Forum home› Fruit & veg

New to growing

danielcawstondanielcawston Posts: 11
in Fruit & veg
Hello 

Can you help a beginner? My little girl wants to grow veg in the garden, but i am very new to this what good to start off with? that is easy to grow, so i don't disappoint my little girl with my lack of experience???  
«1

Posts

  • PurplerainPurplerain Posts: 1,053
    Lettuce and radishes are quick and easy. Children like fast results so that is what I do for my grandchildren.
    SW Scotland
  • aureliecelerieraureliecelerier Posts: 157
    Potatoes in a bag are very easy but I would advise that you use early or second early varieties. However it may be a bit too late to plant them now... So maybe for next year.
    Radishes are quick to grow and very easy too. Runner beans if you have the space. Not too late to plant them as well! 
  • danielcawstondanielcawston Posts: 11
    Purplerain said:
    Lettuce and radishes are quick and easy. Children like fast results so that is what I do for my grandchildren.
    brilliant thank you, she loves radishes. So i think i will start with this. 

    as i said before i am a complete beginner, is there any guilds or books, that could help me and tell me what time of year i should plant etc?  
  • PurplerainPurplerain Posts: 1,053
    There are so many books around it is hard to recommend just one. If you have any charity shops near you they are bound to have lots. Typing your query into a search engine or using the search on this site will bring up answers too.

    As aureliecelerier suggested, runner beans are really quick too. I put them in a big pot with a cane wigwam and there is still time for them.
    SW Scotland
  • danielcawstondanielcawston Posts: 11
    Purplerain said:
    There are so many books around it is hard to recommend just one. If you have any charity shops near you they are bound to have lots. Typing your query into a search engine or using the search on this site will bring up answers too.

    As aureliecelerier suggested, runner beans are really quick too. I put them in a big pot with a cane wigwam and there is still time for them.
    Brilliant, thank you i will start this with these two this weekend. and there is a charity shop on route to the garden center, so i will stop in on route.

  • aureliecelerieraureliecelerier Posts: 157
    Few years ago my husband bought me a book called "the alloment through the year" by Alan Buckingham.
    For me it is the perfect book for beginners. It tells you what can be planted, harvested or pruned on a month by month basis and has handy tips on how to carry out these tasks successfully. It is a "old book" (I mean it was published in 2012  :)) so it may not be available in book shops anymore but you should be able to find it on Ebay. 
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,063
    edited May 2018
    There are lots of books specifically on gardening with children. I'll try and find a few to suggest. One I have which is not so much out in the garden but we enjoyed a lot when my children were small is Linnea's Windowsill Garden.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,526
    Radishes and runner beans. Plant two bean seeds at the base of each stick in a teepee shape . Water in. Watch them grow. You can have a bean seed on a piece of damp kitchen paper as well, so she can see what is happening underground, before they emerge.
    Radishes are easy and produce quick results. A few seeds each week in a row. 
    You can grow salad leaves in a seed tray , so that you can cut them with scissors. They will be ready to cut in three weeks.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,063
    edited May 2018
    Have a look at this too: 
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/gardening_with_children/plantstotry_easy1.shtml

    Lots of info here too - scroll down for the vegetables:
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening-children-schools/family-activities/grow-it
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • paul_in_surreypaul_in_surrey Posts: 239
    edited May 2018
    It makes me so sad that our public libraries don't even get a mention nowadays.
    “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
Sign In or Register to comment.