New to veggie growing

[stevieg001]

Hi everyone

Just finished digging over a small plot and forking in manure ready to start planting next year.

I haven't done this before and I wondered if anyone could recommend 5-6 vegetables that I could start with. The soil should be good by Jan/Feb as I put loads of well rotten horse manure down and have forked it in well. The soil is good but lays on a base of chalk. Sun is OK but only gets around to that corner at about 1pm but then it is a sunny spot for the rest of the day.

Any tips on a beginners vegetable patch would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks

[Shetty]

Hi Stevie,
welcome to this site.
I think the most important thing is to decide what you like to eat. It's no use growing loads of carrots if you hate them.

Have a nice xmas

[johnmichael]

The following veg are easy to grow,broad,french+runner beans,beetroot,onion+shallots from sets,parsnip,swede,radish,turnips and leeks.My small plot gets about the same amount of sun with good results from these crops and many more.Good luck!

[rachel_nickless]

would agree with John Michael on the ease front...Turnips and radish are very quick to mature too...so you can get some stuff quick to get that thrill of your first crop Stevie.

I personally find parsnip hard as hell to grow but I'm a relative newby

[bantiekeeper]

Hi Stevie, Agree with John & Rachel. You could also try lettuce, 'Tom Thumb' first followed by' Little Gem' grow well. The oak leave 'pick and come again' varieties are good too. Also try courgettes.
If there is any Comfrey growing wild near you in the summer pick the leaves and put them in a container of water.Old water butt will do but make sure you put a lid on it as it smells foul as it rots down. However the resulting liquid makes the most fantastic feed for your growing plants!
With regards to growing Parsnips it is said that storing the seeds overnight in the fridge the day before you sow increases your chances of good germination.

[rachel_nickless]

Originally Posted by bantiekeeper

With regards to growing Parsnips it is said that storing the seeds overnight in the fridge the day before you sow increases your chances of good germination.

Wow - that's interesting - I never heard that before. You'd think it would do the opposite! I might give that a go as I have no luck with parsnip (or carrots from seed for that matter)

[stevieg001]

Hi

Thanks for that. I will give the leeks, onions, beetroot and french beans a go.

Might also have a crack at sweetcorn but I have heard that it can be a bit tempramental? LAso, I am huge fan of asparagus but again I hear it is a bit tricky...somethig abotu having to let it go to seed in the fitrst year.

Thans again for the starter for ten.

Cheers

Stevie