your experiences on these?

[TryingToGrow]

Hi


im going to say sorry again for another post but i would like your views/experiences/tips ongrowing the following. As I plan on growing all the below

Spinach
salard leaves
Lemon Basil
sage
Brussels sprout
Swede
Beetroot
Parsnip
carrot (paris market round)
carrot (chantenay red cored 2)
carrot (nantes)
Tomato (moneymaker)
cherry tomato
courgette
Cucumber
spring onion
red onion
leek
cauliflower
Broccoli
Cabbage
Sweetcorn
Chilli
Runner bean
curley kale
parsley
pak choi
carrot (autumn king)
oregano
Lettuce
chives
onion
cumin
Peppers


thanks again

[grenhouse]

I'm sure everyone here will say don't apologise for asking, thats what this place is for and everyone seems friendly-ish!

Books have been written on how to grow that lot and tbh you may be better looking through old threads and searching on the net as everyone will have different experiences on each of these, therefore that means a lot of replies!

I would say main thing is to think of varieties of each e.g. I grow 6 different courgettes as they all grow differently and provide different crops, likewise with tomatoes and chillis.

Also think about ground prep, e.g. courgettes can be grown in pure manure, roots such as carrots and beetroot shouldn't go into ground that has recently been manured.

Think about where to grow them, containers, ground, greenhouse?

A lot of things to think about!

Steve

[Pompeylottie]

so many crops, difficult to know where to start to advise! just one tip for parsnips, I had several years of very poor germination but now I start the seeds off in seed compost in toilet roll tubes in an unheated greenhouse and when leaves have appeared and before root comes out of the bottom and plant the whole lot, tubes and all. 100% germination. I know lots of people have success with germinating seeds on damp kitchen roll but I couldn't get that to work, they germnated nicely but didn't progress in the ground.
Best of luck

[solway cropper]

Where in the country are you TryingToGrow as it will a difference to the replies you get. Please include your approximate location in your profile. If you are in the Hebrides you may struggle with some of those but none will be a problem in Cornwall.

[HotStuff]

How much space do you have?

[Two_Sheds]

You'd be better doing some preliminary research, as has been suggested. If you're totally fresh, get the Vegetable Expert (about £3 on amazon)

So much depends on where you are, what your soil is, where you plant (containers or ground) etc etc

[Patchninja]

If it's your first year at growing veggies, then perhaps you're being a bit ambitious
Have a look on Amazon - there are some great books that are really worthwhile buying. I love "The Vegetable Expert" as it's packed with really practical advice.

Whatever you do, good luck!

[Florence Fennel]

As TS and Patchninja have said, "The Vegetable Expert" is brilliant and cheap and will give you a good grounding of advice. You could also spend (a lot of) time on here with the search button, you'll be amazed at how much knowledge there is. Good luck with it all and happy growing.

[chris]

I just bought that book, on recommendation by two sheds - very cheap for the content in it!

I can recommend that autumn king carrot mind, mine grew *huge* - definately growing them again this year.

[Jono]

You could also sign up for a free trial with the veg planner at growveg.com. It'll tell you info on sowing times, conditions etc and you can plan where you want to grow everything. It'll get you started.

Another vote for Autumn King, they're big and really tasty.

[taff]

pretty much everything on your list is not that hard to grow, but you will have to net all your brassicas if you dont want them eaten by caterpillars from hell.
I've never had much success with carrots so can't comment on those....
all of the herbs should be straightforward, but if you're going to plant out rather than in pots then remember how big they're going to get. Chives will spread for you, sage will grow into an enormous bush if you let it.
I found thyme to be better in the ground than in pots just because the roots have more room to spread and I always forget to keep them watered properly.
Pak choi likes cooler weather so stick it somewhere shady-ish.
Spinach beet is easier than spinach to grow, chard is easier still, and they'll both last through the winter given a tiny bit of protection. Not sure about proper spinach, haven't kept that through the winter. Another one that will last until after the frosts is rocket.

[Kristen]

Some thoughts:

Spinach
I find this a short-season crop, and we prefer to grow Chard / Leaf beat

Brussels sprout
Don't grow an early variety

Swede
My choice is a winter variety, rather than a Summer one (plenty of other Summer veg)

Parsnip / carrots
If you have stony ground you need to make planting holes of "fine" soil (or choose a stumpy variety of Carrot) . Carrots can be grown in containers. Carrots should be netted against Carrot fly.

Tomato (moneymaker)
I think that's a greenhouse variety? personally I've stopped growing it as I found it didn't taste of much compared to others

courgette
Don't grow too many! 2 or 3 plants probably enough.

Cucumber
If this is greenhouse variety they are fussy to grow. Outdoor ("Ridge") varieties are easy and, apart from being nobbly which puts some people off, taste just as good

leek
Don't grow an early variety

cauliflower
They only stand [i.e. from 1st-ready to last-must-be-eaten] for a fortnight, so grow very few - 4 grown every fortnight perhaps.

Broccoli
Suggest you don't bother with Summer variety - plenty of veg then, grow the Spring one instead.

Cabbage
Ditto, unless you love cabbage

Sweetcorn
Make sure you grow an short-season variety like Swift or Lark. If other people near you are growing sweetcorn have a conflab so you all grow the same variety - if they cross pollinate it adversely effects the flavour. Don't bother with Mini-pop

Chilli
Needs a greenhouse

Runner bean
Very good yield and value

pak choi
Don't sow until Summer - it will bolt if sown when the days are still lengthening

Lettuce
Ease up on growing these in the heat of Summer, they don't do as well

Peppers
Needs a Greenhouse

[TryingToGrow]

Thanks every one for your tips and suggestions i will look into getting the book you all recommend. This is my 3rd year growing first year it was just carrots. I do plan on growing all of the above. Hopefully i will have some success and some good crops to show you all. I am in north London and the soil is contains a lot of clay deep down. Last year most stuff was grown in containers or grow bag with the only exception of the sweetcorn which went in the ground. Again i would like to thank everyone that has commented i find your comments very very useful and i hope using them i can have a more successful growing year

[Kristen]

I hope you have a good growing year, and I look forward to hearing how it went come the Autumn

[AmyRose]

theres loads of different books in library, be worth popping in if you have one close by

Good Luck