please could you recommend a simple, cheap gardening project (flowers, veg, fruit, whatever) I could undertake in the next few weeks

[TiredFeet]

Ideally it needs to be idiot proof very simple, something to plant in a pot, that kind of thing. And also cheap, and easyish to get the bits for (I do live fairly near some large garden centres)
I am thinking something I could plant in a pot or similar?
It can't be too pricey and it can't involve too much effort, but I have PND and I have read that gardening helps and I really want to try something but I am very nervous about trying anything new at the minute, so need something that's highly likely to succeed and might inspire me to then try more
Thank you!

[TheSpottedZebra]

Do you like salad? You could grow some lovely things like rocket in pots quite easily. I love rocket and find it very reliable. And it doesn't need any care. Or maybe find a tomato plant (with flowers on) in a garden centre and then get some lovely tomatoes. You'd need to be quick with the toms though, as they're happening now. Maybe you know someone who has some plants?

You could do lovely herbs to go with the above? Buy plants as herbs can be sods to grow from seed. Places like car boots often have plant sales, as do school/local fetes.

Things like radishes grow q quickly and are fab in pots.

I'm only in my 1st year of gardening (but ^loving it), so I am a rank amateur, but someone more knowledgeable will come along soon with some proper advice I should think. Also, you may have noticed that I am quite veg-focussed.

Ooh, do you have a Lidl or an Aldi nearby? Aldi have some nice garden flowers from Thurs that look very pretty (but no idea how high maintenance they are) here --> www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-10th-july/product-detail/ps/p/perennials-3/ and Lidl have some plants too www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?id=202&ar=3

What is your set up - do you want stuff for indoors or outside. And if outside, sunny or shady?

Wishing you all the very best,

[TheSpottedZebra]

Oh, and do you want things you can eat, or pretty things, or - er something else?

[funnyperson]

2 pots at least
One wide brimmed, at least a foot across, relatively shallow, fill with shop bought organic compost and plant with fragrant herbs ie rosemary sage and thyme, perhaps chives, perhaps lavender: garden centres often sell 6 for a tenner this time of year
Plant flowers in the other pot; choose from canna lilies, fuschias, asters, dahlias, cosmos, all of which will bloom well into the autumn. Perhaps add in some ferns for foliage.
If veg is wanted, according to Monty it is not too late to sow lettuce and courgettes. Last year he sowed lettuce in a pot but they need a lot of water.
Or you could go for two pots the same either side of the front door.

[NotAnotherNewNappy]

I vote for flowers by your front door which will make you smile every time you come home/go out. Also, i get a bit stressed growing food. Do you have space for these? Is it sunny by your front door? If not, you can try a window box.

Get 2 big pots - approx 36cm across. Homebase have nice glazed terracotta ones half price at £15 each at the mo. Plastic ones are fine too. The bigger/deeper the pot, the easier it will be to keep the plants alive. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot.

You need to put something at the bottom to aid drainage. You can use gravel - or use it as an excuse to get rid if any old crockery. Put any chipped mugs or plates in a plastic bag and smash the with a hammer. This can be very satisfying!

Then Fill pots with multi-purpose compost mixed with slow release plant good granules and water saving granules (pound shop for both of these).

Then plant. I'd go for 1 pelargonium/geranium in the middle and 4/5 petunias around the edges. Practically unkillable. Just deadhead all summer and enjoy. Give them a good soaking once plants are in and water every evening when it's sunny.

I had PND with DD2. Hang in there, it gets easier.

[EmNetta]

I've been gardening for ages, but am really impressed with the cut-and-come-again-lettuce, sold in it's own container for about £1, which will continue until frost if kept well-watered. Slugs were a problem, so I hung mine in a tree, and every leaf was perfect.