waiting for runner beans, sweetcorn etc to mature.

WestonDave

You can do a lot in a pretty small space - often because many plants crop better if harvested regularly so its almost better not to have too many plants if that makes sense.Any plant is trying to produce seeds and if you keep "nicking" them before they mature (i.e. the fruit/veg goes over) they will keep putting out more in an attempt to reproduce for next year.

That said gardening like anything worthwhile is a lot about preparation and timing. You may find one or two things you can plant from seed this year - if you're after lettuce that should be fine and you might find other things which should have been sown in May are worth a punt provided we don't get a cold snap early in the autumn to kill them before the crop ripens.

I've got strawberries starting to form up on plants I grew from seed in March - I think you can start these later in this year to give them a head start for next year (these were Suttons seeds which all have a very helpful grid on the back showing when to sow - worth a browse even if you buy another cheaper brand!). They are in a special strawberry pot (birthday present from the in laws) so 9 plants takes up about a foot square of patio. I've got runner beans in a 2foot diameter pot growing up a tripod of canes which should give me a fair harvest. A couple of tomato plants in pots should do us enough tomatoes. (I had 4 plants a couple of years back in our previous house and they produced so many we were throwing them away or leaving them to rot on the plants!). A few pepper plants are in another trough at the back of the patio. (Other than the strawberries most were spares from friends etc as we've only been in the house 9 months - of which a total rewire and a new baby have not left much gardening time!)

In the long term growing from seed is cheaper but for a bit of fun and practise this year, I'd go to the local garden centre (if you can find a proper plant nursery rather than the glossy chain places so much the better) and see what plants they've got that you fancy a go at - have some fun and you'll be more like to put in the graft for next year. There's little point doing a lot of work too late in the year and getting disappointed so you never try again.

Irishmummyof2

Thnks, i think we are trying to get prepared for next year as expected it to be too late now.