A Green Finger Starter............

[lightgreenfingermatt]

Hi All,

I just wanted to pop in and say hello. My name is Matt, I'm 30 and live in Gloucestershire.

I have just started taking an interest in growing my own veg after many years of a shocking bad attitude to food in the form of, "Just popping to Tesco's". But no more.

Due to a change in lifestyle to improve my general health I moved as much of our food purchases to Riverford Organics and I could not believe the difference the taste of the vegetables had. Before I had very little interest in vegetables because I found the bland and could never understand why people liked them so much. A year later I have experimented with lots of new vegetables and meats, moved my food consumption to as much fresh and locally produced as possible, and recently started baking (well trying) my own bread.

Over the year my interest in cooking, fresh meat and vegetables and food in general has change considerably and I am now very interested in learning to grown my own vegetables. The idea of popping out into the garden and pulling up the carrots to put into a roast 30 mins before chopping them up really appeals to me.

My garden is a good size and gets plenty of sun for most of the day. I have a good spot that runs along the one side of my garden that gets the most sun and is shaded from wind without be over looked by trees. The soil is very clayey so I was think of putting a couple of raised beds in. I have about 8-10 meters (length) of garden that would be suitable and would allow about 1-2 meters in width. I also have some space for one of those free standing green house type things.

But here comes my problem. I have no idea where to even start. Can I plant anything late June? What suits what season best? What soil is preferred by what vegetable? What Vegetable is best for beginners? Are covers required? Etc, etc.

I have joined this forum to get some tips and pointers in the right direction. I am at the very start I understand there is probably a lot to learn, but there is no thyme!!!!! like the present to get those fingers greening.

Does anyone have any suggestions of good posts, threads etc for me to look at to help me understand the basics of preparing, growing, caring etc, and get some seeds, plants etc in for now, or to wait for another time of the year?

Thanking you

Matt

[stupo74]

Hi Matt,
"Welcome" to the "Best Place" on the net for "ALL" things gardening.
Known As "The Carlsberg Veggie" forum.
A very nice introduction, You should find all the answers you require from the many knowledgable people here on the site.
Good Luck with your seasons growings,,, cheers stupo,

[WhiteWolf]

Hi Matt

and welcome to the forum from another newbie. The Boss lady will be along in while to welcome you and answer all your questions.

We are also in Gloucestershire, just thought I'd mention it

Regards

WW

[Husker]

Hi Light. I really enjoyed your post. It truly is amazing how much better things taste when home grown or at least purchased locally. I'm in the U.S. so it would be hard for me to know your growing season but I think it's similar to mine. I think you could still plant bush or pole beans, and later on, maybe Aug., peas and lettice. As for easy things to grow, other than what I've mentioned, radishes, cucs, courgettes, and tomatoes aren't too bad. Everything a person plants has it's ups and downs but that's why we try to learn and improve what we grow. This is a great site for help. There are alot of good people here who can give you move specific info as to what you can still plant. Good luck and good growing

[Shaun]

hi Matt,

welcome to the forum,

im sure you can get all your questions answerd here.

all the best

Shaun

[Lesley Jay]

Hi there Matt, welcome to our forum!!

While you are sorting out your raised beds I would grow some veggies in containers which need to be at least 10 inches (25cms) in diameter and 12 inches (30cms) deep. You still have time to grow from seed french beans, borlotto beans, pak choi, beetroot, salad leaves, salad onions, carrots, a maincrop pea variety, florence fennel if you fancy and you might still be able to buy a courgette plant from your local garden centre. But you need to check the sowing dates on the seed packets as every vegetable has different varieties with various sowing dates. - Good luck! Home grown veggies are just fabulous!!

[lightgreenfingermatt]

Thank you to everyone who has posted on my introductions page. I am really looking forward to getting started and I am going to take up Lesley Jay's suggestions of container growing in the first instance.

What I am going to do is take a tentative step growing my first vegetables. OK so I am wossing out. LOL. On Saturday I'm going to buy two pots, one to grow some french beans in and the other some carrots. These will be my victims, I mean test subjects for the moment. I don't want to go turing our garden, well low maintenance grassy area at the back of our house, into a full blown allotment just yet.

So I am going to try my hand at just 2 vegetables for now and learn what it really takes to grow them and learn as I go. Then I can step up and think about other vegetables.

Thank you all again.

[Hollie the Wollie]

Hi Matt - welcome!

I'm very new to all the veg growing too, this is my first year! We bought a mixed packet of seeds which had around 14 different veggie types and we just tried our luck.

I have killed some stuff, but a good lot of it has done really really well and I am so surprised. To be honest, the stuff that I did the least with (e.g sowed straight outside) has done the best.

I sowed Peas, Carrot, Onion, Spring Onion and Beetroot all in late March and a few people (not on here) said "oh no its too early, they will not germinate" but they did - Im so pleased!

I only know what I have learnt by trial and error and from all the advice on here so you have come to the right place!

[lightgreenfingermatt]

Originally Posted by Hollie the Wollie

I only know what I have learnt by trial and error and from all the advice on here so you have come to the right place!

Hi Hollie,

I think that I am going to take your approach and sow it and see and learn as I go. I have read up a little on f.beans and carrots and I feel ready to have a go. Greening Fingers Crossed. LOL. Any advise you could give me that you have learned from this year so for?

Matt

[Hollie the Wollie]

My main things I have learnt from are:

1) If planing peas or beans, ensure that you build or provide sufficient supports (like canes etc) early on, rather than leave it until they are growing!

2) Do not throw away the seed packets. Keep them safe so you know the variety and when to harvest etc.

3) Water every day either very early in the morning or better late at night when the sun has gone in. Avoid getting water on the leaves as this will scorch them.

All the best - and would love to see some pics too! I have a couple of threads on here showing my veg patch and then my harvest, predominately peas so far!

[lightgreenfingermatt]

Hiya All,

Just thought I would let you know that I am just about to get going. I have bought a raised bed today as it was better value and size than the pots they had. It's 100cm x 100 x by 15cm deep. I have also bought some carrot and french been seeds, and have been give some Pak Choi seeds too.

My father in law is popping over tomorrow to help prepare the ground under the bed as currently there is gravel stones and clay soil. He has advised that we break up the clay soil and mix some compost into it, that way we give the roots a bit more than 15cm of room.

I have taken some before pictures and will be recording this momentous occasion (me in the garden) for posterity. I am going to post them on a thread for some fun.

Matt