Grow your own 1.0
2010 02 03 - 07:54 | Jeff
Interested in planting your own potatoes? Growing your own greens? Transition Luton’s first event of the year, Grow Your Own 1.0, will help you learn the basics.
Gill Gauntlett, presenter of BBC Three Counties' The Greenhouse programme, will host an evening of questions and discussion, with a panel that includes local gardeners and horticulturalists.
The quiz will be held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 10th February in the Luton Friends Meeting House, on Crawley Green Road near the junction with Crescent Road (LU2 0QX), next to the cemetery entrance.
The aim is to inspire beginners to get started in growing their own fruit and veg. Panel members will share their experiences and enthusiasm and answer questions from local people. It is open to all members of the public – complete beginners and experienced gardeners alike. This is the first in a series of events to get Luton growing, including community food projects and shared garden schemes.
Organiser Jeremy WillIiams of Transition Luton says, “My wife and I started growing our own fruit and vegetables last year, and we found it so rewarding we wanted to encourage more people to have a go. The food you've grown yourself is always the freshest and tastiest you'll ever eat – and it's easier and cheaper than you might think.
“Grow Your Own 1.0 is all about encouraging 'first time growers' by sharing stories and expertise, even if you only have a window ledge to experiment with. It will be a fun and friendly evening that we hope will inspire a few new vegetable patches in the back gardens of Luton.”
Comments
Hi Roy
I am not the greatest gardening expert. However, my answer would be, yes, worth having a go but in a relatively small space like this grow what you really like and will give you value and interest: if it were me, possibly choice soft fruits (maybe, some floracane raspberries or strawberries), French beans and leaf veg, plus others.
No big prob with grass soil pests, I would have thought. I would not personally double dig where I live, but it has been recommended on heavy clay soils to break up the sub soil. In any case I would try to incorporate as much humus as possible, particularly from composted waste.
With best wishes
Colin
By Colin Hall on 2010 03 01
Thanks Colin,
Unfortunatly living in Luton I know that the soil is clay. So I should really double dig now as I am told that you only do it once and the benefits are long term.
Perhaps I should avoid carrots and potatoes for the first couple of years.
I was hoping to hear from some one who has experienced breaking new ground and could advise the first crop.
I like your idea of raspberries and have googled your sugestion. However it looks like I have missed the planting time for this year.
Maybe next year I will go for the raspberries that you sugested.
Once again thanks for your advice.
By Roy McKnight on 2010 03 01
Hi Roy
Luton soils vary! I am on very solid chalk in my garden, with just seven inchs of top-soil, and alluvial soil (I think) on my allotment by the River Lea. Clay soils can be very good for growing, but benefit from the work that you can put in. Everything is so very late this year that you might still be able to plant if you wanted to. Apologies, I meant primocane raspberries that will give you fruit later in your first year - I have ordered some from Thompson and Morgan, and they are still to arrive.
With best wishes Colin
By Colin Hall on 2010 03 08
I am thinking of digging up part of my lawn and rose bed and growing some veg.
An area of about 10ft x 12ft would that be any good and will I have a problem with grass soil pests.
Should I double dig and leave it to settle before I plant anything.
By Roy McKnight on 2010 02 26