I decided to put together this guide not because ‘frugal sustainability’ is the next best thing, but because I met a mate of mine who started growing her own veg last year and she looks so healthy. She was raving her new allotment; not only does she save money, she knows what exactly is going into her body. I asked her for her tips for beginners, because I wanted to keep it simple and because she grows everything organically. She put together a list below of vegetables that would be ideal for the beginner or the lazy gardener. If you don’t have a garden, you can still grow some vegetables on your balcony, or you can avail of a community allotment in your area (a la Eastenders )- see below for information on both.

Easy To Grow Veg

Spinach beet
This is a great crop that is very easy to grow. The slugs and caterpillars will have a gentle nibble at it but largely leave it alone. You can plant it directly into the soil and thin out the seedlings when they come up. You just take off leaves when you need them.

Radish
These were the first veg that my mate grew as a kid and she assures me it’s very easy. They had a big advantage that they came up quite quickly. They have a nice spicy tang and are best off eaten on their own.

Lettuce
Lettuce can be easily grown and can be planted across the season. His personal favourite is the Tom Thumb as these can be picked very soon after sowing. Their size makes them very suitable as a single portion. The main problem with lettuce is that slugs and snails love lettuces and can destroy your whole crop. If you’re going organic then rub the leaves with beer (not too much!).

Cress
This is a great one for kids. The seeds can be grown indoors on a few sheets of tissue (best is unbleached) or in a little compost. It’s not the easiest vegetable to eat but they can be spread on top of a salad or go nicely as an addition to a salad.

Cherry tomatoes
These are very easy to grow. They can be grown from seed though I find that it is very easy to pick up seedlings from a garden centre in late spring. They like the sun, so put them in the sunniest place in your garden. You can also grow them in pots if you wish, so you can put them on the deck or patio area if that’s the sunniest.

Potatoes
Potatoes can be easily grown from either seed potatoes or the old potatoes that have started to chit (sprout shoots). They can be grown in a trench and as the potatoes come up it is necessary to keep them watered and to cover the sides of the plant with soil. They can also be grown in barrels or a particularly common practice is to grow them in old car tyres that can then be raised up with soil as the potatoes grow.

Courgettes
Courgettes can be quite tricky to grow but with a greenhouse they can produce good results. They do not take well to no being regularly watered and can be prone to the same virus that effects cucumber plants. The secret seems to be grow the courgettes from seed yourself rather than buying them as seedlings from the garden centre. They can also be prone to aborting the courgettes that then tend to rot.

Carrot
Carrots can be grown to good effect and they can generate good “beginners luck” in the first year. They are prone to carrot fly which can cause problems, particularly in the second year.

The Small Garden

If you don’t have a large garden, don’t despair. Square foot gardens are popular and can be dug with a trowel. If you’d like to grow many different plants in your square foot garden take eight bamboo rods and tie four together to make a square. Criss cross the other four rods to make smaller squares – you’ll now have 12 tiny squares in which to grow vegetables and herbs of your choice.

The Apartment Garden

If you don’t have a garden or you live in an apartment there are other options available to get growing.
Try growing fruit or veg in a small pot (you can grow tomatoes and lettuce quite easily.
Sow herbs in a window box on your window ledge www.hergarden.ie
Buy a growbag from a garden centre for your balcony or backyard
Allotments/Community Gardens
Allotments are great if you don’t have the space. For a list of allotments and community gardens in your area contact your local council (cheaper option), or go to www.allotments.ie (for the public and private allotments)
Growing Organic

Resources

The BBC have an excellent website that tells you what you can grow and when, with a detailed calendar to assist you. www.bbc.co.uk/gardening
Another excellent resource is www.getgrowing.ie it also has a resources section that gives details of gardening forums so you can ask advice and share tips.

You Tube- You Tube has a ‘how to’ video on almost everything, so if you’re a visual person and need to see someone do it, then go to You Tube and search for the item you wish to grow or need advice on and away you go. It is good to set up a You Tube account because you can set up a gardening folder and download all your favourite gardening videos.

Growing Organic

If you have decided to go organic, the internet is full of resources. I found You Tube excellent if you want to reference a particular vegetabls to see what harmful insects they will attract. I also found an excellent reference site that details the natural alternative to pesticides, depending on the offending insect. http://bit.ly/blUcPX

The Equipment

You don’t need a lot to get started, so don’t go on a buying spree for the sake of it. Make a list of what you need and stick to it, it’s easy to get carried away in Garden centres!. Aldi of Lidl offer the cheapest supplies, but if you can’t or have missed their special offers (blink and you’ll miss them), then your local Woodies B&Q or garden centre will have supplies you need. Argos also has a range of accessories.

If you have questions or tips or tricks to share, please leave a comment.