The ups, the downs and the insides out of growing your own in 2026!

Suffolk_lass

I'm going to give it a go tomorrow, in my downtime from study. Some cardboard, plastic from a compost bag, and some compost. Probably get some veg like salads underway.

In other news, at least one of each tomato variety has germinated, with 9 of the cherry, Sungold. Hooray!

droopsnoot

Some of the lettuce I planted last Sunday are now coming up, so I'll have to get moving with clearing some space in the vegetable patch to transplant them. At least I think they're lettuce - I planted lettuce at one end of the trays and onions at the other, but I might have turned the tray round while carrying them. As they've got more than one leaf I'm assuming lettuce. Planted a couple more tomato seedlings into pots as well. Threw out all but one of the chilli seeds in tray as there was nothing going on - one had started to sprout from the seed, so that's in a separate pot. Running out of space on the window sill now.

cardtexpert

Started propagating some seeds for spring. Gem lettace, cherry tomatoes, beef tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon ( as a test) several varieties of squash. I planted 6 seeds that I thought were Zuccini but after seeing the size of the plants coming up, I think its zuccini squash. Also artichokes which make amazing plants and flowers for decoration as well as good veg.

The weather is very unpredictable this year so far, with it being 16 degrees near me yesterday but frosty and snowing today. So we will see.

Update: Gem Lettace might not lost until its time to plant outisde.

Makingabobor2

Want to try and grow peas this year, never tried them before. Went to garden centre to have a look at the seeds, but there was so many varieties I didn't have a clue which were the best. Any recommendations of which ones I should try?

Got some seed potatoes and noticed that one of the packets said you shouldn't plant them in an area where potatoes have been in the last 2 years!! Well I grow mine in massive pots…really big ones. Does that mean I can't reuse the same compost? I was hoping to just add some fresh and mix it in. I do have one of those potato bags as well, but could get another one of those I suppose. But the huge pot is so much deeper and I don't really want to have to empty it and start again from scratch with all fresh compost. I used the same pot for 2 years now, and it was fine.

Hoping to start some seeds off indoors this week as well.

Farway

Want to try and grow peas this year, never tried them before. Went to garden centre to have a look at the seeds, but there was so many varieties I didn't have a clue which were the best. Any recommendations of which ones I should

One of the best is Hurst Green Shaft, should be easy to find because of it's popularity. Not a tall pea, grows to three feet. https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/pea-hurst-green-shaft/classid.2000014658/

You could also think about some of the Mange Tout varieties, sometimes known as Sugar pod. With these it's the young pods you are after.

Try and avoid the tall, over six feet, ones, nothing wrong with them but do need supports and netting, for your first go, stick with the shorter ones

Farway

Got some seed potatoes and noticed that one of the packets said you shouldn't plant them in an area where potatoes have been in the last 2 years!! Well I grow mine in massive pots…really big ones. Does that mean I can't reuse the same compost? I was hoping to just add some fresh and mix it in. I do have one of those potato bags as well, but could get another one of those I suppose. But the huge pot is so much deeper and I don't really want to have to empty it and start again from scratch with all fresh compost. I used the same pot for 2 years now, and it was fine.

You can use same compost as you suggest, but you are starting to run the risk of pests & disease that by now are in the old compost. You can only "get away with it" for so long, may be fine, or not, choice is yours

The old compost is fine for something not potato related, like salad,carrots, parsnips etc, but not tomato, same family,

Makingabobor2

Thanks @Farway , I will check them out.

Makingabobor2

When you start seeds off on windowsill, is it best to just keep them on the same one, or move them from front to back of the house to follow the sun?

fionaandphil

I would try 1 lot on each windowsill and see which works best for your plants. Different plants may need different heat and light levels. Like a lot of gardening it's a try it and see type of thing.

Inspired by you all, I ventured into the greenhouse yesterday. I planted some lettuce, Roma and Gardeners delight tomato, green beans, outdoor cucumbers and a few other things to use up the end of seed packets. We were gifted some seeds by friends over winter and I'm going to try and use those this year before buying any more. There are so many packets of bean seeds it may take a few years! It felt like a great day to be starting yesterday with some lovely warm weather but I know the seeds don't always agree that it's warm enough.

I also cleared some weeds and leaf debris from the raised beds and will use the spent tomato compost from last year to top them up.

Makingabobor2

Is it warm enough to put them in greenhouse/cold frame when sun is shining & bring them in at night? Its my first year with greenhouse, so no idea.