Start with the easiest crops
For first-time growers: courgettes (almost impossible to fail), salad leaves (grow in a pot on a windowsill, harvest in 3 weeks), radishes (ready in 4 weeks from seed), and runner beans (once established, they produce prolifically). Avoid parsnips, carrots and celery until you have a season or two of experience.
Three tools that cover most jobs
A trowel for planting and digging small areas. A hori hori knife for transplanting, weeding and general use. A good watering can for seedlings and containers. Everything else is useful but optional when starting.
Plan before you plant
Even a rough sketch of what goes where saves time and disappointment. Taller plants (beans, tomatoes) go at the north end to avoid shading smaller crops. Separate annual flowers through the veg bed to attract pollinators. Use our free seed sowing planner to track what to sow when.
Our picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Seed starter kit with propagator | Starting from seed | Check price → |
| Tools | Garden trowel and fork set | Essential tools | Check price → |
| Compost | Multi-purpose compost 50L | Soil preparation | Check price → |
| Seeds | Vegetable seed collection | First-year growing | Check price → |
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