Grow your own fruit and veg

Create space in your garden to grow your own fruit and vegetables.

Everyone is being encouraged to use locally-grown produce and you can’t get more local than your own back garden!

With 95% of fruit and 50% of vegetables consumed in the UK being imported, isn’t it about time we did something about it?!

Why not set an area aside in your garden to create your very own vegetable patch or make space to plant some fruit-bearing trees or bushes.

If you do not have the space in your garden you could look into getting an allotment. Why not get a group of your friends who share an interest in having an allotment and set one up together? You could get children involved too! That way you can all learn together and it won’t cost the earth.

Allotments-uk has all the details about where to find an allotment site. Do bear in mind that you may have to go on a waiting list as allotments are becoming increasingly popular.

Once you have chosen to either set up a fruit/vegetable patch, you need to decide which vegetables you want to grow. Don’t set your goals too high to begin with. Start with the basics and once you have perfected those, then move on to something more difficult.

Not only will growing your own produce provide you with fresh low-cost organic fruit and veg, it will also offer enjoyment and a sense of achievement. Plus if you grow more than you need you can give it away to friends and family or offer it for sale to local residents, further helping the environment.