Is there anything you can recommend to a beginner that’s perhaps a little less likely to die? Or should I just go straight to something slightly more difficult (I really want to try my hand at strawberries) and keep trying until I get something from it?
I wouldn’t start with strawberries, they’re disappointing mofos IMO.
Building on Catfish’s other comment, I recommend growing dwarf snow peas from seed. High germination rate, not that many pests/diseases, don’t take up much space, not that picky (just keep it well watered), will twine even on a couple of sticks, enjoys part shade, long growing season (so easy to just keep sowing every 6-8 weeks for a continuous crop), usually prolific and quick to fruit - plus you can eat the shoots as well as the pods :)
They’re a popular choice for kids. Legumes are generally fun. When I was a kid, it was mung beans in a plastic paper cup.
And don’t take it too hard if you kill a plant, EVERYONE has done it regardless of skill level or experience - I have a graveyard of dead houseplants I still haven’t tidied up… Just keep going and you’ll start accumulating successes that you can build on :)
E: I also heartily recommend starting with pots. Just easier to control and manage and a lower rate of encountering insects (usually).
Ah alright. I’m not a huge fan of peas, but I may give them a go even just to try and build my confidence with plants up a little bit. Not entirely related, but will food banks take homegrown stuff like that? I don’t really do peas, but if it’s fruitful and I can’t find anyone who wants them, maybe donating them could be good?
The only thing I’ve tried to keep before was a succulent. I meant to find it somewhere nice in my room where it’d get a bit of sun but I forgot about it and by the time I found it again 4 months later it was long dead and basically dust. I don’t think I’ll screw up that badly again though, my current succulent seems to be doing somewhat okay
U wot m8. If you didn’t have a caterpillar problem you do now! I find them impossible to grow at all, let alone to a nice head, without picking off eggs/caterpillars every single morning and even then something else comes and devours it…
Lucky, I usually have terrible results with brassicas - I often can’t even get seedlings to establish without something trying to eat it at all times… Mustard and rocket no trouble though.
Lettuce can also be very prolific when allowed to seed. I currently have a fight for garden dominance between the parsley and the lettuce which seeded themselves this year.
Garlic chives are a strong contender to be in that list too!
E: also agree with Rusty’s assessment of lettuce. Have seen it grow in gravel pavements and get quite hectic under a downpipe. Mizuna (and some other mustards) can be like that too
I find lettuce a lot easier to grow and not as susceptible to pests! I personally dislike lettuce but have grown the loose leaf (vs heading - eg iceberg) varieties before. They’re definitely a good starter plant. You can keep picking off leaves as you need them, until the plant bolts and goes bitter
Is there anything you can recommend to a beginner that’s perhaps a little less likely to die? Or should I just go straight to something slightly more difficult (I really want to try my hand at strawberries) and keep trying until I get something from it?
I wouldn’t start with strawberries, they’re disappointing mofos IMO.
Building on Catfish’s other comment, I recommend growing dwarf snow peas from seed. High germination rate, not that many pests/diseases, don’t take up much space, not that picky (just keep it well watered), will twine even on a couple of sticks, enjoys part shade, long growing season (so easy to just keep sowing every 6-8 weeks for a continuous crop), usually prolific and quick to fruit - plus you can eat the shoots as well as the pods :)
They’re a popular choice for kids. Legumes are generally fun. When I was a kid, it was mung beans in a plastic paper cup.
And don’t take it too hard if you kill a plant, EVERYONE has done it regardless of skill level or experience - I have a graveyard of dead houseplants I still haven’t tidied up… Just keep going and you’ll start accumulating successes that you can build on :)
E: I also heartily recommend starting with pots. Just easier to control and manage and a lower rate of encountering insects (usually).
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Is it a 90s thing here? I’ve grown up with them as a standard part of East Asian cuisine…
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TIL! I can believe sweet chilli sauce being a 90s thing. Not giving up on snow pea shoots though, daggy or otherwise 😋
Ah alright. I’m not a huge fan of peas, but I may give them a go even just to try and build my confidence with plants up a little bit. Not entirely related, but will food banks take homegrown stuff like that? I don’t really do peas, but if it’s fruitful and I can’t find anyone who wants them, maybe donating them could be good?
The only thing I’ve tried to keep before was a succulent. I meant to find it somewhere nice in my room where it’d get a bit of sun but I forgot about it and by the time I found it again 4 months later it was long dead and basically dust. I don’t think I’ll screw up that badly again though, my current succulent seems to be doing somewhat okay
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Or if that fails, maybe you need to write $1 and see how quick it gets stolen 😂
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U wot m8. If you didn’t have a caterpillar problem you do now! I find them impossible to grow at all, let alone to a nice head, without picking off eggs/caterpillars every single morning and even then something else comes and devours it…
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Lucky, I usually have terrible results with brassicas - I often can’t even get seedlings to establish without something trying to eat it at all times… Mustard and rocket no trouble though.
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Lettuce can also be very prolific when allowed to seed. I currently have a fight for garden dominance between the parsley and the lettuce which seeded themselves this year.
Garlic chives are a strong contender to be in that list too!
E: also agree with Rusty’s assessment of lettuce. Have seen it grow in gravel pavements and get quite hectic under a downpipe. Mizuna (and some other mustards) can be like that too
Oh I guess it’s a good thing I don’t really like cabbage then. Though I do love lettuce, which I assume will be a similar story?
I find lettuce a lot easier to grow and not as susceptible to pests! I personally dislike lettuce but have grown the loose leaf (vs heading - eg iceberg) varieties before. They’re definitely a good starter plant. You can keep picking off leaves as you need them, until the plant bolts and goes bitter
Eh, that’s from cabbage moths. Get some upland cress.
I’d like to grow full on food eventually, but I’m happy to start with a herb if that’s best