Best beginner vegetable

[Lesley Jay]

Definately one of the easiest is courgettes. They grow into a bush type of plant so don't take up too much room. I grow a green one Defender always get good results and I would grow 2 plants - you can freeze any spare fruits. The other vegetable that is easy to grow is runner beans. They don't need to take up too much room. You could have a small wig wam for support. Beetroot, spinach and fennel are all easy just sow the seed straight into the ground.

[andrewo]

Tomatoes

Okay, I think these are the easiest and most rewarding, if you have a warm wall in your yard. Now the blue peter moment, you will need:
1. Pots - I popped down to Asda, they're always throwing away flower sellers pots (black plastic) and these are fantastic.
2. A few canes.
3. Some good compost.
4. Toilet roll inners (cardboard)
5. Bradawl or sharp scissors.
6. A tomato that is not an F1 variety or tomato seeds.
7. Kitchen roll.

Starting:
Scoop seeds out of tomato and place individual seeds an inch apart on kitchen roll (unless using seed), let them dry out on a warm windowsill.

Fill toilet rolls with compost, water, and place two seed to each roll. Place on warm windowsill.

Leave to germinate.

While the little bugger are growing, take the pots and an inch from the bottom around the outside of the pot make holes for drainage all the way round the pot (this leaves a 1" well at the bottom of the pot and prevents them from drying out or being waterlogged).

You can also (optional) make a hole for the cane to go through the bottom of the pot and into the ground (makes them more secure from the wind).

When the seeds have germinated, thin out to one plant per roll. When they are 4-6" high start to harden off (take them in and out of the house lengthening the time - very simplistic I know - but this is a message in itself).

When hardened off, plant the tom and the loo roll in the now compost filled pots. Tie tom to cane.

Nip off any side shoots as this grow, you will spot them as they are between the truss/tomatoes and the main stem.

When the stem is four trusses high, nip out the tops.

Remember, keep watering them, keep tying them in and feed them with potash (grow comfrey if you want a good feed plant, but grow in a pot).

Good companion plant is Basil, plant at the bottom, they love each other but the spot must be sunny for both of them.

Hope that helps. If you do it right, the only thing you will need to splash out on are the canes.

Andrewo

[Acorn]

Tomatoes

I agree with Andrewo. A couple of years ago, I grew tomatoes in pots (first thing I'd ever grown. I had four beautiful plants (two Alicante and two Roma) and it was the easiest and most rewarding thing ever. I ended up with a freezer full of tomato sauce and tomato soup. Yum!

[lottielizzie]

best veg

Salsa, I found beetroot very easy to grow I had loads for me and loads to give away which I really enjoyed.
Leeks are reliable if you plant into a seed tray then plant out small plants properly ie make a hole with a dibber and put the plant onto it and just water the hole, they need to be buried to exclude light to keep the white colour not like me the first year I had a plot I planted a whole row when a fellow plot holder walked past and pointed out my mistake they grew ok but I wasted lots of leaves because they went green. You live and learn, I wont make that mistake again I will make a different one next time

[Esther Greentree]

Rocket

Rocket is incredibly easy to grow, requires little space or attention, is delicious, and you'll save a lot of money if you grow it rather than buy it.

[rauni]

Mixed salad leaves. You only need to buy one packet, of 'cut and come again' mixed leaves. Does exactly what it says on the tin, they just keep replenishing your supply. My slightly veg-resistant family were the most impressed by super fresh lettuce of all kinds, even the 15 yr old lad who says 'veg is evil'! Courgettes also very easy, but harder to force feed.... Top tip; if your stroppy teenagers say courgettes are minging, try cutting them finely lengthways (julienne) and stir fry. They don't recognise them!

[Nicos]

beetroot

Beetroot grows with little attention. You can pick it early as baby beets and put the leaves in a salad mix too. I supose you could thin the rows out in this way if you want larger beets later for bottling or eating. They can also tolerate light frosts so the cropping period can be quite long.

[nick the grief]

Hi Salsa,

Depends on how much space you've got. If your growing in a small garden at home a wig-wam of runner beans are easy and decorative. My son has grow a couple of tubs of carrots each year for the last 5 years or so, but as he's 16 this year I guess his mind will be on other things now