First time veg grower: I have been lurking this topic and it's now time to post some questions

[FannyPriceless]

OK, firstly - it's really interesting venturing into a corner of MN where I've never been before. It's a whole other world. I'm thinking that you lot have got the knowledge I need and hoping you don't mind sharing it with a numpty who needs some really basic things explained.

We have moved to a new house which has a raised bed which I assume is/was a vegetable patch. It's about 3 ft x 7 ft. I want to grow things that we will definitely eat, and that are relatively easy so that our first experience is a good one. My list of possibles includes potatoes (we love Charlottes), courgettes, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, and broad beans. We also love leeks, cabbage, butternut squash, onions and many others but I'm not aiming to grow those as I don't want to be too ambitious to start with. Unless they're really easy?

1. I browsed a catalogue that said you can buy either seeds, plugs or ready growing plants. I assume seeds are cheapest but what should I go for?

1. I went to a nursery today but they had no Charlottes left. Can I just plant actual potatoes I have bought at the shops, if I let them sprout for a bit?

1. I bought some courgette seeds, carrot seeds, and broad bean seeds. What do I do with these now?

1. At the nursery I spent ages looking at 'propogation' stuff but in the end didn't buy anything as I don't know what I'm doing! I have a warm kitchen windowsill and a sunny windowsill in the shed. I gather it seems I have to plant the seeds in the little tray things then transfer outside? Any tips?

1. If I want a steady flow of veg instead of e.g. all the broccoli at the same time, do I plant seeds at different times? Or transfer them outside at different times?

1. What do I do to the raised bed before I plant anything? A few weeds have appeared which I'll obviously get rid of. Do I dig it up/hoe it? Water it? Add compost?

Any help at all with any of the above questions would be appreciated. Or anything else you think I need to know. Many thanks.

If planting tumbling toms, consider a regular tom in the same large pot (if in pots of course) and ensure you place a much larger stake to support it than you ever imagine it might need - and read up on pinching out the side shoots as it grows.

Melina -when you put the blueberry plant in the pot, if you line the pot with polythene first it slows down water loss - blueberries like it sort of boggy, as well as acidic!

I agree with HolyMoly on the tomato supports - and I was caught out by cucumber plant last year too! They grow more than you think they will

Thank you for the fab tip Magpie, shall certainly do that

They certainly do, I grew my toms in the back bay window last year, they ended up tied to the curtain pole, and then sprawled across the bay ceiling ...had plenty of yummy toms though!

I have just re-read all the advice. Planting starts today - here we go!!