ChatterBank3 mins ago
What veg to grow?
I plan to make a vegetable patch but am not too sure what to plant. I haven't done it before so for my first attempt at it I would like to grow something which has a pretty good chance of succeeding ie nothing which needs too much expertise, care or attention!
I am interested in carrots, onions and potatos - how hard are any of them to grow? Or is there something else I could try?
Thanks
I am interested in carrots, onions and potatos - how hard are any of them to grow? Or is there something else I could try?
Thanks
Answers
Best Answer
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Potatoes are good at breaking up the soil and quite easy to look after - just make sure they get enough water in dry weather. Another easy crop is courgette/marrow - but they need a lot of space and lots of water. Carrots are prone to attack by carrot fly so you would need to cover them with a net or a fleece. Onions are easy from *sets*. Another easy one to grow is garlic - just shove cloves of garlic into the earth - more info here http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0601/easy _veg.asp
Getting a little late for garlic, they need a cold snap to get them to divide properly.
As Juggerling says potatoes are a good first crop. Grow carrots and onions together they deter each other's pests. Carrot fly also homes in on the smell so when you pull out the thinnings to keep the ones you're growing on, do it on a damp day.
Now the important thing the taste!
Some vegtables are nice home grown and some are spectacular the ones that I think are particularly special are sweetcorn, peas and carrots (high sugar content basically) get them from the plant to the pan as soon as possible, within an hour or two if possible and you'll think you've discoverred a new vegetable.
There are a couple of good magazines on the market
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/
and
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/
And they often have free seeds this time of year too
As Juggerling says potatoes are a good first crop. Grow carrots and onions together they deter each other's pests. Carrot fly also homes in on the smell so when you pull out the thinnings to keep the ones you're growing on, do it on a damp day.
Now the important thing the taste!
Some vegtables are nice home grown and some are spectacular the ones that I think are particularly special are sweetcorn, peas and carrots (high sugar content basically) get them from the plant to the pan as soon as possible, within an hour or two if possible and you'll think you've discoverred a new vegetable.
There are a couple of good magazines on the market
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/
and
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/
And they often have free seeds this time of year too
Its best to grow what you enjoy to eat. That way you will feel achievement.Home grown potatoes are very special and satisfying to grow.Onions from sets.will be rewarding.Carrots can be prone to carrot fly but they are not high jumpers so if you can create a barrier about 21 inches around them you will be fine or cover with fleece.go to the faq page on www.egrow.co.uk and keep returning to get seasonal faqs about any problem you may have. Happy growing. egrow