Gardening for beginners! Help please :)

[Luunaa]

We'd like to do some planting and I vaguely remember a thread last March where people had tips for beginners, but I can't find it now.

Anyone have any suggestions please?
DS would like to do sunflowers, strawberries, tomatoes, corn on the cob.

Last year we did tomatoes, corn on the cob and strawberries in a big planter. Do I dig up all the dead ones and plant new ones???!! Anyone know?

Thanks for all tips!

Only the strawberries keep going every The rest you pull up and start again.

Every year, should say.

Look for heirloom varieties with tomatoes. We get tomatoes coming up every year because we plant those. Non-heirloom don't make fertile seeds. That's a bit advanced though!

My best advice: read the packets. Don't plant too late or early.

If you want to start them off early while you’re sitting at home then use a sunny windowsill until all chance of frost has passed. Read up about “hardening off” and be prepared to start again if the weather goes to pot.

All the things you suggest require a decent summer. How about some green beans or peas? They are quick and you can start them in pots now, then plant them in the borders between flowers or bushes with a bit of compost.

Learn to identify the common weeds in your area.

I agree that beans or peas are a great idea.
One year I did a couple of hanging baskets with cherry tomatoes which worked really well.

Annuals mean that they last one year and then need to be replaced.

Perennials will come back year after year.

Courgettes are easy to grow.

There is a whole gardening topic area, so head over there

Gardening board

Lots of knowledgeable people who will happily help you. Gardening is so beneficial for both physical and mental health, so it's a great idea right now.