IDIOTS GUIDE to growing your own spuds/carrots/etc please

[charliecat]

Managed some spuds and toms last year...have NO IDEA when to do anything.
So idiots guide please
Is there anything I can do or prepare now?
Itchy green fingers!!!!

Hi charliecat!! Do you have a plot or are you growing in tubs??

Either way, beans are an easy one to grow..usually start them off on windowsill/in greebhouse end of March/early April to plant out May. You can plant them straight where they are going to grow as well, usually late April. We even planted some straight out end of May last year and still managed to to get an ok crop. If you are growing in tubs they need LOTS of watering.

Carrots can be awkward...apparently can grow them in pots but I've never had much luck. Try sowing them directly outside May/June when the weather's warming up.Make sure you cover them at first to stop the birds from nabbing them and the rain washing them away.

Hope that hopes a little....you know you can always start growing some salad leaf now if you have a warm/light windowsill!

Spend hours carefully chitting potatoes, earthing up, weeding, watering, removing all pests by hand - result - about 5 manky spuds not worth eating.

Throw them on compost heap and ignore for 12 months - result - loads of lovely spuds & no effort whatsoever

Most things seems to grow if you toss the seeds in the grown at vaguely the right time of year (except cauliflower, that's a bugger, and fennel, oh and celery, parsley, brussel sproats...)

But seriously if the soil is ok (which is why compost heaps work) then thing do grow with fairly benign neglect. Thing to remember is not to be too demanding: 1/3 goes to pests, 1/3 goes to desease, you get to eat 1/3. Which if you've planted a couple of courgette bushes is far more than you can ear.

can EAT... even

Lol, Courgettes just take over don't they!

My experience is the same, stick stuff in soil and watch, water when you remember!

Ok so January watch the dafs and dream of spring...
then wot???!!!
When can I throw some spuds in?
And what can i put in my very long alley that gets one hour of sun at 4pm if I remeber to open the gate?
I will be growing in pots/tyres.

You can put your early spuds in beginning of April, chit them to give them a head start(make sure they say that they are earlies though)

As for your dark alley...don't think there's much that would really grow well there veg wise...we've got a similar bit in our garden and the only thing that can survive is ferns.

Oh, and the compost heap thing is so right...we managed to grow butternut squash from a seed that germinated in the compost heap!

Just thought of something else that is easy to grow...spinach beet (also known as pertpetual spinach). Grows really easily, you pick the leaves off as you want them and the plants last for ages. Beetroot's always easy as well...we've been growing them in large pots for years.

you can start onions and leeks right now if you have itchy green fingers like I do. if you are really desperate then sprouting beans might provide some entertainment.

veg for shade - hmm, depends if it's really dark or just a bit shady. Stuff that's shade tolerant tends to be a bit boring but you could have a go with spinach or chard or beetroot no gurarntees though. or salad stuff actually, come to think of it

traditionally spuds go in on St Patricks Day (March 17th).

Tomatoes - well, you can start them from seed as early as you like and with warmth and light they will grow. you will get tomatoes just as early if you leave it until later (march at the earliest) and the ones you grow now will be pale spindly little plants, but it is nice to see something happening and if they get gangly you can plant them really deep (up to the bottom leaf) because tomatoes can grow roots off their stems. Just about ok if you are starting them in a propogator in a greenhouse, but if it's the kitchen windowsill then restrain yourself until spring as it will only end in disappointment.