Where do I start???

[Annpan]

Hi everyone - this is a long winded question, bear with me...

I am about to move house, hopefully. We have been looking for a small cottage with a big garden for ages and have maybe found one where we can eventually grow our own goodies . The thing is I am new to growing except for peas, basil, coriander, parsley and about 50 8inch tall pepper plants grown from seed , then I had a horrid week in hospital after giving birth then 3 bed ridden weeks, and it all died . I currently live in a s**ty ground floor tenement flat with a communal garden that I share with some aggresive cats and some intolarant people, so I can't plant anything outside here.

I have a ready supply of elbow grease but don't want to invest a heck of a lot. I do have some books, just though I would ask here for advice before I get digging.

So what I am actually asking is where do I start?

Do you think it's a good idea to get some indoor sowing done before I move?

What basics should I start with?

What should I avoid till the next season?

If I start in April am I already too late for a 2007 harvest?

What are the first things to do when we move in?

Discuss...

My previous experience on this site is that you guys love trouble shooting so thanks in advance.

Ann

[supersprout]

Hello Annpan, sounds like a good move

If you move in April, you've still got bags of time ahead of you to sow and/or plant for crops in 2007. Last frost date here is 1 June (although most of us try to sneak things outdoors in the last week of May). When I took on my allotment in May two years ago, I had great crops - everything from early spuds (planted late!) to beans - it was a revelation how late you can set veggie plant, especially now the seasons are extending. And how well plants will grow given warmer soil.

My advice would be to make the garden an early project, getting to know its layout, soil, shady bits, lost fruit trees and bushes and so on, and using veg to clear the ground, scramble over unsightly bits, and experiment with quantities and yields.

Depending on the state of your garden, you'll be able to plant clearing crops through black plastic - potatoes, brassica, Jerusalem Artichokes and squash are all good. If you sow in early May in modules, you'll be planting out in June. You'll also have a chance to find out what veg are grown and sold locally.

Beetroot, carrot, cauli and lettuce can be sown each week up to the last week in August, either direct or in modules - succession planting will give you harvests up to November.

The best starting point IMO is what you want to grow and eat fresh. I've majored on globe artichokes, squash, tomatoes and beans, and don't grow peas and maincrop spuds any more. People with small children will always grow strawberries! Make lists, explore plant habits and varieties in books and forums like this, so that you become an expert on the plants you plan to grow when you arrive in your new garden, and can adapt it to growing your veg.

Good luck with the move

[hedgewizard]

Congrats! You must be champing at the bit. Sadly you don't say when you're moving, but if I can be a bit more general than supersprout;

1. Be realistic. You're moving house, for god's sake - you'll already have a lot to do this year so don't overdo things and get discouraged.

2. For the garden, your primary task for the first year is to WATCH AND LEARN. Take photographs to show your start point. Draw a plan of how things are, and scan or photocopy it so you have lots of copies to scribble on. Look for things like;
Where are the frost pockets?
Where does the frost melt first?
What wildlife visits where?
Which areas get shade? and so on, and so on.

3. By all means get a temporary veg bed going, but when it comes to structural changes do as little as possible - you'll only change things as you learn about the plot.

There's loads you can do in year 1, but remember that a big garden is a "work in progress" - you'll likely NEVER be finished as there'll always be some new challenge on the go. So don't rush at it like you want to get it all done.

Have a look at my blog and you'll see what I mean - I talk about cutting a keyhole bed into a lawn in that post, which might interest you. Keep asking questions too, we love 'em.

[Chickpea]

You've had some really good advice from Supersprout and Hedgie. They're right. April is not too late at all. I started a new allotment in May last year and had a great harvest. They're also right when they advise you don't go mental. You've got a young child and you're moving house so you're not going to be able to recreate River Cottage in six months. It would be great if next October you look back and say "I grew some great runner beans and lettuces and a few more things this year, and it wasn't hard at all. I could have managed a bit more in fact. Next year I think I'll add potatoes and rhubarb and I want to try cauliflowers". This would be much better than "I thought I could dig the whole garden and keep it weeded and keep on top of the harvesting and make jam, wine and chutney but instead I got knackered digging, the weeds ran riot, I couldn't pick the runner beans fast enough and they all ended up rotting in the bottom of the fridge. I'm so disheartened I'm just going to put in a weekly repeat order with T***o.com for the rest of my life". Babysteps, and it will all be great. Enjoy your new house and your new garden. Don't forget to plant some flowers as well.

[Millymollymandy]

Great advice above. Don't rush into anything, remember you have all the time in the world, so get your unpacking and settling in done first.

Also I'd advise against trying to move house with seedling etc in pots - it's bad enough moving with houseplants!

[red]

you can spend your time*making plans* doing research - find out what you want to grow etc

for example - if you want to put in any fruit trees - it will be the wrong time of year - you can plant in Autum - but you can spend your time thinking about where theiright place will be what they might shade, then looking into suppliers - and asking neighbours what works for them, and even trying the variety you have in mind.

then on a smaller scale you can plan things like spring onions which are a doddle to grow and rewarding. or courgettes.. and then you too can join the gang of people despairing at having too many courgettes! - you dont plant these until May really.

[Sassinak]

I agree with everyone who has said don't rush and push yourself too hard - it meant to be enjoyable. Better to do a small piece well than a large piece that fails because of lack of time.

Look around all the local gardens and see what sort of thing other people grow and do well with, It varies so much from area to area.

Try obscure veg and fruit from the shops and find out what you would really value if you could grow it - and don't be put off by being told it won't grow in your conditions - all you have to lose is a packet of seeds and some labour

[Annpan]

Fantastic advice everybody

I really am an "in at the deep-end" kind of person, but I shall heed your advice. I am also ultra-organised so I will try and just do maybe 6 things this year and wait until next year to get really stuck in. I can spend the rest of the time drawing pretty pictures and making plans.

Thanks again, but don't think your duties are finished ...any more advice will be welcomed gratefully.

Annpan

[red]

well we moved to our current house last Autumn - and dont plan on only doing a little.... - maybe if you want to do loads - you should write out a priority list - so the more important things gget first look in...

[digiveg]

We moved in September - and while it's been tempting to plant fruit trees, etc etc we're waiting to see what the winter says to us. Right now it's saying 'don't plant ANYTHING at all'. All the sites we'd picked out are now soggy and any trees in there would be doing very badly. So I think Hedgie's advice is GOOD.

April + May are great times to be getting things started, anyway. I can't wait! But I'm going to...

[Annpan]

Well

Just posting a bit of an update....

I am moving at the weekend

Year 1 - Compost heap, Fruit trees and bushes in, maybe a couple of big containers of peas, lettuces and courgettes.

Year 2 - 2 veg plots, a shed and perhaps a pond

Year 3 - maybe more veg plots and greenhouse, chooks.

So this way I reckon in about 5 years I will have a pretty good wee plot.

I have really listened (I think) to everyones advice. I have done some homework, I have read books and trapsed around the internet asked people I know. I still haven't got a clue but hey, I've got to start somewhere

Oh yeah and in among all this I have to renovate the cottage, build an extention and bring up a baby... oh bugger... ever felt like you have bitten off more than you can chew *nervous laughter*

[red]

[quote="Annpan]
Oh yeah and in among all this I have to renovate the cottage, build an extention and bring up a baby... oh bugger... ever felt like you have bitten off more than you can chew *nervous laughter*[/quote]
oh yes - we both have jobs and I HE my son who has a disability and as well as the dream that is our garden and land.. it came with a house riddled with death watch beetle damp and radon. Each time we think we can spend some time on the next project - something jumps up in front - last weekend a tree fell onto our only dry and vermin proof building - the meal shed - which had our straw and sheep nuts inside - it has an asbestos roof - so now we wait for the asbestos contractors to come and clear it all away...still we do have more firewood now.. but spend our time clearing that. the new greenhosue is put back further again...


but - its still all great! congrats and goodluck on the move Ann - hope everythign goes relatively smoothly.

[Thomzo]

Hi Annpan

Good luck with it all. I have renovated several houses. When I did the first one, I didn't do anything with the garden until the house was finished. It was a big mistake. The house was lovely but the garden would have taken years to mature and look as good as the house.

Since then I have done what you are planning to do and spent my time between the garden and the house. Work in the garden if it's warm and sunny, work inside when it's cold and wet.

It doesn't always work out like that but it is a starting point.

Have fun and I hope it all works out for you.

Zoe

[CO Mama]

Red, I've put my babies in their carseat or playpen (depending how old) under a shade tree and let them enjoy being outside while I've planted gardens. It's good for Mom & Baby to be outside anyway, right?

I agree with starting small. Our first garden, we planted way too much and then August, we were tired of all of the weeding and let most plants go to seed. I would start out with just a few rows to get your feet wet, so to speak. Then, when you have a nice little weeder on your hands in a few years, expand that garden. Our children loved to dig potatoes and pick tomatoes and peppers when they were young as 2 or 3.

Have fun and don't stress about it!