Gardening - haven't got a clue!

[Dhaladog]

Hello, as you've probably already guessed I am new here and completely new to gardening, I've just paid to finally get my garden cleared and have a garden front and back that is mostly flags, there is some small areas for planting at the back and side of the house but I've absolutely no idea where to start, what materials I would need and what to plant, pref a mixture of flowers and vegetables, what tools I need, I am a complete newbie and any help that anyone could give me here would be gratefully received.

 

[DiggersJo]

A lot will depend on how much sun you get and where it shines on the garden. Is there anything in the garden at all? This time of year there might be perennials only starting to show, so for now I would stay in planning mode.

 

[Martin Mikulcik]

Don't be afraid to make mistakes, that's how you get good

Find plants you like that other people in your area grow

All you need is a good hoe, but a shovel is nice

Either buy plants from a store or sprout seeds. List some things you're interested in for specific advice

It's probably about time to plant cool weather crops but idk I'm not in England

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @Dhaladog This is a good place to start.

Determine what plants you want to grow both veggies and flowers. Then read up on characteristics of each as in what soils they prefer, sunlight requirements, fertilization needs, how to plant them, etc.

Once you get a handle on the basics, one of the most important items to consider is soil Ph and what your selected varieties require. You want to match what your plants require with what your soil provides. Acidic or alkaline or neutral. At some point a soil test is advisable to determine your soil Ph as well as the nutrient levels there.

Tools...a good place to start is a quality hoe such as this one:



You might find this recent thread by another gardening novice interesting and informative:

Seed shelf life question

I have some heirloom seeds from 2020 that were never planted. They were kept in sealed plastic bags inside of a box. Do you think they're still usable or do they go bad? Apologies if this is a dumb question. I'm brand new to this stuff. Just trying to learn.

www.gardening-forums.com

 

[LionGardener]

Hello, as you've probably already guessed I am new here and completely new to gardening, I've just paid to finally get my garden cleared and have a garden front and back that is mostly flags, there is some small areas for planting at the back and side of the house but I've absolutely no idea where to start, what materials I would need and what to plant, pref a mixture of flowers and vegetables, what tools I need, I am a complete newbie and any help that anyone could give me here would be gratefully received.

Welcome! - I am also new here.

 

[LionGardener]

Hello, as you've probably already guessed I am new here and completely new to gardening, I've just paid to finally get my garden cleared and have a garden front and back that is mostly flags, there is some small areas for planting at the back and side of the house but I've absolutely no idea where to start, what materials I would need and what to plant, pref a mixture of flowers and vegetables, what tools I need, I am a complete newbie and any help that anyone could give me here would be gratefully received.

This is a really good place to start.
Lots of helpful and friendly gardeners/farmers here.

I landscaped my yard from scratch and it was scary.
What I did was take lots of pictures of my - front and backyard - and then I went shopping for ideas.
This is about 10 years later - it's all filled in now and it still makes me smile when I look at it.
Didn't have to move too many things around - some of the critiques suggested I put wheels on my trees though.
One step at the time. Have fun.

 

[Sheal]

Welcome to the forum Dhaladog.

 

[Ostrodamus]

Yes, tell us mooooooore! I'm completely unfamiliar with the area of Cockermouth, Cumbria.

 

[oneeye]

Hello and welcome, friend.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

've absolutely no idea where to start, what materials I would need and what to plant, pref a mixture of flowers and vegetables

Now is the time to start planting. Seed is always cheaper than buying plants, and there is some satisfaction in seeing it coming up. You can get a cheap heat mat on E bay for under a fiver that will fit on a window sill. If you have lots of flags everywhere it might be good to plant in containers, look for things like 'The Sutton' broad bean and 'Kelvedon Wonder' peas that don't grow too big. Tomatoes and lettuce are good things to get going now in the veg dept.
Take your time planning where to take up the paving and save the flags, they come in very useful for edging beds I find, not so hospitable to slugs as wood and much more durable. It's trying to do informeda lot all at once that usually beats peop0le, a little at a time is good, and it builds surprisingly well.
A green house is useful, I just got myself an 'Outsunny' poly tunnel, much cheaper and almost as good, though it won't last as long.
Good luck and keep us informed, plenty of happy hours ahead and lots of fun new stuff to learn.

PS, go for cheap plants, they are cheap because they are easy to grow, expensive means harder to grow, not better.

 

[MiTmite9]

Hello, as you've probably already guessed I am new here and completely new to gardening, I've just paid to finally get my garden cleared and have a garden front and back that is mostly flags, there is some small areas for planting at the back and side of the house but I've absolutely no idea where to start, what materials I would need and what to plant, pref a mixture of flowers and vegetables, what tools I need, I am a complete newbie and any help that anyone could give me here would be gratefully received.

One crucial step is to find out which plant zone you're in. Looks like you're
Zone 8b Characteristics: Average minimum winter temperatures range between

-9.4°C to -6.7°C or 15°F to 20°F.

Don't buy seeds or bulbs or plants that won't grow in your zone. Check seed packets/flower bulb packets for plant zone info. Ask the nursery employees if you're unsure what grows best in your area.

It's a waste of time and money to try and grow plants that don't do well in your zone. Next: Like any hobby, you will need the right equipment. New tools to help make your gardening life easier. Avoid plastics, such as things like plastic grow bags.

I highly suggest you join a garden club or at least find some gardening classes. There is a lot of information out there. If you prefer to be self-taught, access YouTube videos and learn how best to grow your favorite veggies and flowers, etc.

Don't use herbicides/pesticides in your garden. Go organic.

 

[GFTL]

Welcome. My best advise is to start small. I have a habit of going big or go home and that always causes me to wish I could just stop trying to grow so much. Keep it simple and grow through time.

 

[Martin Mikulcik]

Welcome. My best advise is to start small. I have a habit of going big or go home and that always causes me to wish I could just stop trying to grow so much. Keep it simple and grow through time.

I always wish i did more

 

[Ostrodamus]

Welcome. My best advise is to start small. I have a habit of going big or go home and that always causes me to wish I could just stop trying to grow so much. Keep it simple and grow through time.

TL;DR - Yes, do this if you're able.

This is harder to do than eating just one Lay's chip, or "pacing yourself" when it comes to tattoos. Year one I think we planted a 35-veggie bargain pack from Amazon and a handful of random starters we found on various marketplaces. Year two we planted around 100 varieties, a mix of bargain packs and hand selected packets. This is now year 4 and we have 173 varieties total, so far. This includes flowers, herbs, fruits and veggies. Every year I say, this is the year where we narrow down what we want to grow long term, yet here we are expanding yet again. We've even added 3 additional entire garden beds this year.

Send help... lol