If you have taken to transforming your garden into something that Alan Titchmarsh would be proud of (and who hasn’t?!), then you are probably already planning what you would like to plant this spring.
Growing fruit and vegetables together at home is an amazing exercise for children. In particular, those who might be fussy eaters will get a kick out of it. The general rule of thumb is; if they have grown it themselves, they are more likely to at least try to eat it too!
It is not always essential to have a big garden, or any garden, to try to grow fruit and vegetables from home. All you need is a little bit of time and patience.
If you are short on space, grow bags are an ideal way to grow one or two great things like potatoes or tomatoes in a contained spot. The likes of Aldi and Lidl often have Grow Buckets which are a really cool way for kids to grow their own fruit such as strawberries – keep an eye out for them!
The other thing to bear in mind is that you don’t have to grow everything each year, nor all at the same time. Tending to seedlings, or a vegetable patch, takes a lot of time and commitment! If you are new to it, pick one or two things that you know your family will enjoy and start from there.
Grab yourself some small pots or planting trays, some multi-purpose compost and a nice warm spot to grow them in (any sunny windowsill is usually great!). All of this can be bought online and your local hardware shop may deliver too.
Below is a list of what you could try to plant this spring, before the end of March:
- Asparagus. This is a long-term investment as asparagus takes a year or two to really develop after you grow it and transfer it to the ground in your garden. But once it’s ready, it re-grows year on year and you’ll have delicious asparagus for up to 15 years.
- Aubergines, Chillies & peppers. These are so much fun to watch as they grow and so colourful! So great to have to hand too, for pasta sauces and stirfries!
- Broccoli & Cabbage. You’ll be surprised at just how many different wonderful types, shapes and colours you can grow! Be adventurous!
- Fruit Trees & Bushes. Blackberry, red berry, black currant, gooseberry! Can you imagine the fun for the kids when you ultimately get to pick your own fruit and make it into jam or cakes? Lots of garden centres will have these right now. Again, Aldi and Lidl always have a good range too.
- Rhubarb. If you are interested in planting anything that requires minimum attention, then plant a rhubarb crown! It will grow back every year and do it’s thing until you are ready to harvest and eat it, which is from it’s second year of growth onwards. Homemade rhubarb pie and custard? Yes please!
Happy Planting!
