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[smallblueplanet]

I have a new favourite veggie that I'm looking forward to sowing in modules this spring, for planting out after the frosts have ended. I discovered it last year it's Tromba d'Albenga. It can be trained to grow up an obelisk, the fruits look great hanging down. The fruits can be eaten when small (3"-7") the same as a courgette or can be allowed to grow upto a metre long (apparently!) and eaten as a squash/pumpkin. Yummy!

They look great too - but they need a better summer than last year, when it was a bit wet for them, so I didn't get to see any big fruit. Here's a picture to encourage Snadger in his potager quest!

[Storming Norman]

I'm with Jimmer G on this one. Beans of all sorts are so expensive in the shops, and a doddle to grow enough really tasty varieties to last all the summer. Just plant a good mix of different sorts to achieve overall success.

The colours of the different beans make them very pretty as well. I grown purple podded beans in 2 varieties [Blauhilde is my current favourite] and will be growing yellow Roccencourt for the first time this year based on the number of recommendations for it I have seen in the past year.

A late sowing meant I had both runner and french beans in pots up to the end of October last year, and so many that my new neighbour is now a good friend!

For me beans offer value for money in so many ways.

Ann

[nemo]

favorite veg

my favorite veg is early potatoes .this year i have planted this years crop (2009)in the Polly tunnel yes its early but i have done this for several years and haven't been dissiponted yet touch wood ( it must be the gulf stream as we rarely get bad frost here ) i planted them about 2 -3inches deep on top of well rotted cow manure and seaweed.i cover them with soil then covered them with plastic,the plastic acts as a mini tunnel in a tunnel.in about 2-3weeks i will remove the plastic and buy then the stalks should be pushing through the soil.in a further 6-8 weeks i will pull some stalks to uncover white pearls .the potatoes are harvested every day fresh from the tunnel.they are gently washed and gently steamed .removed from the steamer put on a warm plate with a good knob of real butter and a pinch of salt.for me nothing beats fresh new potatoes.i love potatoes
regards nemo

[BarleySugar]

Strawberries are a firm favourite with us, but the birds and the slugs love them too. I dig up plants that have overwintered in the garden, as they need a cold spell to flower, trim off the old leaves and pot them up, about 15cm apart in pots or troughs, making sure there are no aphids or slugs visible. If you haven't already got plants, there will be plenty availible in the shops. I then stand them in the cold greenhouse which brings on the flowers earlier than in the garden and makes it easier to protect fruit. When they flower you will need to be opened up so pollinating insects can get in, or you can take their place by tickling each flower with a soft paint brush. Water and feed, then pick and enjoy the lucious fruit with cream, or whatever you fancy!
Even if you can't bring them undercover for earlier strawberries, a few plants will be easier to protect in containers than in the garden.

[poozie]

Borage, because its so pretty and the insects love it. can be used in salads too.
Purple sage, its hardy, gives amazing colour and taste, and bees love the flowers.

Last year I grew a mixture of different coloured runner beans (Scarlet emporer for red flowers, White Lady for white flowers and Celebration for peachy flowers). Not only did I get tonnes of beans but my tripods looked so pretty.

Any variety of carrots. we never thought we could grow them as we have clay but we grew some amazing little baby ones that were my hubbies pride and joy.

Garlic, well worth planting in spare spaces, you can't beat the flavour of freshly picked garlic.

[SueA]

I'm looking forward to sowing some 'Moneymaker' tomato seeds soon, they're reliable & can even shrug off the odd touch of blight if you pick off any leaves showing infection. I don't have a greenhouse & they will grow outdoors providing tasty good sized fruits.
I'm also chitting some first early potatoes for planting in tubs & pots, 'Lady Christl' & 'Winston', they both have good flavour & are good looking potatoes if you want to enter your local veg. show too!

[burnie]

Most people eat Onions,they are a very versatile ingredient,be it in a dinner or a salad or sandwich.They don't need a lot of room,nor do they require a lot of attention or maintenance.A must for every gardener,I shall be growing from sets,having chosen a variety that won't bolt too easily and stores well,HyredF1 is a coloufull addition to any meal.

[Diva1983]

My favourite thing to grow is salad leaves-the cut and grow back again variety ideally a mixture to create mixed salads with. Salads are also ideal for beginners too-not too complicated.
I start my salads off in pots, in my mini greenhouse in spring. Most of the seeds I have recommend planting outdoors from march so if you don't have space indoors you can still feast on a salad within weeks of planting the seeds.
Salad which contains posh leaves (say rocket, mizuna etc) cost much more than the standard iceberg lettuce. Growing your own means you can also choose to grow chemical free. And if you have a polytunnel etc you can prolong the season.
Salad leaves hardly need any tending to apart from keeping the bed/pot weed free.
Free salad with a fresh squeeze of lemon and a dash of crushed sea salt and black pepper-delish!

[cupcake]

My favourite thing to grow is mangetout. Never failed yet, and saves me an absolute fortune compared to the supermarket price!

[pigletwillie]

Roma and San Marzano tomatoes for making into passata or sundried tomatoes. Both are prolific, easy to de-skin and taste fantastic.

Red cabbage, forget pickling, shred it, and layer it in a buttered roasting dish with chopped apple, cinamon, raisens and light brown sugar. Add a bit of red wine vinegar and cover in tin foil, braise for a couple of hours.

Heritage peas, growing 6' high and very prolific. They crop over a few weeks so no need to pick all at once. They taste superb.

[bridget mc laughlin]

I like to say parsnips are one of the best, people think that they are hard to grow and I say they cost a small fortune to buy good one's.
The way that I grow them is to germinate them on warm damp kitchen roll,
When they have germinated go outside and make a good sized drill and make some holes 6 inches apart and fill them with multiporpose compost,
The compost makes for an easy start for the young pars,
When the parsnip seeds have made thier shoots plant them 3 to a station and cover with some sived compost.
Cover these with one layer of fleece they should come up within 3 days

The best variety for this I think is true and tender.

[Sara]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the great tips. Please keep them coming!

[snuffer]

I have got to agree with TwoSheds. Broad beans make a fantastic spring crop. Can be sown straight into the ground and require very little looking after. Provide some support, pinch out the tops and water when setting and the pods are swelling. Easy.

The beans freeze very well and will store in the freezer for ages. You can never have to many broad beans.

[Birdie Wife]

Don't forget your annual companion plants too, eg marigolds - they come up so easily from seed, deter pests, encourage friendly wildlife and give the veggies a fantastic splash of colour too

[lottyrep]

One of the main reasons that we have a lottie is to grow fruit and veg of particular types that cost most when they come online in the shops. The most obvious one being runner beans as they can cost up to £2 a pound. The veg that I would recommend however is a potato called International Kidney which is a First Early type. This is supposed to be the original Jersey Royal and the flavour of our own grown is exquisite. It's one way of getting your own back at the extortionate prices being charged for them.