A bit excited

I'm getting a bit excited because I'm actually managing to grow something. Normally I start the year with good intentions, but nothing happens, but this year I'm doing much better.

I currently have a hanging basket full of pansies (and i even managed to fix the bracket to the wall by myself!), a container full of herbs (thyme, parsley and marjoram I think - hubby chose those).
I have about 12 plug plants of assorted fuschias and petunias to go in pots or baskets later on.

I've also got several houseplants going at the moment, including a Jasmin, chlorophytum and an anthurium, that all seem to be doing rather well!

I'd really, really love to grow some vegetables in pots this year - am I too late? And any suggestions for something that will be really easy.
My back garden is north facing, but in late spring/summer parts of it do get full sun for most of the day.
Front garden is south facing, and probably where it would be easier to put my pots.

 

Hi RachelN76,
I can say that I feel a bit like you in the sense that so far I have my newborn vegetable plants looking allright and I really hope to produce something that I can actually eat. I am aiming at lettuce, tomatoes and if I am lucky cucumbers and courgettes. I don't dare to hope for more but anything on top would be a bonus!

 

I know the feeling of being excited when youve done something right! Nothing is more rewarding :yess:

Absolutely not too late

If your after something ultra easy, then I would suggest buying a packet of cut and come again salad leaf mixed. Its simply sprinkle the seeds onto the surface of compost, and then lightly cover over with a little more fine compost... keep watered and within a couple of months you will have a ready made salad mix... just snip with scissors and wash... it even grows back for a second crop!

Other easy things... Spring Onions, Radish, beetroot, Outdoor Bush Tomatoes, Chillies, Sweet Peppers, Dwarf Beans, Kale, Swiss Chard... plenty to choose from, and all not too late! In fact, some of them would be too early to plant out right now, for example, tomatoes!

If any takes your fancy, be sure to follow the seed packet instructions, and If you need more help... I know everyone here would be more than happy to help!

 

If you like salad, and also you like pretty flowers in hanging baskets, and you like really easy stuff, then may I introduce you to one of my favourites, Nasturtium.

Nasturtium is massively underrated I think. Apart from being really easy to grow and look after, it flowers abundantly with bright flowers (usually in the yellow/orange range but there are other vareities), doesn't need dead heading, and all the top growth is edible. The leaves and flowers add a mild peppery taste to a salad, or you can chuck it in soups and stir fries. Then at the end of the season, if you like, you can harvest the many large seeds and do something with them to make them into either a pepper substitute, or capers sub (I haven't tried that though - I save the seeds for next year).

 

Rachael, meet Nasturtium... nasturtium, meet rachael

Good suggestion clueless, we tried growing them last year... actually, ignore the word tried... they pretty much did all the work themselves.

 

Thank you! The salad leaves and nasturtium sound great! And also sound like something my daughter can help with (she's almost 4).
We did the pots together, and she said it was the best fun she'd ever, ever had.

Might even give chillies a go as well. Don't want to get too carried away, but courgettes and tomatoes sound great too.

 

Always good to get this kids involved with the garden! Great to hear your daughter enjoys helping out... we have a 2 yr old who has developed a keen interest in all of my seedlings, referring to them as 'waking up'

Good luck with trying out some new things this year!

 

Another beautiful day here, so we all went off to the garden centre. I got a bit over excited, so I came home with lots of seeds
A salad mix
Nasturtiums (mixed)
Sweet peas (dwarf, mixed)
Sunflower (giant single)
Chilli (Prairie Fire)
Courgette (endurance F1)
Tomatoes (Maskotka)

Some seed trays
A terracotta pot for Evie to paint and grow her sunflower in
Perlite
Water retaining granules

I nearly bought a pop up greenhouse (only a mini one) but do you think I'll get away with putting the seedlings in our south facing porch, or should I splash out £20 on a pop up greenhouse after all?

 

A good selection there Rach. Just have to point out though, just in case you didn't know (or you're little daughter doesn't know) that the pea pods you get on sweet peas are not edible. I'm sure you know that, but I had to say just in case (I didn't know for ages, I thought sweet peas were just a sweeter version of garden peas for a long time - just as well nobody I knew grew them when I believed that, or I might have made myself a bit poorly).

 

You'll be fine with the south facing Porché, if it gets too hot you can just drive it into the shade.

Those £20 pop up green houses don't last very long.

 

A south facing porche would be much better than my south facing porch I'm sure! :lol

Thanks for the advice clueless - I just bought them for the flowers and the lovely smell, but I'll make sure the kids know not to eat them!