I love food.. so why not grow my own...

[Grow Bag]

Hello everyone..

I am new to any kind of gardening, including growing veg, but thanks to my Dad, who is also a Grapevine member.. I now have the bug..

I live right by the sea on the Hampshire coast and currently have 6 chickens, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 rescue rabbits (I have been reading that their currants are fab to put straight into the garden.. (that's if the dogs don't eat them first).. the currants that is.. not the rabbits )).. and a very handy other half that will knock bits and bobs up for me when he's not tinkering with his lambrettas.

This weekend I have got my first ever proper greenhouse, 8' x 6' it is.. and I am in heaven already as I have had seeds germinating all over the house on various windowsills..

I love food and cooking.. so am very excited for this year's produce.. (I am waiting with anticipation to cook a sweet chilli jam I've had the recipe for for yonks)..

I have on the go tomatoes, chillies, peppers, potatoes, leeks, parsnips, pumpkin, squash and beetroot. With just 2 raised beds at the moment (but working on a third), I am looking for any receptacle that I can get my hands on for container planting..

I don't really have any idea what I'm doing yet.. so along with hints and tips from Dad.. welcome any advice (especially on the greenhouse front) from anyone willing to share and will be logging in for daytime reading as often as possible.

Thanks for listening..

Rachel (aka Grow Bag)

[Nicos]

Hi there!

...and welcome to the Vine!

sounds like you are doing better than you think you are !!

hmmmm....* wanders off wondering who 'dad' might be ....

[DannyRam]

Hello Rachel
Some pictures of your garden would be nice......
And where in Hampshire are you...

[veggiechicken]

Hello Rachel and a very big welcome.
You obviously have a very good gardening Dad. Hope he makes himself known to us, in case I call him names by mistake

[Lumpy]

Hello Rachel, welcome to the Vine. It's brilliant that your individuality will add to and enhance this mix

[cariann88]

Hello and welcome to the vine

[Nicos]

Have you tried growing 'broccoli' aka calebrese ...it taste 900% tastier than shop bought 'stuff'.

Carrots too !

Well, infact most fruit and veg are waaaaay tastier than shop bought 'stuff'

I have to say 'stuff',..cos it really is soooo different from shop bought.

[Bigmallly]

Hello Rachel & welcome to the jungle.

[noviceveggrower]

Hello there and welcome to the vine

[Knight of Albion]

A very warm welcome to the forum, dear Rachel.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Rachel

[Grow Bag]

Hi all.. thanks for the warm welcomes.. didn't get chance to log on last night.. was busy feeding the zoo, potting-on chillies in the GREENHOUSE and sewing (I also make dog accessories, I have no idea how I have time to come to work).

I am in Gosport... I've attached some pics of the garden and greenhouse so far.. it's still a work in progress..

Nicos I will have a go at broccoli I think yes.. I love it.. I've been unsure about carrots.. as I'm not a lover of them.. but as I am doing some swedes.. it needs the odd bit of orange mixed through it.. I will have a go at doing some in a bucket I think..

Thanks again, Rachel

[Kristen]

along with hints and tips from Dad.. welcome any advice (especially on the greenhouse front)

In terms of growing your own vegetables my advice, to start with, would be:

1. Only grow what you like to eat. Nothing "experimental" - no sense having crop failure of something you don't actually like - doubly disheartening.

2. Give preference to things that are expensive in the shops - for Feel Good factor of saving some money ...

3 ... and things that re prolific.

Runner Beans and Courgettes for example. You can pick them every couple of days. New Potatoes have good flavour and are expensive in the shops, but don't bother with Main Crop potatoes - cheap in the shops, farmers have much better cold stores than you do, and yours will be sprouting in the cupboard by XMas whereas their's will still be in good nick at the shops / farm gate and Main Crop much more at risk from Blight

4. Grow for flavour. Over time you can choose varieties that you prefer (keep a paper notebook or computer file/spreadsheet) and record date of sowing, planting out, first/last harvest and how many your grew along with the name/variety of the veg. Plus comments for "Too Many/Few" and "Liked/Disliked Flavour". You can adjust amounts and varieties over the years to come.

Most things will taste better from you garden just for being fresh, but some things like Sweetcorn are particularly good. Don't pick anything for the fridge though, pick straight to the pan (particularly New Potatoes and Sweet Corn - the sugar starts turning to starch from the moment you harvest them

[PyreneesPlot]

Hello and welcome and happy growing and EATING

[Grow Bag]

In terms of growing your own vegetables my advice, to start with, would be:

1. Only grow what you like to eat. Nothing "experimental" - no sense having crop failure of something you don't actually like - doubly disheartening.

2. Give preference to things that are expensive in the shops - for Feel Good factor of saving some money ...

3 ... and things that re prolific.

Runner Beans and Courgettes for example. You can pick them every couple of days. New Potatoes have good flavour and are expensive in the shops, but don't bother with Main Crop potatoes - cheap in the shops, farmers have much better cold stores than you do, and yours will be sprouting in the cupboard by XMas whereas their's will still be in good nick at the shops / farm gate and Main Crop much more at risk from Blight

4. Grow for flavour. Over time you can choose varieties that you prefer (keep a paper notebook or computer file/spreadsheet) and record date of sowing, planting out, first/last harvest and how many your grew along with the name/variety of the veg. Plus comments for "Too Many/Few" and "Liked/Disliked Flavour". You can adjust amounts and varieties over the years to come.

Most things will taste better from you garden just for being fresh, but some things like Sweetcorn are particularly good. Don't pick anything for the fridge though, pick straight to the pan (particularly New Potatoes and Sweet Corn - the sugar starts turning to starch from the moment you harvest them

Great.. thank you for the advice.. I'd never even given a thought to a garden `log book'.. brilliant idea..

Well one of the main reasons I am going for the chillies and peppers is because they are expensive to buy (especially peppers).. so to have my own supply, hopefully, will be amazing....

Rachel