So, I was going to grow some strawberries.

[ShiggyBiggs]

So I decided I was going to try and grow tomatoes and strawberries because theyre quite expensive to buy if you eat loads of them. It was actually after a I saw a promotion in the Daily Mail offering free seeds for two weeks (I got my mum to collect the tokens because she was reading it anyway, and they still havent arrived.), various things like horse radish, lettuce, carrots etc.

After waiting for a month or so I decided they probably wouldnt arrive in time to get them growing. So off to ebay I go, just looking for some strawberry and tomato seeds. But no, being an impulse buyer,
I ended up with this lot :
3 kinds of strawberry - "Wild", "yellow wonder" and "temptation".
Pea - "oregon sugar pod".
Watermelon - "Crimson Sweet". (I doubt Ill get anything off this)
Tomato - "Gardeners Delight", "Moneymaker".
Peppers - "Sweet Banana", "California Wonder".
Chilli Pepper - "Twilight".
Asparagus - "Connovers Collossal"
Aswell as some Peppermint and some Spearmint seeds.

I dont really know how this is going to go, especially as I dont have a greenhouse. Im thinking maybe I should have just bought some already on the go plants, and worked from there. But Ive still spent less than £10.

Im planning on trying it all in pots, apart from maybe the tomatoes (if I get that far) theyll be going in grow bags most likely. I had thought about doing some raised beds, but there isnt really a good space for it. Although I have found some raised beds made out of a plasticy fabric stuff I might invest in later.

So any tips for a complete novice grower? Or have I left it too late to start?

Cheers!

[freecar]

Sadly, I think it's too late to go from seed this year.

Get down the garden centre and find some ready grown plants, I planted strawberries about two week ago and they are just starting to form green fruits.

Tesco and B&Q have had deals on young plants in the last couple of weeks, must be worth a look.

[ShiggyBiggs]

Thats a bit grim, think Ill just wait until next year maybe. Still might throw a few in and see what happens. Keep them in pots on the window sills in the conservatory or something.

Cheers!

[otolith]

Asparagus requires a properly prepared bed, and if you grow it from seed this year you won't get a crop until 2013 at the earliest. It's a long term thing, which will then produce a crop every year for 10 or 20 years.

[freecar]

ShiggyBiggs said:

Thats a bit grim, think Ill just wait until next year maybe. Still might throw a few in and see what happens. Keep them in pots on the window sills in the conservatory or something.

Cheers!

Re: Strawberries.

No, save them for next year.

It would be a complete waste to plant them now, they should have gone in sometime between January and April!

Most places will not be taking any more deliveries of young plants so you'll be a bit late even for those.

Sadly a warm windowsill wont fool mother nature into thinking it is three months or more ago! There is also photoperiod to consider.

I'm not particularily optimistic for my chances as I left it late to plant out young plants!

There really is no point half arsing it, it takes about the same amount of effort but has very little chance of providing satisfactory results. Lots of work for a disappointment.

[Pothole]

otolith said:

Asparagus requires a properly prepared bed, and if you grow it from seed this year you won't get a crop until 2013 at the earliest. It's a long term thing, which will then produce a crop every year for 10 or 20 years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/seasonal-food-and-drink/8531246/Homegrown-style-Asparagus-is-in-season.html

"In this age of instant gardening, the long-term procedure of growing asparagus has rather lost its appeal, but with new varieties, like 'Gijnlim’ and 'Backlim’, ready to harvest after just a year, there’s hope for even the impatient gardener to sample this luxury fresh."

[ShiggyBiggs]

Decided to throw a load of the seeds into some soil and what not now they are on the window sill in propigator things. I didnt bother with the strawberries or asparagus, Ill keep those for next year.

Im not expecting much of anything, but it will only cost about £5 if nothing happens. And at least I will know for next year.

Id maybe consider buying one of those indoor grow tents Ive seen advertised, could have a supply of fresh fruit all year round. Could maybe be a money saver, but I would need to do some research first. I would expect the lights to be quite expensive to run. Maybe I could convert a fish tank.

Cheers!

[otolith]

Pothole said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/seasonal-f...

"In this age of instant gardening, the long-term procedure of growing asparagus has rather lost its appeal, but with new varieties, like 'Gijnlim’ and 'Backlim’, ready to harvest after just a year, there’s hope for even the impatient gardener to sample this luxury fresh."

That's one year after planting 12 month old crowns, not one year after growing from seed. And I've got crowns of both of those varieties, and you get very little in the first year after planting.

Connover's Colossal, the variety the OP has bought, is a "heritage" variety. I've got a row of it, and it's very lacking in vigour compared to the modern hybrids.

[otolith]

ShiggyBiggs said:

I didnt bother with the strawberries or asparagus, Ill keep those for next year.

If you are going to grow asparagus from seed, get it growing in pots now and look to plant out the dormant crowns into a prepared bed in late winter. You want a bed with loads of grit and manure dug into it.

[ShiggyBiggs]

otolith said:

If you are going to grow asparagus from seed, get it growing in pots now and look to plant out the dormant crowns into a prepared bed in late winter. You want a bed with loads of grit and manure dug into it.

To be honest I dont think I will bother growing the asparagus at all, probably hand the seeds off to a friend(if I can find one).

When is the right time to plant strawberry seeds? Next Feb/March?

Edited by ShiggyBiggs on Tuesday 31st May 09:51

[otolith]

Don't know about the strawberries, I've always bought plants. They spread like weeds. I would follow the instructions on the seed packet and get them planted, you won't get any fruit off them this year but they will come up again next year and you'll get some then.

[ColinM50]

Bought some strawberry plants in early March for the grandkids (5 & 3)to teach them a bit about growing stuff. We see them twice or three times a week and it's been a wonderful experience for them and me. They've watered them religiously every time they've come round and jump out of the car shouting "Grandad, Grandad come and see the strawberries". Their excitement and enthusiasm has been wonderful to witness.

And of course they're now picking and eating them so now as they jump out of the car it's "Grandad, Grandad YOU can't have any of OUR strawberries".

In that respect it's been a very worthwhile experience but I have to say bearing in mind we've only really had about a pound of strawberries from nine plants which IIRC cost about 80p each, it's hardly been financially worthwhile. I'll not be chasing Sainsbury's or Tesco's for a supply contract.

Re the OP, buy yourself a growbag and some ready grown tomato plants from a local garden centre or B&Q for less than a pound each and you're fine for time for that, you'll have some lovely tomatoes in late July onwards, but you're a bit too late for starting off from seeds. If you get them in this weekend, you'll be OK with cucumbers, chillies and peppers too

[Simpo Two]

I think you've bought what you like eating rather than what your garden/equipment/skill will support!

Peppers, chilis and watermelons are all from warmer climes and will need a greenhouse.

I'm a first-time tomato-grower this year and bought plantlets about a month ago. They started about 6" high and are now 3' high and flowering.

[The Nur]

ShiggyBiggs said:

Id maybe consider buying one of those indoor grow tents Ive seen advertised, could have a supply of fresh fruit all year round. Could maybe be a money saver, but I would need to do some research first. I would expect the lights to be quite expensive to run. Maybe I could convert a fish tank.

Cheers!

It sounds as though you are thinking about branching out into a rather more profitable form of horticulture, talking about fishtanks and indoor grow tents.

I'm not sure they sell those types of seeds at B&Q

[V-spec]

I would still give the chillies a go, if you have the space inside. Last year mine were still flowering and producing chillies in December and January, on a south facing windowsill. Just need to polinate the flowers yourself using a paint brush.

Put some compost in a pot, push a couple of seeds in with your finger and cover the pot in clingfilm. Then stand the pot in a saucer of water on a south facing windowsill, and keep the compost moist until you see something growing - usually within a few days!

The one you have bought - Twilight - looks interesting, I might look at that for next year!

[ShiggyBiggs]

The Nur said:

It sounds as though you are thinking about branching out into a rather more profitable form of horticulture, talking about fishtanks and indoor grow tents.

I'm not sure they sell those types of seeds at B&Q

hahaha! Im sure I read that that kind of thing was on the up! I saw an indoor aero garden for growing herbs that had a light on it too! Wouldnt have been big enough for fruit plants I dont think though.
Just had a quick look for a tent to use to grow strawberries in, they do all seem to be aimed at lets say the more 'comercial' grower lol.

Im nearly certain last year I saw a fish tank, at least 6 foot I would say, with the top covered with more glass to make a mini green house. Could be wrong about that though.

V-spec said:

I would still give the chillies a go, if you have the space inside. Last year mine were still flowering and producing chillies in December and January, on a south facing windowsill. Just need to polinate the flowers yourself using a paint brush.

Put some compost in a pot, push a couple of seeds in with your finger and cover the pot in clingfilm. Then stand the pot in a saucer of water on a south facing windowsill, and keep the compost moist until you see something growing - usually within a few days!

The one you have bought - Twilight - looks interesting, I might look at that for next year!

Have got them planted in propigators along with the other peppers and tomatoes. I only got the twilight chilis because they looked interesting and I know plenty of people I can pass them on to if I get some.

At least next year Ill know a bit more about what Im doing!

If I do get anything Ill post a pic on here!

Cheers guys!