Help for a virgin! veg grower.

[silu]

Hi Everyone,

I am a very keen and reasonably knowledgeable gardener but not on veg. I do grow mainly salad veg in a greenhouse but never grown the likes of carrots onions cabbage etc. I did once grow fancy potatoes (firs pinks) but it was on a piece of ground which had been lawn so I got a lot of those flaming little orange worms, think they are called wireworms? which did NOT improve my success rate!

Anyway to my utter amazement my husband has announced that he fancies having a go at growing veg in a bed which had had roses in it which I'd intended to put to lawn (far too big a garden for me to cope with weeding wise).

I live in Scotland so not the warmest part of the world, altho I don't live in the Highlands! Our soil is acid but of quite good structure and if it was a good idea for veg I have a constant supply of horse manure, just droppings ie with out much shavings and no straw. Our soil isn't that stoney which I believe isn't good for carrots? and most of the bed is South facing. So that other half doesn't give up on 1st attempt (pretty likely anyway!!!) could someone perhaps suggest which veg to try 1st and which are the easiest to grow from seed. As I said before I do have an unheated greenhouse which I suppose I could allow him a space in!!!! He's Irish so good at the digging bit but apart from that he is NOT a gardener despite my efforts to teach him.Any advice would be much appreciated even if it to advise what to avoid. I have a feeling Cauliflower is difficult? I love the vegetable but maybe that would be tricky for a beginner? I also have a feeling that many veg like lime? Suppose it wouldn't b too difficult to spead some if necessary. The patch of ground is about 40ftx40ft and on a slight slope. Hope some of you experts could help me out in advising husband the best way to start. Thanks very much.

[hailtryfan]

Hi Silu,

There's loads of great info on the site about starting a plot. Try checking out some of the previous threads on this subject by using the search function.

There's also the "What I did today" thread and "What to sow this month" which should give some relevant info.

I've posted a few links to other similar threads below:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lot_54696.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ass_39492.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tch_33926.html

Hope that helps

[coreopsis]

Maybe think about what veg you'd like to eat?No point in growing something you're going to chuck away.

[northepaul]

Exactly what Coreopsis said - grow what you like to eat and if space is a premium, then pick the things you cant buy in the shops (like salsify, or red russian kale, or jerusalem artichokes for example) or are comparitively expensive ( shallots, garlic etc) or that just taste better fresher (strawberries etc).

You could gradually add lime and compost to your soil to change it, but things like potatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil as do most fruit. Might be worth buying a ph tester (they're about £4 in Wilkos)
Hope that helps

[Two_Sheds]

I did once grow fancy potatoes (firs pinks)

Pink Fir Apple isn't fancy! It's quite common now (actually my fave spud, I love it)

wireworms

Yes, you get those, leatherjackets and chafer grubs in grass. They'll disappear once you start cultivating.

To get rid of them quickly, cover the site with black plastic for 3 days or so. When you take it off, the grubs will be near the surface and the birds will eat them.

I live in Scotland

if you put that into your profile, it will help ...

perhaps suggest which veg to try 1st and which are the easiest to grow from seed.

Grow what you enjoy eating - nothing is impossible, but you will have a much shorter season than those of us further south

I have a feeling Cauliflower is difficult?

Yeah, it's a faff, and not expensive to buy in the shops. You might struggle with the warmer-climate things like sweetcorn, squash, tomatoes and chillies

many veg like lime?

brassicas do

[Pumpkin Becki]

Hi silu, I completely agree with everyone else when they say grow what you like to eat. There's no point growing thousands of Parsnips is no one you know eats them.

For a nice easy thing to try, I'd suggest courgette plants. I find two plants produces enough fruit to keep me and the OH supplied all summer long. Beans are also a nice easy one, but remember climbing ones will need a wigwam or similar to grow up.

[Two_Sheds]

no point growing thousands of Parsnips is no one you know eats them.

although, never rule anything out. I hated parsnips & sprouts until I grew my own

[Pumpkin Becki]

although, never rule anything out. I hated parsnips & sprouts until I grew my own

Very true TS, nothing beats homegrown

[Jono]

I've found cauliflowers really tough. Its taken me four summers to get any to grow properly. Finally got some this year. They tasted great, but now I've proved to myself I can grow them I'm tempted to quit while I'm ahead.

I'd recommend growing veg you can't buy in the shops, like crown prince squashes. They store really well in to winter, when there isn't much about.

If your climate allows, then definitely go for tomatoes and strawbs, as they are infinitely better than what you'll get in the shops.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Silu,

if you are serious about growing vegetables, join the National Vegetable Society. we are not just about growing for showing, kitchen gardening is serious stuff for us too. At local level we are organised into District Associations (DA's). If you care to let me know where about in Scotland you are, I'll be happy to put youin touch with the secretary of your local DA. I'm Secretary of Grampian DA.

[silu]

Thanks everyone, appologies for thinking Pink Fir Apples were "fancy", I did say I don't know much about growing veg! As we like most veg it sounds as tho nothing is ruled out climate permitting. I'd forgotten I had actually grown courgettes years ago but under glass as outside here in Scotland they didn't do well!
I'll get OH to look at the site kindly suggested and heres hoping my shopping for veg will be a thing of the past in years to come...hmmm I'll wait to see if the enthusiasm lasts!Thanks everyone for bothering to help.

[Two_Sheds]

appologies for thinking Pink Fir Apples were "fancy",

lol
how about some purple spuds & purple carrots, they are a little bit fancy

[Kristen]

I've grown Cauliflowers, with mixed success, over the years. For the last few years I have grown F1 Candid Charm and had great success (and I read of other folk on forums singing its praises too), so maybe that is "easier" than other varieties?

Cauliflower will only "stand" (from first being ready, to being "blown" and useless) for about 2 weeks, so only grow what you can eat in two weeks. I start off 4 in 3" pots every 2 - 3 weeks, and plant those out so we have a succession through the Summer. makes the expensive F1 seed go further too!

[Kristen]

I think Pink Fir Apple potatoes are fancy - 'coz I fancy eating them! They yield well, and taste nice, nightmare to peel, well worth growing a few in my opinion. (Maincrop though, so they won't be ready until August)

[newspuds]

Cauliflower will only "stand" (from first being ready, to being "blown" and useless) for about 2 weeks,

Could someone explain what this means and what I should look for? I'm going to try growing Cauliflower for the first time this year.