Tips on growing your own veg in the garden

db

#chaplife
i've just moved into a new house, so i'm lucky enough to have a great big, flat, newly turfed lawn to play with.. i'm thinking of maybe using part of it to grow my own fruit & veg - i already have herbs in planters (basil, sage, rosemary, chives, mint, and oregano so far) but i'd love to be able to take it a step further..

trouble is, i don't know where to start.. yes, i could JFGI, but i thought i'd post here as i know many of you are quite green-fingered, and nothing beats hearing local tips from local people, as some things may only be applicable to this particular scenario/location/etc..

to give you an idea of what i'm playing with:

  • garden is approximately 10m x 10m (although this may be way off, since i'm doing it from memory and not great at estimating distance at the best of times lol).
  • south(ish) facing, so gets quite a bit of sun, especially from midday onwards.
  • new turf, laid approx. 8 weeks ago.
  • no other flowers or plants or anything - just a nice big square of grass, and small patio area connecting it to the rear of the house.

i don't want to take over my garden or anything, and i'm a lazy bugger so don't want to give myself too much work.. is there anything i could feasibly grow? ideally, i'd love some tomatoes, but am i right in thinking they need a lot of warmth and sunshine?

what about potatoes? would they take up too much space, or spread and take over the garden? shallots?


tl;dr = i'm not a hippie, but would like to grow a few fruit/veg in my back garden.. where should i start, without making a pig's ear of it & totally ruining my new lawn?

thanks :chef:
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
We're just starting out too, and this year the big hits outdoors have been peas, potatoes and courgettes. Established raspberry canes are going like wildfire and i'm doing a roaring trade on them through an honesty box. Next year we aim to do proper rotation and add 2 more beds.

You say you don't want to ruin your lawn, are you okay digging up sections?
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Rasberrys and strawberrys are super easy, they don't really take much looking after at all, we've also grown courgettes, green beans, carrots, peas and tomatos which are all mega easy - just need lots of watering (although we grew these all in pots, except the raspberrys and strawberrys). The only thing that I don't ever have success with is tomatos and lettuce - slugs always get the lettuce, and the tomatos always get bottom rot :( And carrots need very Sandy soil or they end up looking like aliens!
 

db

#chaplife

i read that before posting, but it's quite old now so i was hoping a new thread might attract some new posters & new tips :)

We're just starting out too, and this year the big hits outdoors have been peas, potatoes and courgettes.Established raspberry canes are going like wildfire and i'm doing a roaring trade on them through an honesty box. Next year we aim to do proper rotation and add 2 more beds.

oooh, i never thought of peas! i loves me some peas, so if they're easy and yield a decent crop i'd be interested in them.. i'll put them on the "look up how to grow 'em" list, thanks :D:up:

You say you don't want to ruin your lawn, are you okay digging up sections?

yes, sorry i should have been more clear - i am quite happy to dig a part up, to dedicate to growing this fruit & veg - i just want to make sure i'm doing it properly, and don't start planting things that i have no hope of maintaining or that have a poor yield, so i end up digging up (i.e. ruining) my lawn unnecessarily!

so, yes, i'm happy to dig a small patch up, as long as i know it's not in futility :)
Rasberrys and strawberrys are super easy, they don't really take much looking after at all

really? wow - for some reason, i thought yummy berries would be a ballache to grow so i never even thought of them.. if i could knock up some strawberries, that would be a right touch!

we've also grown courgettes, green beans, carrots, peas and tomatos which are all mega easy - just need lots of watering (although we grew these all in pots, except the raspberrys and strawberrys).

green beans and peas are up there with my favourite veg, so if they can be grown in pots i might start there, which will allow me to get a bit more comfortable with growing and caring for veg before i attack my lawn..

how did you get started with the raspberries and strawberries, then? i assume i've missed the season now?

actually, that's a good point - is it a bit late to be thinking of this now, and i should wait until next spring/summer?
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
We planted some peas last week and they are coming along. You can get an autumn variety too. Plant as many as possible as you can easily freeze them. I gave some canes from our old raspberry bush to people at work this year, and whilst they probably won't fruit now, they should start next year. We visited the 99p shop in Cannock and they had little fruit trees for sale, a gooseberry bush that we bought has done really well.
 

db

#chaplife
We planted some peas last week and they are coming along. You can get an autumn variety too. Plant as many as possible as you can easily freeze them. I gave some canes from our old raspberry bush to people at work this year, and whilst they probably won't fruit now, they should start next year. We visited the 99p shop in Cannock and they had little fruit trees for sale, a gooseberry bush that we bought has done really well.

ah, good idea - i might pop to a nursey/garden shop at the weekend and see what they have.. presumably they have a "growing stuff for idiots" section, where you can buy stuff that is good to go in pots, with care instructions, etc?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
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..or any of the appropriate 'Be Your Own Expert' books by Dr D G Hessayon - usually available in most charity shops.

e.g.
the-vegetable-and-herb-expert.jpg




ah, good idea - i might pop to a nursey shop at the weekend and see what they have..

julieharris.jpg
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
...rasps are good alongside your walls, fences.

I too can advise putting a cane or two (or more) on the fence that receives the most sunlight.

I have just one blackberry cane in my garden and every year it gives and gives without expecting anything in return.
 
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littleme

250,000th poster!
I grow the peas and beans in thread green pots, they're not massive - I put 4 or 5 plants in each pot along with games tied at the top.They just need regular watering. and sometimes I give them tomato food

The raspberries - I bought 1 cane from the pound shop a couple of years ago, they make a couple of new canes every year. Just water them when its dry, and cut down the cane that's fronted once you have had all the fruit off it - only new canes bare fruit - also mine are quite tall, just over 6ft so can be useful as screening from nosey neighbours :)
 

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db

#chaplife
I grow the peas and beans in thread green pots, they're not massive - I put 4 or 5 plants in each pot along with games tied at the top.They just need regular watering. and sometimes I give them tomato food

The raspberries - I bought 1 cane from the pound shop a couple of years ago, they make a couple of new canes every year. Just water them when its dry, and cut down the cane that's fronted once you have had all the fruit off it - only new canes bare fruit - also mine are quite tall, just over 6ft so can be useful as screening from nosey neighbours :)

this defo looks like a good way for a noob like me sen to start! thanks flower (pun not intended), i'll look into getting some potted veg started :D:up:
 

Blodifino

A few posts under my belt
i've just moved into a new house, so i'm lucky enough to have a great big, flat, newly turfed lawn to play with.. i'm thinking of maybe using part of it to grow my own fruit & veg - i already have herbs in planters (basil, sage, rosemary, chives, mint, and oregano so far) but i'd love to be able to take it a step further..

trouble is, i don't know where to start.. yes, i could JFGI, but i thought i'd post here as i know many of you are quite green-fingered, and nothing beats hearing local tips from local people, as some things may only be applicable to this particular scenario/location/etc..

to give you an idea of what i'm playing with:

  • garden is approximately 10m x 10m (although this may be way off, since i'm doing it from memory and not great at estimating distance at the best of times lol).
  • south(ish) facing, so gets quite a bit of sun, especially from midday onwards.
  • new turf, laid approx. 8 weeks ago.
  • no other flowers or plants or anything - just a nice big square of grass, and small patio area connecting it to the rear of the house.

i don't want to take over my garden or anything, and i'm a lazy bugger so don't want to give myself too much work.. is there anything i could feasibly grow? ideally, i'd love some tomatoes, but am i right in thinking they need a lot of warmth and sunshine?

what about potatoes? would they take up too much space, or spread and take over the garden? shallots?


tl;dr = i'm not a hippie, but would like to grow a few fruit/veg in my back garden.. where should i start, without making a pig's ear of it & totally ruining my new lawn?

thanks :chef:



If I were you I'd build raised beds over part of your grass area (just wooden frames about 12" high) as big/small as you like. Fill them with topsoil/compost and you can grow whatever you like.
 

monkey bidness

Well-Known Forumite
If I were you I'd build raised beds over part of your grass area (just wooden frames about 12" high) as big/small as you like. Fill them with topsoil/compost and you can grow whatever you like.

If you are going to go down the raised bed route, DO NOT BUY THE KITS! They are exorbitantly expensive. Just buy some Gravel Boards ( find them in the Fencing section of yr preferred DIY supplier) and cut them to the length/width proportions which suit yr garden.
 

Trumpet

Well-Known Forumite
I am told you can grow new taters in old tyres.
Stack two tyres on top of each other, fill with compost and plant your taters, as they start to grow, stack another tyre and more compost. Repeat until about six or seven tyres high. When ready to harvest just kick the tyres over, so no digging.
I have heard of bumper crops using this method.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Yeah, I've heard similar. I suppose thats how you grow them in bags anyway, start at the bottom and keep throwing on soil.
 

United57

Well-Known Forumite
Just picked some courgettes and chard today. Got lots 0f lettuce and rocket. Spring onions should be Ok for next week.
 
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