Novice gardener question .

I would plant early March I am in Northwest it’s still rather cold. I dug over my veg patch just recently so the soil is warming up.

Plant in a bag now, protect from late frosts

Thank you both very much . I need to get something to protect them as we have had frost the last 2 nights here in West Berkshire.
Not sure what I need though!
Off to google....

Mine won’t be going into the allotment for another 3 weeks or so.

They have quite a few shoots on them - is it OK to leave them longer ? I don’t want to waste them by planting too soon or too late .

You can leave them shooting up to 2’ they’ll be fine for a while yet.

Thank you JaxJacky . Seems sensible to try to avoid any more frosts . Another neighbour has given me some baby tomato plants that she has grown from seed . The stress to keep everything alive is massive

Welcome to veg growing NotAGran55 pleasure and pain! I’m going to sow tomatoes indoors this week, along with chillies, peppers and aubergines.

I wouldn’t plant before mid March still time for sharp frosts

It’s very stressful JaxJacky . I though it was supposed to be relaxing!?

Last year during lockdown I tried growing a few veggies as something new to do and to occupy me , egged on by the winner of the village Horticultural Show Cup . 3rd generation I might add.

He has spread it about in our village pub social circle that I’m now into gardening! Hence having two other kind neighbours leave their ‘leftovers’ on my doorstep to nurture .

I tried carrots and radish from seed last year which were a total failure so won’t bother again .
Lettuce ? from seed was quite successful and seemed easy , but cabbages were eaten alive by something.

I was given 6 seed potatoes and 1 tomato plant that I was happy with .

Just wondering about runner beans? Are they idiot proof ?

Well that winner has done you no favours, but he could do you one, pander to his ego and ask for advice. Runner beans should be fine, if you want a go, there’s plenty of advice on the web, Google gardeners world vegetable growing for beginners. I’ve been growing for 15 years, still learning, still have failures, but the satisfaction with the successes is smashing. Keeps you busy too.

Just enrolled onto Gardeners’ World . Fantastic thank you . That will keep me amused for a while .

NotAGran55 that’s made me smile ? anytime I can help, pm me, I’m by no means an expert, but happy to try.

Here in cold Scotland it will not be before April although I have bought seed potatoes ready. What you don't want is the delicate shoots to come through and immediately be killed by frost.

Ive planted some in tubs in the greenhouse and a row in the garden covered with black plastic, here in the midlands we can have frosts at the end of May - we did last year. So for early tender crops I get prepared, old duvets are excellent and a heater for the greenhouse.

Thank you all for the help and tips .
I’m enjoying the GW website, I can’t believe that I have just typed that!

I don’t have a greenhouse so they will be outside in bags . Would a duvet be ok outside Katie59 ? I’ve got a couple from sons’ uni days.

Have seen that you buy fleece , bags etc to protect but by the time I am finished each spud will have cost a tenner

“Have seen that you buy fleece , bags etc to protect but by the time I am finished each spud will have cost a tenner smile”

You don’t grow your own to save money, you do it for the challenge, the satisfaction and of course the exercise. In many cases it’s better to buy a few plants in May rather than plant seeds now, tomatoes, courgettes, brassicas, that keeps the cost and hassle down.