[DD.]

Each to their own, but there's been plenty of posts on here saying 'I wish I'd asked first'.

But if you want to do your own thing, please just remember a few things that can save a lot of heart ache, as testified by a lot of newcomer's posts this year.

Don't get too eager. Don't think that by sowing a month early, you'll crop a month early. Far better to hang back and get better germination & stronger plants.

Don't germinate all your seeds in a heated propagator or indoors, a lot of seeds are not 'designed' for heat.

If you do use a propagator for anything, take the seeds out as soon as they have germinated.

Oh - and don't forget - aluminium foil is very useful. You may have to ask about this!

[Vienna Phil]

Hi Nick and welcome.

I am also a newbie, having started this year in my small garden in Vienna.

I have been working with The Complete Self-Sufficient Gardener by John Seymour. It is old but seems pretty good to me (Not that I really know).

I would be interested to know what other people think of this book.

Re the previous post: what is foil good for exactly?

Regards from Vienna.

Phil

[nicklord1]

Hi so much  friendly help thank you .   I think i am going to rake the soil and  sieve out all pebbles or try at least and put down compost in october and hopefully  by march i can begin.

I am thinking of root veg such as leeks , onions  . Now in the  garden centre they sell  in small plots of each  should i buy one  and see how it goes or 2 or 3 so i have a nice bunch of each .

 i would say the area of ground i have to work with is about   8 foot by 1  foot  so  there is room to manouevre there.

Your thoughts please.

Feel free to PM me and if you want my chat messenger  name on aol , yahoo or msn  then message me.

Once again thank you from your help.

Also where is  everyone from.

I am from kent the garden of england  although my area of kent is really SE london.

[nicklord1]

I am also  getting into  tropical plants to bring a bit of colour to the garden.

Prob is  my soil isnt  too good and   big  oak trees  we fight for water . The front garden is shady and i guess the   back garden the soil is a but infertile.

Any advice ?