Hello all, newbie here!

[SaraJH]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading these forums all weekend and thought that I should take the plunge and register!

I'm very new to growing your own and will be using this forum extensively no doubt!

I'm fortunate to now have quite a big garden and we are just in the process of constructing our veg garden. We are building 4 raised beds (8' x 4') with nice wide gravel paths and plenty of space for other containers. It's really taking shape and should be ready in a week or so, very exciting!

So now to the exciting and daunting task of what to plant for a varied crop of veg throughout the season, it's all very complicated and my brain is aching with thinking about how we will manage everything. I'm sure we will soon get the hang of things, I just have first time nerves lol.

I'm bound to have loads of questions and am looking forward to becoming an active member of this site!

Sara

[Nannysally99]

Welcome to the Vine Sara, hope all goes well with your new veg plot

[WendyC]

Welcome to the Vine! It does seem daunting at first but can I suggest you focus on growing a few vegetables well and learn about those, increasing your range each year. No need to grow everything this year. Also think about how many, say cabbages, you really need. Grow what the family like to eat is also an obvious one!

[craftymarie]

Welcome to the Vine, Sara You will gradually find out all you need to know as you go along and anything you get stuck on, you can ask here. Loads of friendly and experienced growers. Your plans sound very exciting. I'm also hoping to make some raised beds sometime this year so will be interested to read about your experience.

[Verinda]

Hello Sara, welcome to the forum good luck with your new veggie plot, you will find lots of help here.

[Lisasbolt]

Helcome to the vine

Remember to grow what you actually like to eat, good ones are the quick crop salad leaves as they can be ready as soon as 3 weeks and it feels good to get something so soon and do not forget the amazing tomato plant courgettes are great for a beginner easy and very prolific. Good luck

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

Don't be scared to ask questions no matter how daft they may seem, they are not a bad bunch on here

[SaraJH]

Thanks all for the friendly welcome!

Growing what we like to eat won't be a problem, I don't think that there is a veg, fruit or salad veg that we don't like!

Initial thoughts are:

Potatoes in bags
Strawberries
Raspberries
Cherry and Apple espaliers
Carrots
Shallots
Courgettes
Broad beans
Runner beans
Cabbage
Salad leaves and radishes
Tomatoes
Beetroot
Brussels Sprouts

In for a penny lol!

Do you think that we are being too ambitious/ not ambitious enough? To be honest I have no idea how much we will get in our beds? We are growing for just myself and my husband so not a huge family to feed

[Lisasbolt]

To be honest i think that is a nice list, shallots you should be getting on with asap, but others you can slowly do throughout the season. Chilli´s and peppers are a favourite on the vine.
Cabbages can be very easy and will happily sit in the ground for a couple of months till you are ready to use them.
Think about so winter greens as well, kale, PSB, cabbages.

[SaraJH]

To be honest i think that is a nice list, shallots you should be getting on with asap, but others you can slowly do throughout the season. Chilli´s and peppers are a favourite on the vine.
Cabbages can be very easy and will happily sit in the ground for a couple of months till you are ready to use them.
Think about so winter greens as well, kale, PSB, cabbages.

Thank you!

How could I forget chillies, we both love chillies so will definitely be growing those.

Will also look into Kale and PSB. oh and Swiss chard as it looks so pretty lol

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome to the vine.
I couldn't agree more with " must grow chilli's ". But you really need either a big windowsills, greenhouse or polytunnel. They like to be nice and warm all the time.
What ever you do, enjoy it.

[SaraJH]

This is how the beds look today lol

They are north/ south and the south facing fence will have 3 x espaliers planted in it (1 x cherry, 1 x eating apple and 1 x dessert apple).

Hopefully you can see the pic?

Chillies will be grown in a greenhouse that can't be seen in the pic, it's west facing on the end of our garage.

[Bigmallly]

Hello Mr & Mrs Sara, welcome to the Jungle. Nice looking garden, will look even nicer in a few months time. I would be tempted to use some of that fence for your climbing Beans due to the limited number of beds. Courgettes are beasts so will take up one bed, I would imagine your Brassicas will be going in the same bed, Strawberries could easily take up a bed, leaving one bed which I personally one make into a SFG bed for the likes of Beetroot, Shallots, Leeks, Carrots..........Anyway, I'm sure you have got your own ideas so ignore my ramblings............

Ooooh! almost forgot..........perfect time for putting your pic on here:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dar_87848.html

[veggiechicken]

Hello Sara - welcome to the Grapevine
Your garden is going to look lovely soon when its overflowing with veggies and fruit.
You've had so much advice that I'll just say, pull up a chair and make yourself at home.
Do you like cake?

[Knight of Albion]

A very warm welcome to the forum, dear Sara