Growing Advice for beginners

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Topics

Growing Advice for beginners - Introduction

Last post by KGAdmin

by KGAdmin » Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:44 am

Hi all,

Many people are starting to grow their own fruit & veg for the first time - or have only dabbled in the basics.
This forum area was...

0 Replies

31331 Views

Last post by KGAdmin
Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:44 am
Growing betel leaves for miang kham

Last post by Stravaig
Replies: 12
by Stravaig » Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:34 pm

Rating: 2.06%

I loved miang kham when we lived in Thailand. It's a one-bite wrap usually made with betel leaves. You can buy a small quantity of the leaves on...

12 Replies

29971 Views

Last post by Stravaig
Thu Apr 30, 2026 7:03 pm
Growing citrus in the UK

Last post by Stravaig
Replies: 4
by Stravaig » Sun Apr 12, 2026 1:29 pm

Rating: 2.06%

I saw an advert in a recent Radio Times for lemons, oranges and limes. The lemon trees are four years old and the limes trees are expected to produce...

4 Replies

2372 Views

Last post by Stravaig
Thu Apr 16, 2026 12:33 pm
Overgrown apple tree

Last post by tigerburnie
Replies: 2
by Myrkk » Sun Sep 01, 2024 12:28 am

Rating: 2.06%

There’s an old apple tree in our garden, and probably partially to do with this years poor weather, the apples are small, cracked and dropping like...

2 Replies

84046 Views

Last post by tigerburnie
Sun Sep 01, 2024 8:20 pm
Red Onion

Last post by tigerburnie
Replies: 11
by Ian Foster » Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:57 pm

Rating: 4.53%

Hi,

Most of my Red Onion sets have bolted despite being heat treated . Is there a way to stop bolting in future ?

Thanks

Ian

11 Replies

31001 Views

Last post by tigerburnie
Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:40 pm
Kale Question

Last post by Colin2016
Replies: 3
by Colin2016 » Thu Sep 28, 2023 3:27 pm

Rating: 0.41%

Been growing Kale for a while and they always look like the one on the left another plant is giving me lots of the bigger leaves on the right....

3 Replies

36652 Views

Last post by Colin2016
Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:19 am
Rhubarb

Last post by tigerburnie
Replies: 4
by Myrkk » Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:32 am

Rating: 2.47%

Been given a voucher for a seed catalogue for my birthday and am thinking one of the things I’m going to get is some rhubarb. Love making rhubarb,...

4 Replies

25885 Views

Last post by tigerburnie
Thu Oct 19, 2023 3:58 pm
Wood mulch in raised beds

Last post by robo
Replies: 9
by Myrkk » Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:27 pm

Rating: 2.88%

I started prepping my raised beds today and found that the previous owner has put a lot of wood mulch into them. It’s not all nice on the top, get a...

9 Replies

31169 Views

Last post by robo
Fri Sep 08, 2023 7:06 pm
Container asparagus

Last post by Primrose
Replies: 3
by janjones » Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:18 pm

Rating: 1.23%

Earlier this year I planted 3 asparagus crowns in large containers, one little one appeared in one container (top Centre of pic). I was wondering if...

3 Replies

22471 Views

Last post by Primrose
Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:12 pm
Container potatoes

Last post by Westi
Replies: 4
by xinto » Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:04 am

Rating: 1.23%

Hi, newbie and first post. Last night's storm flattened my potatoes, do I need to do anything to save them?
Thank in Advance
xinto

4 Replies

38955 Views

Last post by Westi
Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:58 pm
Patio pond to herb garden

Last post by Stravaig
Replies: 8
by jellybabyjan » Mon Feb 27, 2023 7:40 pm

Hi,

Newbie here :D
I have a small wooden patio pond. I've had enough trying to keep it going every year and have decided to empty it, fill it with...

8 Replies

26940 Views

Last post by Stravaig
Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:41 am
Cold Chili's

Last post by tigerburnie
Replies: 4
by Colin2016 » Sun Oct 02, 2022 10:57 am

Gave one of my chili plants away it performed well giving loads of green/red chili's but they had no heat or flavour.

Anybody had experience of this...

4 Replies

23039 Views

Last post by tigerburnie
Wed Oct 05, 2022 10:30 pm
What is wrong with my cucumber plant?

Last post by Primrose
Replies: 5
by 3ishika » Tue Jun 28, 2022 5:24 pm

Hey everyone,
One of my office colleagues gave me some vegetable seeds, all are growing pretty good. Among all, only my cucumber plant is not reaping...

5 Replies

25002 Views

Last post by Primrose
Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:58 am
Hydroponics help/question

Last post by Mo.Ali
Replies: 2
by Mo.Ali » Sat Apr 09, 2022 8:15 pm

Hello all. I decided to set up a small scale nft system for this
Year but have a question about the pvc pipes.
I see things online where people have...

2 Replies

22111 Views

Last post by Mo.Ali
Sat Apr 09, 2022 11:00 pm
Seed potatoes

Last post by snooky
Replies: 6
by Pumajj » Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:10 pm

Hi, just bought 2 bags of Gemson seed potatoes but am not sure about storage. We want to put 1 bag in as soon as possible and then keep the other bag...

6 Replies

29616 Views

Last post by snooky
Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:31 pm
peas

Last post by Westi
Replies: 9
by robo » Wed Dec 10, 2014 7:02 pm

Hi all, could anybody recomend a variety of tall peas that are sweet when cooked this year I planted 2 types from the real seed company telephone and...

9 Replies

35487 Views

Last post by Westi
Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:54 pm
Watermelons Are getting Dropped

Last post by snooky
Replies: 3
by jacobelias » Sat May 15, 2021 6:40 am

Hello,

I am growing watermelons and bees around for pollination, as baby watermelons are getting dropped after the flowers are turned into baby...

3 Replies

24437 Views

Last post by snooky
Sun May 16, 2021 4:11 pm
Baby Pumpkins Getting Dropped

Last post by jacobelias
Replies: 7
by jacobelias » Wed May 12, 2021 10:23 am

Hello,

I am a novice when it comes to growing vegetables and gardening. Trying growing pumpkins, the issue I am facing is flowers turns into baby...

7 Replies

27543 Views

Last post by jacobelias
Sat May 15, 2021 8:59 pm
Brassicas Roots Eaten

Last post by Colin2016
Replies: 4
by Colin2016 » Thu Jan 28, 2021 12:42 pm

Checked brassicas growing in netted tunnel thought they had been clown over, inspection showed the roots had been eaten.

There was a hole in the...

4 Replies

25723 Views

Last post by Colin2016
Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:36 pm
Seed light requirements ........

Last post by KevinHoward
Replies: 3
by Julesuk » Mon May 25, 2020 8:18 pm

Should seeds when they are pre chilled / stratified etc etc and ready to plant out in pots
be in a bright area , full sun or like seedlings in a...

3 Replies

27068 Views

Last post by KevinHoward
Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:50 pm
Fertiliser question

Last post by Stravaig
Replies: 6
by Mo.Ali » Sat Jan 16, 2021 5:10 pm

Hello all, i am new here and new to hydrophonics.
I need some advice on what fertiliser to use, been wstching
I lot of youtube vids and thinking of...

6 Replies

28171 Views

Last post by Stravaig
Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:17 pm
Why not try something a little different?

Last post by Geoff
Replies: 2
by Geoff » Fri Nov 20, 2020 5:47 pm

To celebrate my minor milestone I thought I would repeat my favourite post, not quite the right time of year but then it is a year like no other....

2 Replies

23621 Views

Last post by Geoff
Sat Nov 21, 2020 6:34 pm
Sweet Potatoes

Last post by Kayburton
Replies: 11
by lez » Tue May 02, 2017 11:56 am

Hi Ya, I saw a little snippet in the KG magazine where Joyce Russell said about growing sweet potatoes in a black bucket. I could see it was a two...

11 Replies

36086 Views

Last post by Kayburton
Thu Oct 08, 2020 8:19 am
How do I fatten my fennel?

Last post by Stephen
Replies: 2
by vivienz » Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:31 pm

It's too late for this season's fennel, but how do I get those lovely fat bulbs that the Italians produce? Mine are a decent size but rather more...

2 Replies

24307 Views

Last post by Stephen
Thu Sep 17, 2020 4:30 pm
Beginners Cold frame sowing September

Last post by time4tea
Replies: 6
by time4tea » Sat Sep 05, 2020 4:51 pm

Hi,

We have had bumper crops during lockdown from our garden, but we had a spare piece of safety crittal glass (had to replace a long window in a...

6 Replies

27491 Views

Last post by time4tea
Mon Sep 07, 2020 10:01 pm
Can you identify this Plant

Last post by time4tea
Replies: 6
by Colin2016 » Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:47 pm

Brought this neglected plant home and wonder if anybody knows what it is?

6 Replies

27640 Views

Last post by time4tea
Sat Sep 05, 2020 5:46 pm
Decimated Radish Crop

Last post by Westi
Replies: 5
by daxtell71 » Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:20 pm

After tending my first planting ever of Radish which were growing beautifully I came down this morning to find Catapillars of different shades having...

5 Replies

25963 Views

Last post by Westi
Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:34 pm
Lemon Thyme didn't flower this year

Last post by Monika
Replies: 2
by Elahid » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:48 am

Any ideas why? My two new ones flowered and the bees are all over them constantly.

The lemon thyme I bought last year flowered most of last summer...

2 Replies

23292 Views

Last post by Monika
Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:09 pm
Seedlings help

Last post by daxtell71
Replies: 5
by daxtell71 » Tue Jul 28, 2020 1:07 pm

How do I tell when they are ready to transplant from the seed tray? I have had several failures and am a little worried I am doing something very...

5 Replies

25719 Views

Last post by daxtell71
Thu Jul 30, 2020 8:24 pm
Peas and peashoots

Last post by bradleyfamily53
Replies: 2
by bradleyfamily53 » Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:30 am

Hi Everyone, I've grown some peas for the first time. Are peashoots the young growth on the plant? Can I cut them for salads? I'm unsure if only...

2 Replies

25099 Views

Last post by bradleyfamily53
Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:51 am
monterey cypress seed propagation

Last post by Julesuk
Replies: 8
by Julesuk » Sun May 24, 2020 1:01 pm

I have a monterey cypress tree and I am trying to propagate this as it is the only one
left in the garden and has enormous sentimental value.
It is...

8 Replies

31413 Views

Last post by Julesuk
Mon May 25, 2020 1:17 pm
Purple sprouting Broccoli as cordons ?

Last post by DMcL
Replies: 10
by DMcL » Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:04 am

This is my first post on the forum.
It was prompted by reading a old post from 2013 by Johnboy.
He made a passing comment about growing PSB as...

10 Replies

32617 Views

Last post by DMcL
Thu May 07, 2020 9:14 am
low temperature in dawn and night in may -- threating runner bean vine ?

Last post by Geoff
Replies: 13
by livefree » Sat May 02, 2020 9:44 am

hii,

i have many runner beans vine that are eager to climb everywhere. but the temperature outside is still unstable.
few weeks ago was like...

13 Replies

47579 Views

Last post by Geoff
Sun May 03, 2020 8:09 am
Starting a no-dig kitchen garden from scratch

Last post by Stephen
Replies: 32
by vivienz » Thu May 03, 2018 10:01 pm
1

2

3
I'm moving house to the other end of the county towards the end of this year but hope to get started on my kitchen garden before then. The site is...
32 Replies

87678 Views

Last post by Stephen
Thu Apr 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Mange tout, Rodney, mange tout

Last post by Chantal
Replies: 5
by vivienz » Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:45 pm

I've down some mange tout in modules that are destined to be an early crop in the greenhouse. I know that I should pinch out the growing tips of...

5 Replies

27992 Views

Last post by Chantal
Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:04 am
New Book

Last post by madkevin
Replies: 15
by Colin2016 » Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:03 am
1

2
Just got "Veg in One bed" found very helpful and straight forward with simple monthly plans for growing your own veg.

Thinking it could be...
15 Replies

57067 Views

Last post by madkevin
Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:19 pm
How to create more humidity indoors?

Last post by Monika
Replies: 5
by Elmigo » Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:49 pm

If you're also growing tropicals, they may require a more humid air. More humidity overall is good for your own lungs as well as the plants systems....

5 Replies

29822 Views

Last post by Monika
Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:56 pm
Brassicas

Last post by Weed
Replies: 13
by Colin2016 » Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:36 pm

Got the free brassicas offer last year purple broccoli & kale brilliant, 2 cabbages out of 10 and 1 cauliflower.

Suspect there was a mix up with...

13 Replies

38058 Views

Last post by Weed
Thu Jan 02, 2020 2:47 pm
Pierced wheel

Last post by Stephen
Replies: 2
by Lina Sazhina » Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:31 pm

Hello, recently started gardening. I bought a garden wheelbarrow, used it for a few days, and it got a flat tire. Could you tell me in such a case I...

2 Replies

25505 Views

Last post by Stephen
Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:40 am
edible physalis

Last post by Primrose
Replies: 7
by Diane » Wed Sep 07, 2016 3:59 pm

I'm already thinking about next year's exotic "thing to grow". Has anyone had any success with the edible cape gooseberry? In the...

7 Replies

31328 Views

Last post by Primrose
Mon Aug 26, 2019 2:09 pm
Many plants dead from dryness

Last post by Stephen
Replies: 13
by Stravaig » Wed Jul 24, 2019 7:17 am

If plants are dying or dead from drying out then I suppose the obvious solution is to water them more. But I don't think it's that simple. Please let...

13 Replies

39230 Views

Last post by Stephen
Wed Jul 31, 2019 9:02 am
Spacing

Last post by Stephen
Replies: 22
by Colin2016 » Thu Dec 20, 2018 8:17 am
1

2
Can anybody explain why spaces between rows are usually bigger than the space between plants.

Example:
"Plant shallot sets 25cm (10in) apart in...
22 Replies

61177 Views

Last post by Stephen
Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:29 pm
mouldy compost question

Last post by ilknur
Replies: 3
by ilknur » Sun Jan 20, 2019 2:11 pm

Hello all,
I'm new to gardening or growing much really.
I decided to grow ginger recently (thanks to Pinterest). I managed to have it sprouting but...

3 Replies

27022 Views

Last post by ilknur
Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:29 pm
How do I best this smug cat?

Last post by Diane
Replies: 7
by Diane » Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:37 am

Build a cage - cats are cleverer than we are :( (And I'm a cat lover too).

7 Replies

30695 Views

Last post by Diane
Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:56 pm
Roquito chilli pepper pearls - ?

Last post by JuneL
Replies: 25
by Stonecoloured » Sat Jul 25, 2015 1:05 pm
1

2
Good Afternoon all,

Hope you're all doing well and your plants are doing well? I'm at the green tom stage and quite a few small peppers! So fingers...
25 Replies

102657 Views

Last post by JuneL
Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:20 pm
Strawberry advice

Last post by robo
Replies: 5
by Primrose » Tue Aug 28, 2018 5:55 pm

Most of my 4 year old strawberry plants died in the heatwave and I,ve been in the process of digging them all out today with the intention of buying...

5 Replies

26957 Views

Last post by robo
Wed Aug 29, 2018 9:49 am
Maggots in my Raspberries

Last post by mickthegardener
Replies: 4
by Colin2016 » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:51 am

I had a good crop of raspberries in my inherited fruit cage, unfortunately they had maggots.

Found a couple of birds in the cage as well so made a...

4 Replies

27988 Views

Last post by mickthegardener
Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:59 pm
Garlic

Last post by Colin2016
Replies: 6
by Colin2016 » Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:08 pm

Is this a scrape half way up the stem of my garlic?

6 Replies

28617 Views

Last post by Colin2016
Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:39 am
First Plant for a "grow your own" newbie to try

Last post by Diane
Replies: 12
by Primrose » Sun Apr 29, 2018 8:06 pm

I was wondering today which vegetable or fruit I would recommend for a child or adult to first try growing if they'd never grown any of their own...

12 Replies

36498 Views

Last post by Diane
Wed May 02, 2018 11:02 am
Spring onion regrowing

Last post by Westi
Replies: 18
by Colin2016 » Mon May 22, 2017 9:18 am
1

2
Saw articles saw you can regrowing spring onions so thought I would give it a try.

This is the result after being in water for 7 days.
18 Replies

60508 Views

Last post by Westi
Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:56 pm

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