Growing veg - noob questions

Technik · Post by **Technik** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:13 pm

I will be moving house next month to a slightly bigger one with a small garden. I have never grown any veg on my own before and wanted to start. I only have limited space and can't dig in the garden so am planning to use long planters, like this one PLANTER but will look for cheaper ones. So here are my questions: can I grow anything at this time of year? Where should I start? I want to grow something that not only will be eatable but also will look nice, think sunflower - any suggestions?
Many thanks in advance for advice.

preppingsu · Post by **preppingsu** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:28 pm

You can get some winter lettuce to start growing now, although you may need a covering for them ie cloches (sp?)etc.
new potatoes ready for christmas.
It may be too late for most other things, especially up your way.

I found these books very helpful when starting out.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Your-Own-V ... 017&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Your-Own-F ... 017&sr=1-4

Post by **diamond lil** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:41 am

I find it a total waste of time tryiong to do anything up here in winter - the gardening forums all talk of this & that but it seems to be possible only down south. Think of last winter - we had -20 and deep snow on the ground for 5 weeks. But I'm a lot higher and my garden is a month behind you in Edinburgh, so maybe you could be lucky. Failign that, you could digdigdig to get ready for next year

The-Great-Nothing · Post by **The-Great-Nothing** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:59 am

Hi

You are probably in time to get your winter greens in - i like red & green kale which u can keep taking a few leaves from all winter. Also cabbage can go thru winter. You will need to buy the seedlings from a garden centre/carboot or somewhere - as you are too late to go from seed.

Cheers

Matt

preppingsu · Post by **preppingsu** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:14 am

Just been reading a borrowed copy of Gardeners World. Here's what it said.....

Plant spring cabbages and cover straight away with netting to deter hungry pigeons.
Sow hardy salad crops to providepickings throughout winter and into spring. There are lots to choose from including corn salad, spinach, claytonia, lettuce mizuna and american land cress.
Boost your strawberry crop by planting new stock, choosing several varieties to provide a long cropping season.
Under a plastic tunnel (make your own polytunnerl, google it.) - lettuce, rocket, salad onions and beetroot now for a crop if leaves from Feb.
Kale, spinach, cabbage, chard and oriental veg, such as pak choi, can be shown now for harvest from nov till may.
sow carrots in early october and they should be ready for pulling in april. Turnips and radishes sown in Feb will be ready in april. hebs such as chervil, coriander and parsley sown in august will be ready from oct until the spring.

Get your compost bins up and running over the winter and just plan, ready for the spring!!!
Hope that all helps

Technik · Post by **Technik** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:51 pm

Thanks for all the advice guys! Will have more specific questions when I'll get my hands dirty

uk-preppers.co.uk