Enjoy the good life in your own back garden!
Almost every supermarket, DIY shop and local department stores are all advocating the benefits of growing your own herbs, veggies and fruit including lots of kits available to buy to get you started. In fact, the kids and I went shopping in April for our own selection of herbs and soil to brighten up our rather tired looking garden. We bought some pretty pots to plant the herbs in rather than plant them directly into the soil. So even if you live in a flat or don’t have much of a garden there’s no excuse. We’ve dotted our pots around the garden and with daily watering especially when the weathers hot and dry, they’ve grown amazingly well. We’ve got our own Tarragon, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Coriander, Mint, Sage, a tomato plant and even some lavender which is now starting to flower and smell so fragrant and gorgeous! We’ve had our very own Beach Hut built in the garden too so it’s now a little haven for the kids to play and me to relax and enjoy a cocktail or too!
If you do want to have a go at growing your own then I’d advise getting some good quality compost and some simple terracotta pots which you can get relatively cheaply at most shops. Many herbs will require a sunny or bright spot in the garden with a little shade at some point during the day. You can also plant 2 similar herbs in one pot, depending on the size of your pot. Remember to water daily in the summer unless it’s raining hard and then only use as needed. Normally a little snip from the top should still keep the plant happy and continue growing but you might want to do a little reading on this one just in case!
Here are some useful websites for more information on getting you started:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/ – this is a great magazine and website for tips and information
http://www.ugro.co.uk/ – this is a great website with kits and all you need to get started
http://www.rhs.org.uk/ – who better to give you gardening advice than the Royal Horticultural Society!
www.bbc.co.uk/gardening – this is a good site for some simple basic advice
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/ – another good magazine and website on all things gardeningy!
Of course, if you don’t have a garden then you can always get an allotment! Not just for grandads, but now popular amongst all ages. Contact your local council for allotments to rent. You may have to go on a waiting list due to their popularity but it’s worth it! Go to (for more information): http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/YourlocalcouncilandCouncilTax/YourCommunity/DG_4018812
