Growing Weeds / Edible Plants

[socialchameleon]

Hello Again,

I'm a total novice at growing anything and have been routing round the website trying to pick up tips and the like. I came across the winter feeding guide and the following list of weeds/plants:

Hibiscus flowers and leaves
Petunia flowers
Rose petals
Nasturtium flowers and leaves
Violet flowers
Pansy flowers
Gazania flowers and leaves
Bellis daisy flowers
Osteospermum flowers
Honeysuckle flowers
Chrysanthemum flowers
Buddleia leaves and flowers
Pineapple sage flowers
Rose geranium flowers
Cornflowers
Campanula flowers
Dandelion leaves and flowers
Carnation flowers
Fuschia flowers
Snapdragon flowers
Marigold and Calendula flowers

Now my question is, can I quite literally just buy these seeds from a shop, put them in some compost / soil indoors or in a greenhouse and they will grow? Do I have to plant at certain times of the year or something?

I havnt got a clue and past attmepts at growing things havnt gone down very well.

[Stephen P]

My advice would be to go to a garden centre or Homebase or B&Q I've marked the ones which would be best bought as plants (or are really only available as established plants/bushes)


Hibiscus flowers and leaves - buy as a plant
Petunia flowers - bedding plant
Rose petals - buy as a plant
Nasturtium flowers and leaves - buy as seeds to grow your own
Violet flowers - seeds or as bedding plants
Pansy flowers - seeds or as bedding plants
Gazania flowers and leaves - bedding plants or seeds
Bellis daisy flowers
Osteospermum flowers - buy as bedding
Honeysuckle flowers - buy as a plant
Chrysanthemum flowers - buy as a plant
Buddleia leaves and flowers - buy as a plant/shrub
Pineapple sage flowers - buy as a plant
Rose geranium flowers - buy as bedding plants
Cornflowers - buy as seeds
Campanula flowers - buy as plants
Dandelion leaves and flowers - can't buy WEEDS
Carnation flowers
Fuschia flowers - buy as plants
Snapdragon flowers - bedding plants
Marigold and Calendula flowers - African or French I'm sure one is not suitable - can be bought as seeds or bedding

I have added what is my thoughts/opinions. Personally, I would buy as an established shrub/plant to grow in the ground or a large pot and pick the leaves as required. Buddleias can get enormous over a number of years and eventually would need to be in the ground. Hibiscus can grow large too. Snapdragon are also known as antirrhinum.

A lot are bedding plants and will be in the shops as small plants in trays from about April you can then transfer them to larger pots and grow on outside (or plant into the ground) but not until after about May (late frosts will kill them) as they are annual plants.

If you buy plants already established it is a lot more expensive but the success rate will be greater. Having said that, nasturtiums grow very well from seed.

All seeds needs a good compost. I put seeds in a tray and lined with a sheet of newspaper, covered with compost and clear plastic and water/spray as necessary. As they start to shoot they can be uncovered. However, they need light and wamth and do lean towards the light so the trays have to be rotated.

I hope this is helpful (sorry its so long) I am presuming you have checked all are safe for tortoises!

[Mrs Mental]

brilliant post Stephen

Thats the winter feeding list from the TT so all are safe

Im gonna print that out and keep it as I too arent too good at this growing lark

Thank you for that - Im sure loads of people will find that usefull

[jazzywoo]

i bought a seed pack from shelled warriors

[Jon Fish]

Yea, I got loads of seeds from shelled warriors as well. I'm always out tending my weeds. The neighbours must think I'm mad.

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by Jon Fish

Yea, I got loads of seeds from shelled warriors as well. I'm always out tending my weeds. The neighbours must think I'm mad.

my neighbours know I am - I have them well trained, the pick weeds and flowers for me from their gardens

[katyg]

Try www.torts-n-allsorts.co.uk They sell packets of weed seeds for literally pence!! Mine are all growing nicely. I too can't believe I am now growing the very stuff I have been yanking up for all these years! I mowed my lawn the other day and actually left a few patches of dandelions and sow thistles. My lawn looks rediculous but my tortoise is happy!

[AnythingWithAShell]

Fantastic info Stephen

I've got loads of things growing at the moment, making some progress so hopefully it will continue!

Just about the marigolds though, as far as I know it's only the Calendula officinalis (Pot or English Marigold) that's safe. If you buy a pack of seeds, they will have the latin name on them, so double check.

[XoxOriptideOxoX]

I fail at growing anything, even WEEDS! I did a little experiment and i placed different soils in different places (outside and inside) and iv found that a mix of good quality and bad stuff works best for me (but these might just be the flowers that a growing) so i will need to do it again and separate the weeds and the flowers next time i thought of this half and hour into doing it

[AnythingWithAShell]

I rock at houseplants, but not had a huge amount of luck with weeds. Going okay this time though. I've used coir to plant them, as I have loads of it anyway. And it helps with the watering, as it holds water well so I'm finding I'm having no trouble with them being too dry or too wet. I've got loads of weeds and flowers on the go the now.

Since coir doesn't have anything added to it, its not too rich or anything either.