Hello from Yorkshire

[MichaelD]

Hello everybody.

Just a quick stop by to introduce myself.

I'm a total beginner to growing fruit and vegetables so I am looking for all the help I can get.

I'm going to be growing in my back garden which is of average size I would say.

I would like to start of with around 5 this year, keep it organic. Down the line I would love to grow year round and reduce my food bills, carbon footprint and live a more sustainable and local existence.

I'd also love to raise chickens in the future.

Looking forward to getting to know everybody

Kind Regards
Mike

[veggiechicken]

Hi Mike and welcome
Lots of friendly advice available on this Forum - all you have to do is ask! We like questions.

First thing for you to decide is what would you like to grow next year - your favourite fruit and veg to eat (and not bananas, pineapples or anything not native to Yorkshire! Even Tea!!).

Secondly, do you have anywhere like a greenhouse where you can protect plants from the worst of the weather and stretch the seasons a bit.

Thirdly - how much room to have for actual growing? You can grow lots of things in pots if you don't have any garden beds yet.

[greenishfing]

Hi, good luck! If you have the space I would suggest keeping an eye out for a secondhand greenhouse over the Winter. There isn't an awful lot you can't grow in Yorkshire with the aid of a greenhouse.

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome to the vine

[MichaelD]

Hi again. Thanks for the warm welcomes.

In answer to the questions.

I'm thinking, potatoes, corn, cucumber and peppers for veggies. Tomatoes and some kind of dark berry for fruit. Perhaps some coriander and mint.

I don't have a green house as yet, to be honest I don't know the benefit of one and I was hoping to keep space for growing in the ground. However, I am open minded and if I see the benefit then I would get one.

I don't have any garden beds, either ground or raised. I will be digging or making, probably digging as I want to learn all about soil. I will have to protect them though from my dog trampling, and my cat either relieving herself in it, or setting up a sun bed in it.

I have what I consider a decent size patch of uneven grass. I don't know the measurement of it but I will upload some images of where I intend to grow.

Thanks again for your help.
Mike

[Mitzi]

Welcome! I live not far from Emley Moor Mast and growing anything here is a challenge. Yorkshire is very varied though.

You will struggle to grow peppers without a greenhouse. I grow chillies in pots outdoors. Last year (hot summer) they did well but this year has been poor.

I haven’t grown much else here except salad leaves which did well this year although chard was destroyed by a combination of slugs and leaf miners.

In your situation (no existing beds) I would research the “no dig” method of growing to see if thar might suit.

Start a compost heap of some form or another.

[Mr Bones]

Hi Mike and welcome to the Vine

[Chestnut]

Hi Mike, and welcome to the vine.

[Baldy]

Welcome along.
Cucumbers, peppers and toms all benefit from a greenhouse. Peppers would be very hard to do without one - for cukes and toms you'd have to select outdoor varieties which would reduce your choices. A cold frame is another option that might suit you.
You could perhaps experiment with a 'blow away' plastic greenhouse - which are cheap (especially this time of year.)
But there are a lot of vegetables that you can grow without additional protection.

Anyhow - good luck,.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Mike I'm also a back garden grower I have a Greenhouse that I use for toms, chillis and cucumbers, they all seem to do a lot better with the protection it gives from the weather.

[Can the Man]

Hi MichaelD, and welcome to the vine.

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome.

I see there's a lot of support for a greenhouse. You might get a decent buy this time of year if you've got the funds. Plus, it would save you the effort of digging if you're only going to cover the greenhouse site with a base later on.

Good luck. Hope you have lots of growing fun.

[chillithyme]

Hi Mike Welcome
Sounds like you have a nice space for growing and exploring.
I can’t do no dig,due to bindweed creeping in from my neighbours plot next door. if I could do no dig then I would
Happy gardening

[bikermike]

The first thing I'd do is start a compost heap.
Grass clippings, uncooked vegetable peelings etc from the kitchen, bit of chopped up cardboard, and there'll be some free fertiliser/mulch for next year.

I'd look at "no dig" as a means of cultivation. You will need a lot of cardboard for that, so keep an eye out for large pieces - eg from flatpack furniture and the like.

In terms of what to grow, there's a reason rhubarb is traditionally grown in Yorkshire. Also, do any of your neighbours grow stuff? keep on eye on other people's patches and see what grows.

Which way does your garden face? If there is a wall that gets a lot of sun, that would be the place to start things off and grow more tender plants against.

P.S. Welcome! hope you a long and successful gardening adventure

[Jungle Jane]

Hello Mike welcome to the vine! I don’t have a greenhouse,I use the plastic blowaways for young tender plants in the spring,or windowsills if the temps are too low. Good luck with all your growing this year,this is a good place to come to for a chat,with lots of different helpful advice