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First time gardener, embarking on a new journey!

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  • First time gardener, embarking on a new journey!

    Hello, I live in France and have recently bought a house with a garden (having moved out of Paris for this reason among others) and ready to personalise it.

    It's hard to know where to start really and in terms of timing all the digging should really have been done at the end of last year according to all the things I've read up to now...anyway just started digging up all the brambles at the bottom of the garden where I plan to have my vegetable patch and have just ordered some gardening books (I'm a TOTAL novice) and am interested in looking at planting my vegetable patch with other plants for beneficial results in terms of keeping the creepy crawlies away etc...

    If anyone has any classic combinations or ANY tips at all really please feel free as I'm open to any suggestions.
    I will update my progress during the year regarding anything that seems to work or not.

    My future plot (when I've managed to dig all the brambles out) must be about 20m long by 1m50 wide and not really sure what to plant yet but have thought beetroot, potatoes, carrots, leeks, brussel sprouts...classics I guess!
    Not sure if the dimensions of the plot are perfect but the low concrete border is already in place and so I figured that I'd start with that at least for my first year's gardening experience.
    I am also a little worried about the brambles...I am digging them out and trying to get as deep as possible (really hard work) but am worried about them growing back from any small root remains left. Also, just over the fence at the bottom of the garden there are more brambles and so think that they will almost definately be coming across to bother me at some stage. I don't want to use any weed killers to kill it off though but perhaps there are some natural methods out there.... If anyone has any tips regarding this, feel free!

    Anyway, since I am just starting out and have very little knowledge and/or direction I apologise for the fact that this post is more of a rambling than anything else but I hope that in time I will become a little more organised and concise!

    This seems like a great site, so am looking forward to learning and sharing!

  • #2
    Hello Chaz and welcome to the vine.
    I will have to leave giving advice to the more experienced members of the vine, I'm afraid!
    Good luck with this year's growing.

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    • #3
      Hello Chaz and welcome. There's plenty of advice on here about everything gardening related and lots of other topics that have no connection with gardening whatsoever!
      I've found with brambles that you just have to keep digging them out until eventually you win!. Cut all the branches down so that they cannot spread by tip-rooting, then dig out the roots as much as you can. You can garden around them in the short term - just keep them cut down. Most veg are not in the ground for a long time so whenever you have a veg free bit, attack the brambles again. Don't be discouraged!!

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      • #4
        Hello and a very warm welcome to the Vine. You'll find loads of information and advice if you browse around, or post a specific question and you'll be amazed at how many replies you get!
        Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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        • #5
          Hi and welcome!

          Stongly recommend some lettuces or salad leaves, as you can harvest these so very quickly (satisfying) and you can grow them in amongst the slower growing stuff.

          Good luck and looking forward to the updates....
          If the river hasn't reached the top of your step, DON'T PANIC!

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          • #6
            Brambles aren't all bad, they provide food and shelter for nesting birds, are a good burglar deterrant, and give you fruit too

            Any bits that show up in your plot, just dig/cut out as you go. Cut and hack and lever out as many roots as you can, then keep on top of it.
            All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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            • #7
              Hi Chaz, welcome to the Vine.

              paul.
              Help Wildlife.
              Take only photos-leave only footprints-Kill only time.

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              • #8
                Hello Chaz, welcome to the Vine
                Chris


                My Allotment Journal @
                Google+ and Youtube

                https://plus.google.com/106010041709270771598/posts

                http://www.youtube.com/user/GrowingJournal/videos
                -

                Updated Regularly-Last Update was 30-05-16

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                • #9
                  My advice - start at one end and clear a patch then plant it up. Don't clear loads as before you know it; behind you everything re-germinates and you end up wasting all your time.

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                  • #10
                    Hi Chaz, welcome
                    www.gyoblog.co.uk

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                    • #11
                      You've had some good tips given you so I can't really add anything apart from to say hello and welcome to the vine Chaz
                      Location....East Midlands.

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                      • #12
                        Just seen your post...this is just a welcome from another french 'grape' ....
                        I'm in SW France .....so miles away ! You are probably closer to grapes in Kent than to me...
                        Last edited by Jardiniere; 15-03-2012, 07:26 PM. Reason: doh!
                        http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...gs/jardiniere/

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                        • #13
                          Hi and welcome to the vine.

                          Lots of great helpful people and advice are to be found on this site, enjoy.

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                          • #14
                            Hi there - welcome to the vine. If I was growing anything in a warmer spot it would be squashes, courgettes and pumpkins. You have plenty of time to clear some planting spots and fertilise lots ready for some great ground cover plants!
                            Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

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                            • #15
                              Bienvenu (is it?) - if not welcome!

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