In light of lots of posts on lots of other threads I thought I'd start one for those who are looking at their gardens in a whole new light this spring.
Rule One of starting to grow your own
do not be over ambitious
A couple of growbags and pots at the start will give better results than trying to dig up the whole garden
Rule Two of starting to grow your own
grow stuff that will actually cope with your conditions
Look at where the sun shines on your garden at different times of day and what access to water you have
Rule three of starting to grow your own
grow what you will enjoy eating fresh from the garden
as the crops will be smaller but tastier
Rule Four of starting to grow your own
prepare to develop an obsession with the weather forecast
HOWEVER
Tomatoes against a wall of the house are easy in most of the UK
Herbs in small pots on windowsills are easy in most places
Lettuce / salad greens can work in pots, tubs or even hanging baskets
Spinach can be seeded soon and every few weeks from then on to keep you in greens for months
Baby carrots are quick fun and easy to grow in a tub
Beetroot ditto
Dwarf french beans later in the year are well worth growing even in a tiny garden
If we assume that the biggest newcomer plot is 2m by 1m (or 8 feet by 4 feet in old money)
How much yummy veg can Mumsnetters produce?