New to gardening let alone growing veg!

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Angela and I live in Kent. After spending many years living at the seaside, I moved house last June and for the first time in many, many years I actually have some outside space. My first job last year was sorting out my front garden which I have finally finished, and for the first time I grew my own perennials from seed and cuttings and am now waiting eagerly for those to mature. I must admit I felt a huge sense of achievement doing some of it from scratch, though I have to admit there was also quite a bit bought from the local nursery!

Now I want to focus on the back garden, but that’s not quite so simple as the whole of the back garden is paved and is very small. I also have a large silver birch which means that only certain parts of the patio get light consistently. I really want to grow vegetables so my first step has been the purchase of 4 raised beds (Garland mini beds 1m x 0.5m – they don’t need to be huge as there is only me), which were delivered yesterday. I am pleased with my purchase, they come with a frame so canes can be attached and liners so they can be used on the patio. 2 will be going on a part of the patio that is south facing and 2 east facing.

I would appreciate some advice on my initial thoughts as to what to grow. I would like to grow runner beans, peas, tomatoes and possibly radishes and spring onions together in one of the beds. I think for my first time I may buy the peas and beans as plans, but I want to have a go at growing tomatoes from seed as I would like to reproduce those days from my childhood when my dad grew Tigerella tomatoes which I loved. Am I trying too much for my first time or should I just try a couple of things this year? As 2 will be south facing and 2 east facing what would do best where? I really do have minimal knowledge, and although my father had an allotment he is in his mid 80’s and struggles to remember!

I am so looking forward to starting, and reading the posts on here is fascinating and I am finding what an extremely helpful bunch you are.

Thanks for any advice

Angela

[selfraising]

Hello Angela from Kent and welcome. I think you're making a great start with the raised beds. This is only my 3rd year of gardening. The plants you have chosen are all quite easy to grow. If you wanted to free up space in the raised beds you could grow the toms in pots. I think peas, beans, radishes and spring onions are tolerant of some shade so perhaps they could go in the east facing raised beds. Toms like it quite warm. You could keep the south facing beds for sun loving veg. Perhaps some mediterranean herbs. Depends really what you like to eat? Don't take my word for it thought cos as I say I'm relatively new to it all and there are some really experienced gardeners on here who may have other suggestions. Good Luck!
Angela (from Surrey)

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi Angela and welcome to the vine.

I would go with seeds for the peas and beans - they are nice big seeds and pretty straightforward to grow.

[Capsid]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I don't think it's too much. Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow and they are so much better tasting than supermarket ones, well all home grown veg is. The tomatoes need the sun to ripen the fruit, so I'd have them south facing, the rest will probably be Ok with just some sun. The runner beans will grow tall enough to be in less shade perhaps?

Are you laying the raised beds directly on the paving? If so then I would worry about them drying out in the summer as they won't be drawing moisture form the soil beneath.

If you plan to grow veg for several years, I'd be inclined to remove the slabs altogether.

[Eyren]

Hi Angela and welcome to the vine!

Your list looks sanely short compared to the rest of us - it's an excellent idea to try a modest range of veg to begin with! TBH I haven't seen runner bean or pea plants offered for sale - peas in particular don't like being transplanted, so are usually grown from seed in situ (although a lot of people have had success grow them in lengths of guttering - just search the forums for more info). Runner beans are easy and fast-growing, so I would recommend going ahead with seeds on those too. Tomatoes can be a bit trickier as they need warmth and light or they will turn out leggy, but why not try seed first anyway - you can always buy a couple of plants from the garden centre if they fail.

East-facing is not a good situation for any tender veg, as it means they get the heat of the sun first thing in the morning when they are still cold from the night before, so you are likely to get splitting of fruits, etc. Toms definitely in the south-facing bed, ditto runners as they are also frost-tender; you might get away with root veg, onions, etc in the east-facing bed as they are protected by the soil. On the tom front, outdoor varieties are obviously the way to go - I find that "Gardener's Delight" does well outside in a sheltered spot (in southern England, at least), and I'm also trying "Tamina" and "Black Russian" this year for the first time.

[TEB]

Hello Grubby Girl,
I don't think you have set your self to much work.
My thoughts on your list:
Runner Beans - can get a good size crop (will also freeze well) will need some sort of support, (will cast shade) good rich soil, and you still have plenty of time to sow seeds, they cannot be planted out while there is still risk of frost.
Peas: Lovely fresh but not worth it with the amount of space I can give to them (my opinion).
Spring Onion: Shouldn't be a problem, sow at intervals to obtain continuous crop without a glut, White Lisbon is a good all rounder
Tomatoes: Tigerella are lovely and depends on where you live can be quite early, relatively easy to grow and look after.
Don't forget you are not only tied to growing in beds, container gardening can be very successful to.

[GrubbyGirl]

Are you laying the raised beds directly on the paving? If so then I would worry about them drying out in the summer as they won't be drawing moisture form the soil beneath.

If you plan to grow veg for several years, I'd be inclined to remove the slabs altogether.

Yes, they will be on the slabs, not really a lot of choice about that. There was one loose slab that was a bit wobbly and it looks like they have been laid on concrete so it's not really going to be possible to remove any. Are those water retaining gel crystals any good?

Angela

[GrubbyGirl]

You've talked me into trying seeds for the beans and peas. I'm already adicted to looking at packets of seeds!

As for growing in pots, there is a local apple grower who I got quite a few pots from that young trees came in, they are 30cm by 30cm high, I have about 20 and I figured I could find some use for them!

[selfraising]

Pots sound a great idea! Also good point about the raised beds drying out. You could cut the ends off some plastic bottles then sink the neck end in first as far as the bit you have cut off, then water into those. Hopefully the water will go straight to the roots of the plant rather than evaporate on top. I used this method last year in my raised beds and it worked quite well.

[BarleySugar]

Hi Grubby Girl, I'm from Kent too, near Sittingbourne. How deep are your raised beds? I was thinking if you could get more depth for the runners they are less likely to dry out, and give a better crop. The dwarf ones are supposed to be good for pots too. I have used the water retaining crystals, and I do think they make a difference.
I used the cut off drinks bottle idea too, but bought some plastic spikes with holes in to fit to the ends. The water does not flow out so fast, and I found them very good. I got them online somewhere.
I grow Tigerella in the greenhouse and they do well, but my garden is north east facing, so they probably wouldn't be too good outside for me. If you put yours in the south facing beds I would think they would be OK. If you want a few seeds PM me, and I could send you some. I bought a new packet this year, so have plenty still.

[Flummery]

I'd try seeds for the toms too. Tigerella aren't usually for sale as plants round here. Maybe they are near you? If you fancy a go, send me a Private Message (Click on my name on this message and you'll get the option to send a private message) with your address. I can spare a few! They are a gorgeous flavour and the seeds just about come up like weeds.

Welcome to our little community - and long may your fingers stay grubby!

[GrubbyGirl]

Hi Grubby Girl, I'm from Kent too, near Sittingbourne. How deep are your raised beds? I was thinking if you could get more depth for the runners they are less likely to dry out, and give a better crop. The dwarf ones are supposed to be good for pots too.

The beds are 25 cm deep, they were pretty much the deepest I could find as they were going onto slabs. I'm resigned to the fact that I will be constantly watering them, but I will give the gel crystals a go. I remember when I was a child it was always my "job" to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse when I got home from school, I am sure they tasted better because I had a vested interest in them, and I always had a couple when I was watering. I wonder if my dad wwas disappointed with his crops!

[GrubbyGirl]

Thank you Flummery and BarleySugar for the offer of seeds, in fact it was seeing a packet of Tigerella which started me on this road to trying to grow some veg myself. So, it was my first purchase, but I am extremely grateful of your generosity.

Angela

[Flummery]

Remember that tomato seeds keep well. Just sow a few - they will just about all come up - and save the rest for next year. They keep reasonably for about 10 years - to my knowledge!

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Grubby Girl. You could make good use of those containers. Beans will do well in a container if they are well fed and watered. They do pretty flowers so maybe you could even frow them in your front garden and free up some space. Lettuce and PakChoi and other salad leaves will be fine in containers and do well in your more shaded areas. You've got lots of scope there. Enjoy.