newbie - baby steps

[richwill]

Hi,

am totally new to all this, so i'm looking for help and advice. I've decided to venture into some organic fruit and veg and have purchased a small polythene greenhouse (not glass). I'm totally unsure of growing outside so thought I'd try it this way.

My intention is to buy some organic growbags and try some strawberry plants and a few other things over the course of the next few months. If it's reasonably successful I'd venture into the wider area of the garden but really want to build my own confidence.

I'm probably doing this totally the wrong way round but I'm prepared to give it a go. I guess my ultimate game is to try and have an organic garden including small pond, wildflower area and other areas as I start to learn about things.

Thanks in advance

Rich

[rustylady]

Hi Rich, welcome to the vine. Is your greenhouse sited on soil or concrete? Just wondered why you were talking about growbags, as if you have soil it is just as easy to plant direct. That also solves some of the watering problems. Anyway good luck.

[smallblueplanet]

Hi richwill, not sure how easy strawberries are to grow, but my suggestion would be to choose things that are 'easy' and that you like to eat! So I'd say courgettes, climbing/runner beans are easy and I'd start with them. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[richwill]

Hi Rich, welcome to the vine. Is your greenhouse sited on soil or concrete? Just wondered why you were talking about growbags, as if you have soil it is just as easy to plant direct. That also solves some of the watering problems. Anyway good luck.

Thanks for the prompt response. The rationale behind growbags is firstly confidence and secondly in quality of soil. I'd rather have something I'm pretty sure will support some plants as opposed to digging up what's left of the lawn (not alot) and seeing what's what. Maybe next year, when my confidence has grown and I understand a little more. Maybe then, I'll dig up the lawn (girlfriend's permission required )and we'll see how it goes.

but, thanks again.

[richwill]

Hi richwill, not sure how easy strawberries are to grow, but my suggestion would be to choose things that are 'easy' and that you like to eat! So I'd say courgettes, climbing/runner beans are easy and I'd start with them. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for the prompt reply, I guess I'll just plant them in and see what happens. Experimentation is the key to... well, experimentation

[Norm]

Yo Rich! I've been growing strawbs for years in pots on a spare shelf in the polytunnel (I have a very big polytunnel) and they're a piece of cake.
Golden rules
1) Feed the leaves before and after fruiting
2) When the fruit start to form, start feeding the fruit (I use tomato fertiliser, remember strawbs can't read)
3) Keep the fruit off the soil (you won't believe the mess if you don't)
4) Keep them fed and watered and you should get a bumper crop of any variety you grow.
Finally, don't buy too many plants to start with. Each will send out two or three runners. As the new plant starts to grow, put some compost in a 3" pot and gently poke the new plant in and hold it in place (I use wire netting staples) Then the runner continues and another plantlet forms on the end, so you do the same again. When both are established and have a good root system, cut them away from mummy and you now have 3 plants instead of one. Some varieties do this twice a year. By next season, you'll be BEGGING people to take some off your hands. In my first year, I started with 6 plants at the beginning of the season. By October I had nearly 200. New plants also grow from the original and have to be split up every couple of years. Have fun and don't make yourself sick !

[richwill]

Yo Rich! I've been growing strawbs for years in pots on a spare shelf in the polytunnel (I have a very big polytunnel) and they're a piece of cake.
Golden rules
1) Feed the leaves before and after fruiting
2) When the fruit start to form, start feeding the fruit (I use tomato fertiliser, remember strawbs can't read)
3) Keep the fruit off the soil (you won't believe the mess if you don't)
4) Keep them fed and watered and you should get a bumper crop of any variety you grow.
Finally, don't buy too many plants to start with. Each will send out two or three runners. As the new plant starts to grow, put some compost in a 3" pot and gently poke the new plant in and hold it in place (I use wire netting staples) Then the runner continues and another plantlet forms on the end, so you do the same again. When both are established and have a good root system, cut them away from mummy and you now have 3 plants instead of one. Some varieties do this twice a year. By next season, you'll be BEGGING people to take some off your hands. In my first year, I started with 6 plants at the beginning of the season. By October I had nearly 200. New plants also grow from the original and have to be split up every couple of years. Have fun and don't make yourself sick !

Thanks Norm, it's exactly the reply I need. (plain english and simple stepped approach). I was intending to buy a growbag and start with 5-10 plants. but your reply makes me think 5 would be plenty. What would you suggest I use to keep the fruit off the soil? (plastic? sacking?)

now i'm reading your post again, How do i recognise the new plant on the runner? (told you i'm so completely new to this? major lack of confidence )

Thanks again for the encouragement and the prompt reply.

regards

Rich

[JennieAtkinson]

Hi Will and welcome to the Vine. Strawberries are a lovely fruit to begin with, as they are quite voracious growers. Also a lovely feeling to eat you first strawberry! Miine never make it the kitchen! Do try courgettes, though as they are another good grower. Good luck.

[Hazel at the Hill]

..... What would you suggest I use to keep the fruit off the soil? (plastic? sacking?)

Traditionally, straw, but I can't see why either of your suggestions won't be just as good.

[Norm]

Hi Rich, You can get what looks like an oversized sanding disc from the garden centre which keeps the fruit off the soil and keeps slugs off as well, but if you keep the greenhouse door shut, the slimy little beasts can't get in anyway. Anything will do as long as it isn't abrasive and doesn't absorb moisture. It's also a good idea to keep water and fed off the plant(they don't like it on 'em Mr Mainwaring)

As for the runners, Strawbs produce 3 things. Leaves, flowering/fruiting trusses and long thin green runners which grow to about a foot from the plant and produce the plantlet (then another foot with the second). You'll spot 'em when they grow, trust me.

As for confidence, it'll build up as you go along. Miracles, you'll be able to perform immediately. The impossible will take a little longer. If you do get a problem or aren't sure about anything, there are loads of people on this site who will break their necks to help. That's the nice thing about gardeners. we all started once knowing bog all about anything.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Rich - welcome to the vine! you are going about this the right way - I started off last year wanting to do a "Hugh FW" (well, a little way anyway!) so grew things out of pure curiosity! what a super year I had. I convered my back garden from a wilderness into a small lottie, and was lucky enough to get my own lottie just before christmas! Plant whatever you fancy eating - just give it a go and see what happens! there are plenty of super grapes here on the vine who are more than happy to answer any questions you may have (yep! they are still having to answer mine, and probably will have to for a very long time yet!) but everyone is so friendly and helpful - don't hesitate to ask whatever you want. good luck - let us know how you get on! DDL

[JennieAtkinson]

What would you suggest I use to keep the fruit off the soil? (plastic? sacking?)
Rich

Rich - I planted my strawberries last year through membrane which I then covered in bark chips, but they are outside.

[Mrs Dobby]

We;ve done the same thing here Jennie, and they are starting to grow new leaves right now, so am looking forwards to eating fresh home grown strawbs this summer!

[Snadger]

We;ve done the same thing here Jennie, and they are starting to grow new leaves right now, so am looking forwards to eating fresh home grown strawbs this summer!

So are the slugs!

[Mrs Dobby]

Gee, thanks for that reminder Snadger!! I was hoping that the mulch would help to keep them at bay, along with the hedgehog and frogs / toads, who hopefully will be eating them all up! You never know, with 235 strawberries, we may just get one or three for us to eat!