Billy wrote:
In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

Billy wrote:
In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

duggenole wrote:
'David Hare-Scott[_2_ Wrote:
;966864']duggenole wrote:-
I'm a total novice and I'm thinking of growing some veg. Any
advice what I should start with. What's easy to grow etc?-

That is a very general question. How about a little more
information. Start by telling us what you climate is like and
what kind of plot you have,
its aspect and soil. Maybe you could go to the local library and
borrow a
book or two on growing your own veges to paint the broader
picture for you.

DavidThanks for the reply. It looks like there is a lot more to
it than I
thought. I didn't know there was different soil types.

If you don't want it to be hit and miss there is. Your soil and
climate largely determine what you can grow without too much
effort. To start with you don't want to make it a lot of effort.
Sure you can alter soil and modify your microclimate but it's much
easier if you don't have to. Head for the library.

D

Easy to grow would be lettuces, Swiss chard, and spinach. If you
can't grow lettuces, Swiss chard, and spinach, then there is little
you could grow. Home grown lettuce has more flavor, and better
texture than store bought.


The OP is likely from Ol Blighty where it isn't an issue but in very
hot seasons leafy veges will not give you much joy. This is not to
be picky but to generalise that there are very few universal
generalisations in gardening. . . . . ?

You were generalizing about generalizations?

I'm not blind you know. It seemed likely that "duggenhole" is a Pom. I
wouldn't think that growing lettuce (salad if you will) would be much
of a problem north of the Mediterranean (apart from the Rhone Glacier,
where there aren't many gardeners).


I agree with everything David has written, but with a varying degree
of effort, you can modify your growing environment, to some extent,
with various mulches, and enclosures. Organic mulches will cool the
soil. Plastic mulches will war the soil. Then you have a choice of
enclosures from row covers to greenhouses.

You might also consider raised beds, or simply growing in pots. Pot
will require watering more often.

In any case, "The best fertilizer is the gardener's shadow."

Speaking of generalisations that's a goodun. Another way to say it
is:

Q. What is the best skill a gardener can learn?

A. To be a good observer.
Gotta be there to observe.

D

How much coffee you drinking these days?

Almost none. I thought I was amplifying and reinforcing what you said. Do
we have a problem?

D