More Britons than ever are growing their own food. Whether your veggie patch is a window box, greenhouse or carefully organised collection of raised beds, tending your own vegetable garden makes perfect sense for so many reasons. Homegrown produce is healthier for you and the planet thanks to less pesticide use, a lower carbon footprint and reduced plastic waste. The act of growing your own has also been linked to better mental health and wellbeing.
Ready to reap all the rewards mentioned above for yourself? Here are a few tips to get you started on your growing mission…
Some vegetables are easier to cultivate than others, so be selective if you’re new to growing your own. Start your vegetable garden with easy to maintain crops that are ready to harvest a little quicker, and are less tempting to pests and disease.
Beetroots, cut-and-come-again salad leaves, bush tomatoes, potatoes, peas, radishes, chillies and courgettes are all great varieties to begin your grow your own journey with.
While each type of vegetable has its own requirements, a sunny, sheltered part of the garden is your best bet for most. If you are getting started with salad leaves or herbs however, exposure to lots of sunlight can cause more harm than good. Excessive sunlight can cause certain crops to ‘bolt’, so choose a partially shady spot for these.
You don’t have to stick to raised beds when growing your own. Hanging baskets, window boxes, planters, pots and grow bags are all excellent places to nurture your chosen veg varieties.
Once you’ve found the ideal spot, it’s time to prep your soil. Weeds should be removed and the soil improved with well-rotted compost or manure to ensure a fertile base that’ll give your seedlings or tubers the best possible start.
Setting up deterrents for pests that prey on garden veggies (such as slugs and snails) is another must. Copper tape works well in most cases.
Alongside a good location and fertile soil, your vegetable plants will need space to grow properly. Always follow the recommended spacing instructions for the best results.
Seeds should generally be sown as thin as possible, with a spacing of around 5cm. Most seeds germinate within 2 to 3 weeks. Thin early and at various stages to ensure good spacing and healthy growth can be maintained.