Advice for a Novice?

[ChipTheFish]

We moved in to our new house in September last year, and we have our first garden :)

My MIL whizzed around the garden, putting bulbs in pots and planting things. I was a bit disappointed when I asked her when I would have flowers and she told me that I would have to wait until Spring to see anything.

Over the last few weeks, things have just started sprouting up all over the garden, most of which I can't identify and its so exciting!

So I'm wondering if any of you green-fingered gurus could give me some advice on what I should be planting this month?

It's not a big garden, but I would like to have a bash at growing some veg, herbs and lots more flowers!

[MisForMumNotMaid]

Where are you in the country?

Its quite early for most things here in North Wales, as the ground is still hard but you can put in fruit trees if the ground is soft enough to dig. I'm just starting things in windowsill pots like tomatoes and herbs.

[ChipTheFish]

Scotland. Could I grow tomatoes in a pot on the ground? We don't have great weather here, but the garden is South facing. To herbs take long to grow? Thanks :)

[MisForMumNotMaid]

Yes tomatoes will grow well in a pot on the ground but they can't go outside until after the last frost so typically end April time.they can also be grown in a grow bag.

If you have a sunny spot against a house wall salad in pots will really thrive. Things like baby lettuce leaves, spring onions, radishes can all be pretty much sprinkled onto earth / just buried and if kept moist will be ready in about 8 weeks but again you really need to wait till after frosts.

To protect against late frosts 2ltr fizzy drink bottles with the bottom cut off make good cheap cloches for things like tomatoes.

Peas are also very easy to grow and some are hardy so could go out but they climb so you need some canes or big twigs to poke in amongst them as they grow.

You can get some bedding plants like primroses and cyclamen which are out, in flower now, and will come up year after year. If you find a good local garden centre or have a market near you you will be able to watch how the stock changes with local climate.

What do you want from your garden? Have you googled garden images to get ideas for the style of planting you like. This is where i usually start when I have a new garden. Do you like formal, cottage, mediteranian, modern planting styles?

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

You could start planting summer bulbs. I planted different types of geraniums last spring and they flowered in July. Also climbing plants like sweet peas, clematis and oneysuckle. I have several scented flowers in the garden. Like MisforMum says, have a think about what style/look you want to go for. Acer trees are lovely, their leaves change colour and they are pretty to look at. One side of my garden is all blues and purples, the other is a variety of pinks, purples and reds.

[ChipTheFish]

MisForMumNotMaid Wow, what great advice :) I didn't even think of growing peas or baby lettuces leaves, I'll defiantly try that.

I haven't googled garden images, I just want to try and grow as many things as possible and learn about gardening. The garden isn't very big, I would love it to be really busy and full. I think I will get a gardening book to teach myself the basics. My MIL brought me bulbs to plant last year and I didn't know which way up they went

Thanks for your help

[ChipTheFish]

LittleAbruzzenBear Your garden sounds lovely :) I'll need to take a note of all those different plants for when I go the garden centre with DP tonight.

I really like your idea of having the climbing plants, and the scented flowers. I want to get organised now so it is nice to sit in in summer time.

I've just googled geraniums, they are so pretty. I have seen them before but never knew what they were called, I love the idea of having the garden colour-coordinated. I've got lots of ideas to be getting on with now. I'm the type of person who always wants things yesterday - hopefully gardening with teach me some patience :)

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

I have only taken up gardening in the last two years and it's lovely when you see things you've planted coming to life. I was just thinking, we also have a couple of shrubs (from the buddleia family I think), lilacs or something. They have pretty, err.....lilac flowers and have a lovely scent!