complete beginner

[JoeyG]

I've bought some seeds and I've got a Sankey Growarm 300 on the way, only trouble is I have never grown anything from seed before!... So I could do with beginners guide on how to grow herbs and salad leaves, I couldn't find anything on this site at such a basic level, could anyone point me to articles or a website which could help me

[Sanjo]

Hello JoeyG and welcome to the vine.
I can't help you with the herbs I'm afraid as they are not my thing.
Basic salad stuff really is easy. Really really, honestly it is!!
What sort of area are you talking about for growing in, what kind of soil and what kind of light.
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0701/salads may help you but get hold of a pretty basic gardening book. A lot of us on here recommend Dr. Hessayon's Vegetable and Herb expert. Simple language, good pictures and hints on help wth problems.
I don't think you'll need the growarm at this time of year, especially for things like lettuce. Sprinkle the seeds in the row and they come up. Hope that is of some help but if you need more then I am sure another grapeviner will pop up with advice. Whatever else I would advise is. ENJOY it.
It's fun and it's healthy. Best Wishes Sanjo

[HeyWayne]

I'd second the recommendation of teh Dr Hessayon book - very easy to use. I also have The Allotment Book - Andi Cleveley, and Grow Your Own Veg - Carol Klein. Both simple and cover the basics.

Not sure if I'm right or not, but I tent to use the size of the seed as a guide of how deep to sow etc. Large seeds I push into the soil/compost until they are submerged to twice their depth then cover them, and small seeds I just sow onto moist compost.

Seed packets give you a good guide for when/how to sow, but remember they are just a guide - what you may be able to sow in late March in Kent, you may have to wait a couple of months if you live in Inverness.

The best piece of advice I've found is not to be afraid of making mistakes - it's often the best way of learning.

Good luck, and try to enjoy it.

[HotStuff]

Hi JoeyG, welcome to the Vine. I'm no expert, but I do know some herbs require different approaches, are there any you are particularly interested in ?

[geoff]

Go to your library;they will have loads of gardening books, all for free! Get a selection, and you are sure to pick up techniques and ideas, even if a lot of the contents are not relevant Discount bookshops always seem to have a couple of books on growing herbs. And yes, The Vegetable Expert is as good a book to start with as any, and it's not tooo expensive. If all else fails, follow the instructions on the packets!

[Sweepster]

Try Herb growing advice | Projects | How-to | BBC Gardeners' World

and Growing vegetables - grow salad leaves from seed | How to | Projects | BBC Gardeners' World

[JoeyG]

Hey thanks for the responses, sorry my post was a bit vague... I live in a basement with no garden so it will be indoor windowledges only

The seeds I have so far are: oregano, spinach, rocket, mixed salad, and 2 types of chilli

I've done a bit of research so I know the chillis will start better with a bit of heat... I plan to grow alot more when I get the hang of it, hence the heated propagator... I've got some supermarket herbs growing already, just never done it from seed

[HeyWayne]

Since first reading this post I've been singing "Absolute Beginners" - David Bowie.

[taff]

All salady type leaves are simple to grow. Get one of those little trough type things, fill with 3-ish inches of compost, take a pinch of seeds from each packet of salad, sprinkle evenly on the surface, not too thickly, sift a little bit of compost on top, not much, just enough to cover the seeds, water gently, by sprinkling water on, not pouring it, keep the compost moist, if it looks dry on top, stick your finger in about an inch, if it's damp, don't water.
Leave for about a week/ten days, watch things sprouting, then just pick the leaves as and when.
For an example, I put about 5 rocket seedlings in a little trough, about a foot and a half long, 4 inches deep, there's enough rocket there now for me to pick for a salad for me today and tomorrow, then leave for a day or two, and there'll be enough there again.
What you're doing is planting cut and come again salad, so pick the leaves individually, or in a clump, and leave the rest to grow.
Can't help with chillis sorry, but oregano, put it in a pot, sow the same way as the salad leaves, treat exactly the same.

[HotStuff]

For my Oregano the only thing I did different to what taff said was to put a sheet of clingfilm over the top of the pot having watered it to keep the moisture in until I saw seedlings poking up, then take it off. But either way is good, whatever works for you.

With the Chillies, I don't want to be negative but it might be a bit late in the year to start from seed. Because Chillies come from warmer climates they generally need a long growing season. Your propagator will be good for starting them off, but depending on the variety they can take several months until they produce fruit. What types of seed did you get?

[JoeyG]

For my Oregano the only thing I did different to what taff said was to put a sheet of clingfilm over the top of the pot having watered it to keep the moisture in until I saw seedlings poking up, then take it off. But either way is good, whatever works for you.

With the Chillies, I don't want to be negative but it might be a bit late in the year to start from seed. Because Chillies come from warmer climates they generally need a long growing season. Your propagator will be good for starting them off, but depending on the variety they can take several months until they produce fruit. What types of seed did you get?

Thanks, I got Cayenne and Jalapenos... would a grow light help?

[HotStuff]

Thanks, I got Cayenne and Jalapenos... would a grow light help?

I'm sure it would, don't know about now, but certainly in the Autumn to extend the season. I've never used one myself, but several people on here have and some of the pics they have posted look great.

The first of my Jals is just developing flower buds, 14 weeks after sowing. Haven't got any on my Cayennes yet, but from what I've read they should start showing at about 16 weeks.

There is a social group for Chilli Heads on the Vine which you may find interesting. And if you want some more inspiration, check out this thread

Beware though, Chilli growing can be addictive.