A Beginner's Guide to Growing Your Own Veg

My proudest achievement at University was (arguably) not my attempt to grow beansprouts from mung beans on the windowsill. Not only did I not eat them but a not inconsiderable population of fruitflies did. My housemates considered this unsanitary which, considering it was a student house, gives you some idea of the scale of the infestation. Since then my vegetable plants have been eaten by pigeons, rats, aphids and spider-mites but thankfully also by me. 

It's suprisingly easy to grow your own food and there's a wealth of books, websites and societies out there to help you. Quite a few of the biggest mistakes I've made, though, could have been easily avoided if I had someone to ask about them. So if, like me, you don't have a friendly allotment holder or gardening grandparent let me give you a few ideas.  

First thing's first, space doesn't matter. The first year I grew veg I grew them in protein shake buckets and grow bags but tomatoes look great in hanging baskets or any container you can lay your hands on. The only difference with container garden is that you need to keep the containers well drained and watered. If you're going to plant something in a container that doesn't have drainage holes in, either drill some in if that's possible or plant in a pot that does have holes in and pop that in the container (as you might for a house plant). Then pop some pebbles or broken up polystyrene in the bottom to stop the holes getting bunged up. Here's my upcycled herb planter made from a used olive oil can. They look abit leggy at this time of year but come spring, it'll look gorgeous.

Secondly, when you are starting out, seed is seed. I really wouldn't spend a lot of money on exotic varieties or brand-new breeds. Keep an eye out for the RHS award of garden merit and names such as marketmore and gardener's delight. These pretty much do what they say on the tin. They may not win you any competitions, but they'll give you a good crop of tasty veg. I also like the multi-packs of seed you can buy - a salad pack with tomato, lettuce, cucumber and onion for example. You get fewer seeds (though more than enough for a garden or container plot) but the varieties are reliable, well established ones. Occasionally they even come with a free propagator (black plastic tray with a see-through lid for starting off plants). 

Instructions on the packet are always really useful but you really can't beat a good old, hard-back gardening book. Grab one from a charity shop so you don't mind getting it grubby and keep an eye out for Geoff Hamilton and Alan Titchmarsh. Often TV 'hobby' books are a bit naff  but these two really do know their stuff and they've got the wait of BBC Gardener's World boffins behind them, too. As for anything else, you can pretty much do with out - I've never owned a pair of gardening gloves. 

Start sowing your seeds when the packet or your book recommends. This will range from February to well into summer. You can stagger your seeding for a staggered harvest but only bother if you have plenty of space.
1. Sow your seeds as recommended and pop in the airing cupboard or on a window-ledge. They need warmth but not light at this stage. 
2. When seeds have sprouted, take out and cover with a clear lid. This can be a propagator lid or just a plastic fruit punnet from your plums. Pop them on a window-ledge where they can get some sun. Try not to shut them out with heavy curtains at night, though.
3. When they're 'big enough to handle' (first two leaves but not getting over-crowded) transplant them into individual pots trying not to muck with roots too much. 
 4. When the seedlings are big enough to be 'hardened off' and put out (time depends on variety), pot them on into bigger pots if required. To harden plants off before putting them out, either leave them out in the sun during the day (except on very cold days) and bring in at night or put into a cloche (mini plastic see-through tent) or coldframe (mini green-house) and close up at night. 

Feeding the birds and encouraging frogs are a great way of getting rid of slugs and other pests and whatever you do, DO NOT kill these:

 Baby ladybirds, much bigger than adults, aphid-killing warriors. Mistaken by yours truly as monster plant destroyer. Bad times.