2020 new Gardeners’ thread

[FoolsAssassin]

I think there will be a lot of people this year looking to grow veg and things generally. Thought I would be goof if those of us who have been growing for a bit could help those getting started,

I’m far from expert but a few allotments over the years and I know there are lots of people on here who are far more knowledgeable than me. So if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask and will see what we can do.

I have wrapped some organic potatoes in newspaper and put them in a warm room - will check back in a few days to see if they have started sprouting

I'm congratulating myself for not succumbing to planting outdoors yet - woke up to a dusting of snow this morning.

Touch chilly here as well but no snow.
Tyne not got many ideas, I do apologise but I would look at doing some fruit trees somewhere if possible - cordons or espalier and fans to break up a section possibly.

Dh managed to get seeds and potatoes - all set! Planted some flower seeds inside earlier.

Can I join, been stalking the allotment threads but I'm 100th in line for one after 5 years waiting. No. 1 has been waiting since 2004

Where is everyone at with their planting? We recently moved and starting from scratch in a complete blank canvas of a garden. So far have planted out tonnes of strawberries, a big tub of raspberry canes that are springing into life and waiting on two blueberry bushes that I ordered before this madness to grow in containers by the patio doors. I'm going to treat myself to a cherry tree next year so if anyone has a recommendation I'd love to hear it!

Inside just now I have cucumber, courgette, tomato plants. Also trying for sweetcorn and two types of sweet pepper but they've not come up yet. Currently chitting potatoes and onion sets went in trays yesterday.

Have leek, squash and carrot seeds on way but will it be too late to start them? I'm assuming Kale will be fine, I'm planting that where it's slightly shady and keeping fingers crossed.

Happy planting everyone

Excellent thread. I will be needing this. I have about 50m2 of completely undug clay soil, without even any turf on it. House is a new build & this used to be fields. Hoping to get a veg plot at the end - about 16-20m2 worth of space, as it gets the most sun there.
Currently waiting for a spade to arrive, much needed as the garden slopes down towards the house & it was trying to flood the back door as we moved in a few weeks ago...
I've got some veg seeds, I suspect this year I'll just have to hope for the best & improve the soil. Have also got some seeds for a live mulch, I think it's called.
I do have some plants, mostly edibles, but a friend is looking after them for me, obviously they can't bring them back yet.

Our local garden centre, closed to public, is offering half price bedding and potted plants in bulk, delivered to the door.

That's a great offer @LIZS! I'm resisting the temptation to buy more things at the moment as I have plenty of seeds to get started, but I've run out of room in the house and it's not quite warm enough to put things outside... hopefully in a few weeks

There was a post on FB from a local community policeman getting cross about the number of people he has stopped who were out buying compost and plants yesterday.

My little plastic greenhouse has been moved, firmly anchored with stones and ready for when I get planting and just had a go at digging up the lawn . Soil seems a bit rubbish so far but early days.

I have found my people!! Thank you for such a lovely thread and for the amazing tips, I didn’t have plant labels so cutting up a milk thing to make some has really cheered me up.
I have planted Brussels sprouts, peas , cauliflower , beans and rainbow chard but have no idea what is what... and 3 squash seeds. I am not experienced but have spent hours on you tube learning .

My first bean sprouted yesterday! Most things are in greenhouse but some by the kitchen sink which is warmer

I loved the last frost website too, so will plant out in two weeks in our area: thank you for that. And for the idea to use old plastic food trays.

I am having to make do for compost by using mole hills but yesterday found out that the soil where nettles grow is often very good and full of nitrogen. So might experiment with that too

I am hoping to get a basic website up so all the links to useful sites etc can be found easily without having to wade back through the thread Still not feeling 100% though a lot better, have got DH on the website building case.

Oh that’s lovely and do get fully well soon.

I love tips that uses things people might have already and my discovery was that I can grow tomatoes and squashes just from what comes in our veg box, might not be ideal but better than none if anyone can’t get hold of seeds

Seeds from One slice of my tomato at lunch made more seedlings than I could handle

Did you just slice the tomato and put it straight into soil? @LooseleafTea

Where is everyone at with their planting? I've just killed some tomato seedlings by forgetting to water them and leaving the propagator lid off

No I just removed the seeds before eating the slice then put a couple in each pot which filled so many. They all germinated

Tomatoes and cucumber seeds in , potatoes out ready to shoot. We have a shed with a large window and potting bench so all facing west on there at the moment.

There’s definitely been a run on compost, if you haven’t got it yet I’d get some.

Milk and More were delivering compost before CV , not sure if same now.

Our local garden centre is going to be delivering what they have already grown and do have some compost available apparently.

I've managed to order compressed coir which I've used before to help bulk out my raised bed. I will use this to add to the compost I made over the year. There's not much of it left but it will make it go further. It's good for retaining water. And I get a kick out of expanding it in a bucket.

This is just the thread I needed, hello! DH usually does a little growing buying veg as small plants with limited success. This year, I am taking charge with my extra time (from wfh) & am trying to grow from seed. I have planted 3 lots of seeds so far:

lettuce, broccoli, courgette and sweetcorn in trays last Saturday so 10 days ago. These are in the greenhouse. There are about 10 teeny lettuce plants popping up and about 20 in the broccoli tray. Nothing in the courgette or sweetcorn. Is it too late now, has the chance passed? I have more seeds so could try again differently... if I knew what I did wrong!

3 small pots on the conservatory windowsill 6 days ago (hot and cool) from the M&S pots. This is beetroot, basil & pepper. No sign of anything yet.

Tomatoes and cucumbers 3 days ago in covered plastic trays in a cupboard indoors. These were wilkos’kits’ and it said to keep them in the dark. Nothing yet.

Any top tips what I should do with these welcomed!

Chewbacca it's definitely not too late to start off seedlings, in fact for sweetcorn it's probably a little early. Mine is going in the ground nearer the end of April, if the weather isnt good I'll start the seedlings off inside at that point.

I've got tomatoes on their first true leaves so not far in front and my cucumbers won't be going in until weekend. Just remember once the tomatoes have germinated don't keep them too hot, they like a little cool breeze and plenty of light or they'll go leggy.

I planted pepper seeds (from two sweet peppers in the fridge) about a week ago on a whim, I've not actually grown them before, anyone had success from shop bought? Also attempting sweet potato from shop bought, the dc are doing a project on it so have also planted apple seeds, lemon seeds and strawberry seeds from food we already had in.

I've got some lemon thyme, basil, rosemary and garlic chives coming tomorrow from the garden centre so I'm very excited. Thinking of planting out a herb garden on the front, does anyone utilise their front gardens??

Thanks fun.

I guess I meant if they haven’t sprouted after 10 days, does that mean they never will? If so, do I bin them and try again with some more seeds?

They are in the greenhouse - does that count as indoors or would they be better in the house?

The trouble with most gardening websites is they require a reasonable level of knowledge to understand!