Back to Basics
You have probably, like many, scoured the internet, bought the odd book and tried to glean useful tips from experienced gardeners. However, often, a certain level of knowledge is assumed or when you actually come to sow your seeds you realise you have no idea how deep to sow then, or how much to water or that you didn’t realise that you needed a “dibber” (what?!?) to get out for transplanting. (I need to transplant? Why?)
This section is all about going back to basics.
What do I need?
Obviously, this varies depending on what you are doing but basics are:
Compost
Containers (of various size and shapes – this can be proper pots, margarine tubs or even coffee machine cups for your seedlings!)
Small Trowel and fork,
Watering Can
Seeds!
Why would I want to grow my own?
We could tell you it’s satisfying, it will be the best tasting, flavourful fruit and veg you will ever eat and that it’s really good fun – however, these are all quite personal reasons – so here are 4 practical benefits.
MAX OUT YOUR VITAMIN INTAKE – You will get the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients from the food you grow as you will eat them freshly picked and won’t have been transported for a week beforehand.
REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT – Leading on from the above – it reduces your carbon footprint as transporting from plant to plate is considerably less when it come from your own garden!
IT’S HEALTHY – Not only will you get more nutrients and taste from your freshly picked veg, you will get lots of exercise from digging or weeding or planting up and if anything, it gets you away from that tv!
MONEY-SAVINGS – You will have heard this absolutely everywhere – but after the initial outlay for equipment such as trays and pots and fleece and watering cans etc – you really will be saving money on your weekly grocery bill. And remember that YOU can make the choice to grow organically, so if you buy organic fruit and veg at the moment you will certainly be making a saving!
What’s the best veg to grow for beginners?
Take a look at our Top 10 easiest to grow vegetables for some ideas on what you could grow. Most veg growers start with tomatoes, but the world really is your oyster! You can give anything a go if anything else catches your eye. We supply full growing instructions with all our plants and our seed packets have comprehensive instructions on what to do.
When do I need to sow my seeds?
This, obviously, differs between different types of veg, fruit or flowers. All our seed packets have an easy to follow chart showing when to sow, when to plant out (if required) and when to harvest.
How much should I water my plants?
There are some general rules of thumb for watering.
Try and water either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. It is better to water less often with more water than often with less water.
I don’t have much spare time – can I grow veg?
Absolutely! We have a range of Speedy seeds which means you can be harvesting your veg in as little as a week! Click here to see our range. We also have some time saving help in the shape of our seed mats and tapes which means you don’t have to fiddle about with seeds you simply prepare the compost and place them in. Click here to see how you can grow veg in much less time than you think!
I only have a small garden – what can I grow?
You can grow veg on a windowsill if that’s what you have or you can grow in containers on a balcony or a patio. You can have a herb garden on your windowsill. Click here to see our Windowsill herb kit. Take a look at our Easy to Grow veg section where we have lots of suggestions on what you can grow in containers. Click here to see our Easy to Grow veg
As I’ve never done this before should I grow from seed or plants?
There are pros and cons to each:
Seeds are much cheaper and there is something very satisfying about producing food to eat from a little seed. It is much more time-consuming but you could pick something from our speedy seed range.
Plants are more expensive but we have done the first bit for you already. Plants are good for those with less time or perhaps have never grown their own veg before.
There really is no reason why you can’t do a mixture of both. Try your hand with some seed and buy in plants later on. Lots of seasoned veg growers do this as they may not have had the time to sow all the seeds they wanted for the season.
HOW TO SOW FROM SEED
There is no mystery to this at all. You sow your seed, put them on a windowsill, water them when they look thirsty, when they are big enough to handle transplant to their place in the veg patch or in a container and feed and water appropriately, picking off the slugs and covering with a fleece if it gets cold. Easy! However, if you’ve never done it before here are some tips on getting it right first time round!
Depth of Sowing
Very fine seed (take a look when you open the packet) can be sown on the surface but as a general rule: sow your seed to twice the depth of the seed. However, our seed packets will give you appropriate instructions
Seed Spacing
This is the fiddly bit – you should sow about 50% more seeds that you require and thin out (remove spare seedlings to give the ones you have the best chance) later. Our seed packets will tell you how far apart to space your seed but after a while you will figure out how much each plant needs when you know how big they will get.
Looking after your seedlings
A windowsill is a good place for seedlings but make sure you turn the container every day as your seedlings will naturally grow toward the light. A greenhouse is ideal but not absolutely necessary. Water when the compost is a bit dry. Talk to them if you like – some experienced gardeners swear by it! The carbon dioxide in your breath helps them to grow! Another one of those growing your own advantages as it sucks CO2 out of the air.
Transplanting
Now, when your seedlings have become big enough to handle – i.e. they have 2 ‘true’ leaves – it’s time for them to move out. Carefully ease them out with a ‘dibber’ which is basically a pointy piece of wood – so a pencil will do. Try to handle by the leaves and not the stem as this breaks easily. Make a hole and gently press the seedling in, firming the compost around it.
Hardening Off
Your seedlings need to be introduced to the outside world over a week or so. If in containers you can move them indoors overnight (remember to put some newspaper down if you are moving into the house!) or cover them with a fleece / mesh so they don’t feel the cold too much. You should cover whenever there is a frost.
Planting in Containers
When you are told to “crock the pot”, it means to put some stones or broken ‘crock’ery in the bottom, otherwise the compost won’t drain properly
Choose a pot suitable for the veg you are growing – our instructions will tell you how much space they need.
Remember to water and feed! Pots tend to dry out fast, especially in the summer. Water either first thing in the morning or in the evening: watering in the hot summer sun may scorch the leaves and some of the water will evaporate away so is the least efficient time to water.
When putting compost in your pots, fill to about 2.5cm / 1” from the rim so you can water your plants without getting compost everywhere. On hot days, fill to the brim with water – any excess will drain away.
You can get some water storing crystals (link to product) to mix in with your compost and controlled release fertilizer (link to product) which should last all season for feeding your plants. This means you won’t have to water and feed your tubs as much.
Giving them support
Some veg plants such as runner beans, cucumbers and some tomatoes need some kind of support system. A support system is nothing more complicated than a cane and some gardening string.
Tip – put the cane in when you plant your seedlings – if you forget till later, you may damage the roots when you put them in.
As the plant grows, just tie in stem (gently!) to the cane. If growing quite a few climbing plants you can fashion a kind of ‘grid’ by putting in a few canes and tying string horizontally across them.
Watering and Feeding
In summer, your plants will need watering every day – try and water early in the morning or in the evening to prevent scorching. See the Planting in Containers section for tips on watering your pots.
Feeding is dependent on what you are growing so read the growing instructions carefully.
Finally
Instructions on the back of seed packets or with your plants will give you an idea of when to harvest your lovingly grown fruit and veg. We wish you every success in all your growing endeavours