Where to start growing herbs and veg?

[lunavix]

Dh and I have decided to dig up a patch of the garden and start growing. Neither of us are gardening sorts though, and have never done this in our lives, so where do we start?? :) Any tips please?

I was thinking herbs in a window box personally, dh not sure. We'd both prefer to grow fruit but I've heard it takes a lot longer...

[azroc]

I thoroughly recommend Pippa's Organic Kitchen Garden by Pippa Greenwood, published by Dorling Kindersley. Lots of advice about all sorts of veg, fruit and herbs. Written in a friendly and non-pretentious way.

[lunavix]

oooh excellent. I'm not so much a beginner as I've thrown a few little tikes toys in the garden and occassionaly chuck ds out with them from time to time will try and source a copy asap!

[fullmoonfiend]

start now! Dige small areas first, less overwhelming. You prepare a small bit, remove big stones, rake lots and get planting! Lettuces, rocket, beans, herbs, carrots, spring oinions, courgettes, there's loads you can get busy with now :)
Strawberries are relatively easy but you won't get fruit til next year. Ditto raspberry canes. Marshalls is very good, though expensive, but nothing I have bought from them has ever failed, so worth the money.

[SaintGeorge]

Herbs grow pretty much anywhere.

Would recommend growing them in buckets which you then sink into the earth. Lots of herbs are wide spreading, planting in buckets means you can control the growth and also you can move the whole lot easily if you want to move the herb patch.

I have basil, chives, thyme (3 varieties), rosemary, sage (2), mint (3).
All grow really easily and take very little maintenance.

[lunavix]

What will give me yummy stuff this year, and what's a future investment? Wary of investing in garden as we're tenants...

[nikkie]

tomatos in grow bags?(buy plants from garden centre)
lettuce/spring onions/radishes all quick growing.
peas/beans grow quickly will need netting to grow up

[twocatsonthebed]

if you're a tenant then herbs in pots can be picked up and carted away with you - that's what we're doing! Downside is having to water them in the summer. I'd go for chives, rosemary, oregano, mint - all as tough as old boots!

For quick growing veg my no one choice is rocket - grows like a weed (which it is!) and self seeds. Also radishes, broad beans, swiss chard/pak choi all grow really easily and quickly. And if you go down to a garden centre now, you'll find quite a few veg as seedlings in pots, pretty cheap, which will get you well on the road.

[twocatsonthebed]

if you're a tenant then herbs in pots can be picked up and carted away with you - that's what we're doing! Downside is having to water them in the summer. I'd go for chives, rosemary, oregano, mint - all as tough as old boots!

For quick growing veg my no one choice is rocket - grows like a weed (which it is!) and self seeds. Also radishes, broad beans, swiss chard/pak choi all grow really easily and quickly. And if you go down to a garden centre now, you'll find quite a few veg as seedlings in pots, pretty cheap, which will get you well on the road.

[sharklet]

Its well worth checking the garden centre for bargains at the moment. I went in tiday and came back with loads of trays of seedlings of all types of vegetables and herbs for 20p a tray reduced to clear.

I'm a tenant too and TBH I dig up my favourite plants when I move _ those that were mine anyway. The way I look at the garden is I'm enjoying it and I always leave it looking nice when I leave. I might as well buy some plants which will last as if I didn't have a garden I spend more on flowers for the house to make up for the lack of colour!