Newbie

[jimbuckleybarrett]

Right I'm so new at gardening that I'm clueless!

I suppose best to start with some simple question

1. How best to clear the weeds and prepare the soil?
2. What's the best veg to plant for a newbie like me?
3. When should I start planting?
4. Should I plant into the ground or pots first?

Thanks for the advise

[johnmichael]

Google veg gardening for beginners for some detailed answers,may be a good starting point.

[Husker]

Hi Jim. I agree with Johns' suggestion. There is alot of info on the net for gardeners of all levels of experience. I'll try to add a few things that I've learned in reguard to the questions you've asked. As for weeds, if they're small and you haven't planted, just till them into the soil when you work up your planting beds, that adds organic matter back into the soil. After you've planted a good sharp hoe is always a good thing to reduce the weed population, just do your best to stay ahead of them and try above all not to let them go to seed. Some weed seed can lay in the ground for years before germinating (morning glory can last 70+ years). I know from experience that it can be alot of work to get ahead of weeds, but if you stay on top of them it gets a bit easier every year. I don't know if you're interested in a chemical control or not but we'll save that topic for later.
As for what to plant, What do you like to eat? Some of the easier thing to grow are radishes, peas, beans, carrots, and turnips. But I think you'd get along fine with some tomatoes, egg plant, cabbage, cucumbers, and peppers
As for when to plant, you need to find out when your last average frost date is, and I can't be of much help on that one, being I'm on the other side of the pond . Some things like peas and radishes can be planted a couple of week before your afd and things like tomatoes and cucs like a warm soil bed a couple of weeks after the afd. Alot depends on the year and the weather forcast.
Your last ? isn't one I'd be very good at answering, but I'll tell you what I do. I don't have a greenhouse or a very good indoor place to start seeds, so things like radishes, peas, beans, squash, melons, and cucs seed get sown right into the plot, but things like toms, peppers, cabbage and egg plant I go to a local garden center and buy the plants I want and then transplant them into the garden. I really haven't done much container gardening, other than flowers, and am impressed by the folks on this site who do a great job with their container plants.
Well Jim, I hope this helps a little, sorry for being so long winded. Just do your best and remember that every year is different so don't get discouraged if something doesn't work out quite like you planned. It's how we all learn. Best of luck and if I can help you again just ask.

[jimbuckleybarrett]

The problem with googling is that there is way to much information - hence why I joined this site - I was getting confused and was being over powered by all the information.

As to what we eat - mostly potatoes about 3 Kg a week I think, carrots, peas and beans. Wife uses other vegs to make soup, it's the only way she can get the kids (and me at times) to eat enough vegs.

Right now the veg patch - which is about 20m x 20m is over grown with weeds. I'm not sure if I should kill them off completely with week killer or not. I know a lot of people don't like week killer but .... I'm open to advise.

I was also thinking of getting some 1 x 9 inch and using raisd beds - is it worth the trouble?

Sorry for all the questions, trying to avoid this turning into a disaster like last year. Weather was bad, weeds got out of control - gave up!

[bantiekeeper]

Hi Jim,
Agree with Husker, a sharp hoe is a gardeners best friend. As the time is approaching when things, including weeds begin to grow again I would suggest the method used by many people with allotments.This is to cover as much of the area as you can with 'Mypex' or similar permeable membrane or old carpet (not rubber backed). This will keep things under control while you tackle the plot a bit at a time. If the weeds etc are long suggest you strim before putting the covering on. At this stage I would not worry about raised beds. These can be done later when the main area is up and running.
If you clear say an area 8' x 4' this will give you a space to put onion sets at the end of the month. If you keep the beds about 4' wide you can reach the middle from either side. I sow most seeds at the end of 1st week March in a heated propogator. This is for things like Tomatoes and cucumbers which I grow in unheated greenhouses. For crops sown directly into the ground the likes of runner beans, french beans, beetroot, leeks, lettuce, courgettes are fairly straightforward and as long as you keep them watered you should enjoy a good crop. Most of these can be sown from March. You will of coarse need to protect from birds and slugs where necessary. There are always disappointments for all gardeners in the year but do not give up. This is quite a big area to be worked so my advice would be to do a bit at a time and don,t look up and get disheartened with how much more you have to do - keep your head down!! Good luck:

[JustGrowVeg]

Hi Jim,

I see you're already getting a lot of good advice here my tip for you would be to get a copy of 'Alan Titchmarsh The Kitchen Gardener' if you can (it's around £10 or so). It covers everything in one book and is an ideal read for people who are unsure as where to start!

Don't worry about asking all the questions! If you don't ask you'll never learn and no question is silly if you don't know the answer!

And fo the last point that you originally put, you should do what ever you feel comfortable doing. As it's such a big plot, say only use a quater or a third of it this year. This is so that you don't get over whelmed and become disinterested in what you are trying to achieve. But that point can only be determined by yourself because you know your limits i.e time available to devote to your garden!

Keep us all posted on how you're getting on

[jimbuckleybarrett]

thanks everyone for the great advise!

[JustGrowVeg]

Not a problem Jim! Keep us posted how you get on