Any tips for a complete novice!

[Not so Green!]

Hi everyone,

I have honestly never managed grown anything in my life, or had a garden before living with my husband. Since becoming pregnant with baby no.2 I have really wanted to start growing some fruit/veg in containers (due to lack of space) but I have no clue as were to start! Is there anything basic I can start off with or am I already to late in the year to start?

Many thanks in advance

Cat xxx

[Florence Fennel]

Welcome to the Grapevine Cat. Depends really on what you like to eat. Plenty of time to sow seeds of salad crops in containers and you could still get your hands on tomato plants, peppers and chillies. Dwarf french beans in different colours, dwarf peas, the list is almost endless. Have a look at the threads on here and you'll get loads of inspiration. Good luck and happy gardening.
Flo

[Nickerly]

You can also buy seedlings and small plants from ebay from sellers who are clearing out their greenhouses and have too much over stock.

Beans are the most satisfying because they grow so fast!

[FionaH]

I just sowed some lettue, salad and carrots in containers today. Oh and welcome to the Vine

[helanuels]

Welcome to the vine!
There are loads of salad things that can be grown now, I grow 'cut and come' again salad because that way you cut it back and eat it and in a couple of days it's ready again and you can start picking it when it's very small. So it's a good way to feel like you've achieved something! Also, my salad has to cope with me being very forgetful and has lived through my dropping a big pot on it by mistake. So I guess it would cope with children when it's a bit bigger? Other grapes will know more about that.

I have sown:
radish
beetroot
carrots (purple haze... very exciting)
salad mix &
peas in the last week.

This is my first year so I've had a lot of help from a lot of grapes. They are so kind and lovely!

Hope you have fun! Hx

[MagicLady]

Hi Not So Green! There are others who can advise you better on what to grow, as I've only just started myself, but the best bit of advice I've got is ..... GO FOR IT!!!! I started growing veggies at Easter, and wish I'd done it YEARS ago. It's so theraputic, great fun, great exercise, and so satisfying when you eventually get to eat the fruits (and veggies) of your labour.

So far I'm growing/have grown:-

radish
runner beans
broad beans
peas
cabbage
courgette
lettuce
tomatoes (don't know why ...... we don't eat them lol)
cucumbers
potatoes

I've got 2 raised beds at the top of the garden, a plastic greenhouse on the patio, and some stuff in pots.

My fellow grapes have been REALLY helpful and encouraging, so don't worry about asking questions on here ...... believe me, I'm sure some of mine have been really daft! But I've always got lots of great advice and support

Enjoy your garden .... when is No. 2 due?

[louisesgarden]

Hi cat, welcome to vine,

ive not been growing very long, start with simple stuff first, than as you build up confidence, you will grow more and more stuff, i bought a RHS veg book and i have to say it was my bible at first, if im worried about a plant i get the book out, if it isnt in the book i consult the vine ! good luck x

[Not so Green!]

Thankyou all for such a warm welcome! I pretty much eat all fruit and veg except celery YUCK! Nickerly thanks for the ebay tip, just been looking on there and they have a good selection so I think i'll try a few different sellers and see which turns out best.
I like the idea of the cut and come again salad. I spend on small fortune on salad bags so it would be great if I could grow my own.
MagicLady- Baby is due in just under 7 weeks!

Cat xxx