**Newbie Gardener Thread** support, advice and ideas swap shop!

[NattyPlus2andAHalf]

this is a thread for people who have just started out with gardening, in pots or ground, that wish to swap ideas, share stories of triumph or sorrow!

everyone is welcome! so introduce yourself and get chatting.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Hi all - can I beg for some advice?

I have basically left my garden from summer last, so there is lots to do - is it a good idea to prune/cut back some of the plants (hydrangeas, apple trees (only for the blossom), climbing rose) now or should I wait until it really is spring?

[snorkle]

I'd prune now before the spring growth starts in earnest. Fairly sure that's correct for Apple at least.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Thanks - will make the most of the good weather ...

[shockers]

I have started a garden at the school that I work at. We have 3 raised beds which were filled last year so we have begged a tractor tyre from a local(ish) repair place to make another one. This is free and they deliver. Last year we grew potatoes, carrots (by the ton!!), toms, strawberries ( both in grow bags) peas ( a great hit with the kids), beans, herbs and flowers. Some of the teachers were scepital about vandalism but we have been pretty lucky so far. There was a spate at first where someone pulled up our newly planted trees but we just got on with it and since then we have had one tree snapped. The garden has been a massive success! We atart again next week and the kids have already drawn up a wish list of plants to grow this year. My advice is get your kids involved!!

[shockers]

Sceptical hmm is what I meant!

[SadMarg]

That sounds great shockers! At the moment my DS is more interested in helping me 'water' - ie flooding everything with his miniature watering can, and digging dirt and making mounds. One day though!

[SadMarg]

Woo hoo!!!! My mixed lettuce/salad leaves have sprouted!!! I can't believe it - I only put the seeds in on Wednesday. They are in the bottom part of an egg carton on a heated propagator, but I didn't even bother putting plastic over them or anything and they're already coming up. Talk about instant gratification!!!!!

[lucysmam]

Do any of you get your kids to help you in your gardens? I was thinking about getting my 2yo out there with me but she's a bit fussy about 'mucky hands' from anything & wanders round with a flannel or wipe, cleaning them all the time. Any suggestions to get around this so she can do some digging with me maybe?

[SadMarg]

Lucysmam - My DS has been like this, not wanting 'mucky hands' - getting him to have finger foods was a nightmare, absolutely refused to touch anything. Firstly I let him play in a sandpit, as that is very clean sand, and also he loves playing with water and stones. Slowly from that maybe your DD would move onto wanting to pop her hands into some soil? Also, you could have a bucket of warm water nearby so that she could rinse her hands off every now and then. There are also some adorable children's gardening equipment, maybe you could get her some bright pink gloves or something?

My DS has loved fossicking in the compost with a small trowel in the last week. If you do manage to get her out there, expect loads of compost/soil everywhere!!!

[lucysmam]

lol@bright pink gloves. That's a good idea, SadMarg. Just a shame she's not that keen on getting her hands dirty. Never thought I'd end up with a toddler who didn't like being a bit messy! Especially since nothing like that bothers either myself or my oh

Bucket of water for hand washing would be a good one too, she loves water

[LouIsAHappyLittleVegemite]

I am starting my garden for the first time. I have gardened back home so am not a gardening virgin but the weather is obvioulsy very different. When should I start putting my plants in? Is it too early? I tihnk not but am not sure.
TIA

[SadMarg]

Whereabouts are you? It all depends on the frost risk in your area, but usually March/April. Most plants have the information printed on the label - all of mine have. (Different plants have different tolerances to frost.) You can protect plants with cloches (plastic lid type coverings or tunnels) if you put them in and there is the occasional frost. Small seedlings can be protected with home made cloches of plastic water bottles with the end cut off and just popped over your plant - don't forget about the plant though, they'll need watering!

[LouIsAHappyLittleVegemite]

Im in south west London. Im not going to bugger around with seeds I am going to cheat and use seedlings . I will start preparing the soil this weekend and plant in a month I think. Does that sound ok?

[SadMarg]

It's probably about right. If you enrich your soil a month's rest before you plant is probably a good idea, to prevent you burning the roots.

[asicsgirl]

ooh brilliant thread!

i am a complete newbie. we bought a tiny bit of land over the road from our house late last year. it had a garage (since demolished as unfit for anything, using a huge digger, much to ds1's delight) and a small sloping bit in front that has been grassed over. some shrubs around edges and a few plants. have no idea what anything is

we're planning a smaller shed on the garage site for bikes etc, and a bit of flat stuff to put a table and chairs on. not sure what to do with the rest though. i'd like a flattish bit of grass for the ds's to play on, some space for veg and flowers. a landscape gardener friend is coming soon to have a look at it and give us some ideas.

i feel simultaneously excited and terrified! so very pleased to find this thread where i will soon be asking lots of very daft questions

[hillbilly]

Yippee! I planted bulbs 10 days ago and they are actually coming through. I can't believe it.

[CoffeeMad]

bump

[Ineedsomesleep]

Have bought some Swiss Chard seeds and I think I'm being a bit thick. The packet says to sow from now until mid-August. Do I sow them all at once or in succession like lettuce?

Has anyone got experience of growing Swiss Chard? Its the Bright Lights variety

[PistachioLemon]

This is what the RHS has to say about growing them...

RHS Bright Lights

Hope it helps.

[Bumperlicioso]

Marking my place on this thread. We have just acquired an allotment - eeek!

[gardeningmum05]

yahoo...my potatoes are coming through the compost
any advice on growing cucumbers from seed. got seedlings about 3" now what do i do?

[Mumwhensdinnerready]

gardeningmum05 do you plan to grow the cucumbers outdoors or in a greenhouse?
If out doors it's too soon to plant them out yet so I would just move them into a bigger pot. If you are keeping them in a greenhouse I plant mine up in large black pots (sometimes sold as tomato pots). They will also need a stake to tie them up to as they grow. I use a bamboo cane.

[walkinthewoods]

I have tomato, sweetcorn and corgette seedlings coming through. Might have garlic chives coming through. Everthing else seems to be a no go (they were old tbh)

We have established strawberries in the greenhouse although they seem to be being munched by slugs? Do crushed eggshells work? Don;t really want to use any kind of poison/non eco stuff.

I am a complete newbie but have grown toms before. Am going to plant rocket, chard and radishes. I have planted potatoes recently but only from supermarket sprouted pots.

[gardeningmum05]

mumswhen.....thanks for your advise. they are on my sons windowsill at the moment.
i went to the supermarket and asked for the buckets that the flowers are displayed in and they gave me a load for free, just like brand new tomato pots. i plan to grow them on my patio in the summer, as gets sun all day

[gardeningmum05]

i have potatoes in, getting really big now. in my cloches i have courgettes, runner beans, tomatoes, carrots from seed and cauliflowers.
i have also planted alot of flower seeds as myself and my older children are going to have a plant stall at the schools summer fete to raise money for the school.
planted sunflowere, larkspur, delphinians, marigold, foxgloves and luins, to sell.
i apoligise if i spelt any of them wrong