New to this... Any advice or tips?

[georgiesox]

Hi all :)

I am completely new to this growing malarkey but I decided to get an allotment plot to grow herbs and veg to use in my cooking.

I was just wondering if you guys had any tips for a complete beginner like me such as what things it would be best for me to avoid and what handy little tricks you know of that will help me.

I've borrowed a few gardening books and magazines but the opinions of difficulty of certain plants and practice seem to vary so it'd be great to hear from your own personal experiences.

I use a lot of herbs in my cooking and I use any kind of veg be it common or more "exotic" - just to give you a rough idea of what I'd be interested in doing.

[georgiesox]

[glow777]

Hi all :)


I was just wondering if you guys had any tips for a complete beginner like me such as what things it would be best for me to avoid and what handy little tricks you know of that will help me.

You're doing the best thing already which is asking for advice. Everyone on here is extremely helpful and friendly and will offer advice however stupid the question seems (and I've asked a few stupid ones in my time!).

Oh and use the search facility to view previous questions.

Glow

[amanda21]

Hello Georgiesox - welcome.  I too am fairly new to veg growing and only got my allotment in January.  I have just this last week tasted my first new potatoes, gooseberry and baby carrot.  I've had lettuces for a couple of weeks now and just can't get over cutting a few leaves each morning for my lunch instead of buying those bags!!   ;D   The feeling of achievement was amazing and I am sure you will love it.

These boards have been a massive help to a beginner like me, the advice is wonderful but don't always expect to get a definitive answer - everyone has different ways of growing some veg - but this just makes it all the more interesting I think.

One of these best bits of advice I received when I first posted here was to take it slowly.  Dig a bit and plant it so you have something to watch grow while you are digging the rest.  I covered some of my plot with black plastic as I just knew I wouldn't get around to it this year and it was depressing just watching it grow weeds.

Make a note of everything you plant, the dates, varieties etc.  You think you will remember but I would be lost without my 'diary' now.   :-\

Above all - have fun!  And don't forget to post to photos so we can see how it is all going.

Amanda

[petuariapete]

Hi georgiesox,

My advice would be to grow what you like to eat. Sow successively to avoid gluts. Experiment with exotics that you can't generally find in the shops. Make friends with fellow lotty holders as they usually offer useful advice - although you don't always have to take it!

Most of all enjoy it

PP

[Tee Gee]

You could have a look in my website.

It is a diary of my experience since the days I was a beginner like you, till the present day.

I generally update it during the winter the winter months with things I have learned in the previous year.

Click here;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/

[RobC]

Tip

The soil is your friend.  Dig in as much well rotted organic matter as possible.

[fbgrifter]

a tip for herb growing...something i wish i had done is have 2 separate herb beds.  one for moisture loving herbs such as parsley, dill, angelica, and another bed for the mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary.  look up in a book which herbs like which conditions.

[Curryandchips]

My advice is to remember that this is a hobby, not a chore. There will be lots of joys and disappointments, and low morale when the going is tough, but on balance I would not be without my own personal bit of sanity. Your first freshly picked crops will explain that better than I can ...

[Svea]

my advice is to buy one book from the wealth out there (joy larkcom's grow your own veg is good for me but whatever takes your fancy) and stick with that - much like cooking with a recipe book. this way you will get a hang of things without too many conflicting ideas. next year, you can then draw on your own experience as well which makes it easier to distinguish between good and doubtful advice.

oh, and also everything that has already been said ^^^

[Gadfium]

Grow what you want to eat; be flexible & bend with the wind (or the slugs, pigeons, drought, flooding); take it slow & don't dig too much at one time (or you'll be heartily fed-up in short order); and, if in doubt, stick the seeds/onions/spuds in the soil anyway... whatever crop you get will be a nice surprise, especially compared to a blank patch of ground. I shoved seed potatoes in many weeks late (hadn't cleared enough ground) and ended up with 5 bucketfuls of spuds. They tasted wonderful.

Take a flask, some food, a chair, a book, make a windbreak/shed... and enjoy the whole process, at nature's pace.

[markyb23]

Hi there,
               best of luck with the allotment.Speaking as one beginner to another,I would agree with everything thats been said previously,especially the bits about growing what YOU want to grow and about feeding the soil.If the soil is very heavy and compacted a load of good quality horse manure shouldn't do It any harm.
A lot depends on the current state of your plot and how much time you have free to cultivate It.
  If you are a complete beginner it might be best to start off with the relatively easy crops.You might already be a bit too late for some of them.I would go for potatoes, broad beans, leeks, onions and shallots from sets, lettuces and runner beans for starters.
There really are loads to choose from.It all comes down to personal choice really.With regard to the runner beans.If, like me, you love the taste of fresh runner beans, there is still time to get some started.If you clear an area of about 10 feet x 5 feet, incorporating plenty of well rotted horse manure or similar, you could then have a double 8 foot row of runner beans.
  I reckon that runner beans are just about the best crop, in terms of the amount that you can harvest, for the amount of space that you need.
  Sorry for the ramble Georgiesox.The main thing is,work at your own pace, do your own thing and enjoy yourself.
                       Good Luck-Marky.