getting started on the cheap

[Sweepster]

[...] just in case the novelty wears off!!

It won't

You need to become a 'skip rat'!

Mmm... skips... lovely little havens of junk for freeeee

[Topcat36]

Other peoples gardens you'd be surprised whats lurking in them they dont want obv ask first, i've seen no end of containers that can be used for raised beds etc, oh and empty greenhouses dont get me started on that one tho. Anyway like others have said toilet roll tubes, plastic bottles, drinks cartons those plastic containers that strawbs and raspberries come in make great seed trays. Broken wheelie bins for compost bins and water butts try your local tip as well you never know what you can find. The list is endless.

[zazen999]

I've merged your two threads so that you can keep all the advice together.

For what it is worth, I wouldn't spend a penny on raised bed sides, but raised beds themselves [with the soil higher than the paths] work for me as I don't like digging and re-digging the same ground every year. I've attached a picture taken last week of the sort of thing I mean - it is quite small but you can make out the mounds that are planted up.

You could try taking the grass off some borders around your garden and try growing in those for year 1 to see if you like it.

[ckfe]

do i have to sieve the compost before i plant things in it? planted some carrots, swedes and sprouts today but didn't read the instructions on the seed packets properly so everything is planted in lumpy compost

[Alice]

No you don't have to sieve the compost CKFE. That's for perfectionists who want to grow exhibition specimens for shows. Your plants will be just fine in the compost as it comes.

[ckfe]

thanks alice, i just hacked it up a bit with a trowel after i threw it in

what's the quickest thing to grow? i've got no patience at all, i only started growing things last sunday so it's going to take forever before anything is ready for picking.. not sure i can wait that long!!!

[Bramble_killer]

If you want something quick cropping to keep the faith going, I grew some cut and come again salad I got for free from Lakeland in a giant trough and started cropping in approx 3 weeks.

They take 2/3 days to germinate and then they shoot up. Doing things like spring onion and radishes that grow quickly are good too.

[ckfe]

what's cut and come again salad?

[Bramble_killer]

Royal Horticultural Society - Gardening Advice: Cut & Come Again Vegetables
you can get speedy cropping ones, I'll look for some tomorrow.

[ckfe]

thanks for that bramble, think i'll have a bash at growing some of those

[Bramble_killer]

Salad : Herby Salad Leaf Mixed (Seeds)
This says under 30 days from sowing

or this one
Cut and come again salad offer - Detailed item view - Moreveg U.K. vegetable seed company, herb seed, flower seed, calabrese seed, carrot seed, tomato seed, herb seed

cress is also quick to grow
Cress Common Cress - Detailed item view - Moreveg U.K. vegetable seed company, herb seed, flower seed, calabrese seed, carrot seed, tomato seed, herb seed

[Two_Sheds]

what's the quickest thing to grow?

Radish, lettuce.
You shouldn't sow the whole pack at once, do a few then when they come up sow some more.

French beans are terrific, and will grow really quickly in this weather. Eat them fresh or leave on the bush to dry out for kidney beans. You can get short ones or climbing ones which you grow up a bamboo cane.

If you want some seeds, PM me

[Snadger]

If you want something quick you could bypass the seed stage by buying plants at the GC? I'm sure a punnet of brassicas or leeks the first year wouldn't break the bank and would give something instant to fill up the ground!

[FionaH]

I've merged your two threads so that you can keep all the advice together.

.

She's back five minutes..........

[zazen999]

She's back five minutes..........

It's my forte!!!!

Did you enjoy a week of no merging!!!