Newbie vegetable grower

[wozzawozacat]

Hi guys

First let me introduce myself. I'm Cathy and I'm married with 3 teenage children.

I decided that i'd like to try and 'grow my own' this year using mainly pots and containers. I have spent a couple of weeks 'researching' this on the internet and came across your great site.

I'm going to (attemp to) grow: Potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, cauli, pepper, chillies, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, courgettes and a Butternut squash. and any other seeds that grab my attention in the supermarket/shops/garden centre!

I have several large storage boxes and some of the florist buckets from Morrisons.

I'm sure I will need to call on your expert advice at sometime in the next few weeks. If this years growing is successful my hubby has offered to turn some of the lawn over to a raised bed.

My hubby has also offered to buy me one of the plastic mini green house things (that are £14.99 in Wilkos) do you think that is a good idea? I was thinking of the peppers/chillies etc. Also would it be worth investing in a cold frame or would i be ok growing things on my window ledges for this year (they mostly face south).

Sorry to waffle on! look forward to 'chatting' with some of you in the near future.

Cathy

[girl47]

Hi Cathy

I too was new at this 'grow your own ' lark - last year was my first year!

I got half an alotment, but dug beds to start as I thought it easier than digging the whole plot - great success with onions, jerusalem artichokes, lettuce, spring onions, radishes & leeks - limited success with potatoes ( late frost got to them)! and rubbish success ( none) !! with brassicas - tried caulis, cabbage, brussels etc - ALL got eaten by catapillers - even though I covered them with nets!

At home - I grew in containers - tomatoes, chillis, peppers, - all grew really well!
However, aubergine didnt grow at all!

I also got a plastic mini greenhouse - but found that I hardly used it! I had all good intentions, but when plants were big ( ie tomatoes ) you could only fit a couple in there as they were so tall.
It stood on the patio against a wall, but when we had strong winds the greenhouse
( even with pots in) - blew accross the garden! I still have it, but this year I will put it on the grass and peg it down some how. Last year I only really used it to keep my onions dry!

This year, I have got some hinged windows ( given to me free ) and a friend is making a frame for them - so that they become my coldframe - which I hope will be used as a 'half-way' house, ie plants from my windowsill, before being exposed to the outside world!

I see that you are in Yorkshire - I am in Oxfordshire -
Good luck with your growin this year

Gill

[Irie Jan]

Hi Cathy!

Welcome to the Vine another new Grape. Hot ticket! Good luck with your plans keep the link and let us know how your are geting on!

[JamesA]

Hi Cathy, welcome along!
Im new too and started growing some veg late on last year which went well. Looking forward to getting stuck in this year now!

Mainly using containers and growbags with a couple of raised beds on slabs as the garden is all paved at my place. Oh and be careful buying seeds, it becomes an addiction!

[wozzawozacat]

Thanks for the welcome. You're right JamesA about seed buying being addictive. I can't resist 'having a look' every time i go past some seeds and looks quite often become purchases!

Cathy

[JamesA]

If you use Ebay, have a look at eBay My World - premier_seeds_direct
Someone else here recommended them and i have bought from them now as well. Pretty much everything is 99p a packet and just 70p delivery per order. Some interesting stuff too! Sorry if ive just made you spend more money

[greysquirrel]

Hi wozza and welcome.

I'm new here too but what a great site. I grow my veggies in pots as well.

I bought a mini greenhouse last year and found it really useful. I put all my strawberries and herbs in it for the winter. But make sure it secure. Mine blew over just after I'd filled it with seed trays. It's now tied to house with gardening wire.

[allaboutliverpool]

Hi WWC

It is only the 4th year of my plot, so you might like to see how I did it.
The great thing about growing vegetables, is that you get a chance every year to learn what you did wrong and correct it!



Website :-http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments2_my_allotment_in_liverpool.html

[Eyren]

That's a very smart plot you have there, AAL - I'm quite green with envy

[wozzawozacat]

Fantastic plot allaboutliverpool! Think my growing will be on a smaller scale!

I'm looking forward to learning this year! I'm planning on keeping a 'diary' so i can mark my successes and failures.

Keep up the good work!

Cathy
aka Wozzawozacat

[allaboutliverpool]

The beauty of the raised beds is that you can start with one, plant it, and start the next one. You have specific goals.

If like me you make them all the same size, then "modules" can be moved about.

[ukmastiff]

Lo and welcome, I am only a 'year two newbie' myself and am amazed how friendly & helpfull the online growing community are. Due to my own lack of expertise I can offer a friendly chat and share beginners experiences
but will be markedly short of useful advice

Regards Mas

[wozzawozacat]

Hi Allaboutliverpool,

Thanks for the 'plans'. I'll show them to my hubby later! Maybe the raised beds will be made this year and not next!

Cathy

[Flummery]

Hi and welcome. Believe me, you will start small, get some fantastic stuff from your pots and then you'll be off. I have a 100ft garden - and no lawn at all! I do still cut a bit of grass for old times' sake - the bit beyond my front garden - technically the property of East Riding of Yorkshire Council!

Pull up a chair and make yourself at home.

[selfraising]

Hello Cathy and welcome to the vine. I am now the proud owner of 3 mini greenhouses in which I put beef tomatoes and plum varieties. I take all the shelving out when I'm ready for the toms to go in and that way they have enough height. Also I've noticed for mine, I can now get fleece covers as well which is handy if it's still quite cold. I grow a lot of my veg in containers and some in raised beds. Good Luck!