Looking for specialised gardening advice? Or just hunting for a specific product? Visit your local store and get help from dedicated staff. If space is at a premium, consider dwarf selections and bush forms. Many seed companies now sell 'patio' vegetables, which are suitable for even the smallest garden. It's easy to get carried away when looking through seed and plant catalogues, so make sure you grow only what you really like, keeping experiments to a minimum. Think about how much space you have: this will be the greatest limitation on what you can grow. Also think about how long things take to grow - cabbages, for instance, are slow to mature and take up precious space all season. In ancient times man planted his crops by observing the cycles of the moon. There is still an argument that this is the most reliable way of farming today as it observes changes in the earth’s magnetic field which brings changes in weather. There are three different methods that are recognised for planting by the moon and include: Synodic, Biodynamic and Sidereal cycles. Synodic cycle

10 Easy-to-Grow Vegetables for Beginners | BBC Gardeners

Climbing Bean, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Courgette, Cucumber, Dwarf Bean, Kale, Leek, Pumpkin, Runner Bean, Squash, SweetcornArtichoke (Jerusalem), Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Parsnip, Potato, Swede Watch our videos for help and advice on growing your own vegetables – including sowing techniques as well as individual profiles. Vegetables A-Z What Gardeners Grow’, a new book published by Bloom, collects into one encyclopedic volume the most treasured plants (and the stories behind them) of more than 250 gardeners. Ahead of the book launch at the Museum on Tuesday 16 May, we’re sharing an exclusive extract from the book, in which garden designers Isabel and Julian Bannerman, and community activist Ron Finley share their chosen favourites: What I do is start the seeds in a 7cm-deep tray or dresser drawer. I put cardboard or newspaper at the bottom, mix soil and compost, add the seeds very close together, and cover with more soil. Once they start to sprout, I use a spoon to take them out and plant them where they will live. This is because sunflowers do not like to be moved once they get to a certain height. Artichoke (Globe), Asparagus, Aubergine, Broad Bean, Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Courgette, Cucumber, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Marrow, Onion, Pepper, Shallot, Squash, Sweetcorn, Tomato

Getting started with vegetables - help and advice on growing

They are typically a spring/summer flower, but in some places you can grow them year round. They do well in an open space. Sunflowers like full sun and will follow it, but can also grow in part shade. It’s best to keep them in moist soil, as they are not a deep-rooted plant. You might want to stake them early for support. Artichoke (Globe), Aubergine, Broad Bean, Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Onion, Pepper, Tomato Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Parsnip, Swede Asparagus, Aubergine, Broad Bean, Broccoli, Brussel Sprout, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Climbing Bean, Courgette, Cucumber, Dwarf Bean, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Marrow, Onion, Pepper, Pumpkin, Runner Bean, Shallot, Squash, Sweetcorn, Tomato

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Pruning plants can seem like a daunting job, but if you learn how to do the job properly, you'll be rewarded with plants that look good, grow well, and they're likely to flower and fruit better, too. The key to successful pruning is to know when to prune, and follow guidance on how to make the cuts and shape the plant. We've got plenty of pruning step-by-step guides and videos to look though – here are some for starters: