Grow Your Own

Grow your own has been a real buzz word throughout the country these last few years with more and more of us growing our own fruit, vegetables and herbs. Some people do it for fun, others to save money, while many of us do it because we feel the end product is much nicer than we can buy in our local shops.

There are a huge range of things you can grow, from blueberries & nectarines to sweetcorn & chillies as well as herbs such as rosemary and tarragon.

It is simple to get started, you do not have to have a greenhouse: 90% of vegetable plants can be grown outside once the threat of frost has passed. The only plants that really have to be grown in greenhouses are Melons, cucumbers and some tomato plants.

Where to start! Anyone can grow their own, you do not need a greenhouse and by using grow bags or patio pots you do not even need much of a garden. The main thing is that they will need a sunny spot, regular watering and little feed.

For complete beginners we would suggest trying to grow some of the following: strawberry plants, a trough of herbs, an outdoor tomato plant in a grow bag or a self fertile apple tree such as cox’s orange pippin. These are all really straightforward to grow but very rewarding.

However remember you have to get ahead of the game: It is always best to plant in springtime when the soil is warm - Autumn is a great time for planting fruit.

Many of our staff are 'grow your own' enthusiasts themselves so they are always delighted to share their knowledge with our customers.