You may remember that I’ve been very interested in growing my own fruit and vegetables since moving into my home. With a bit of leftover wood from our garden landscaping project, we knocked up some veg beds in a disused slice of garden beside the path and haven’t looked back.
What began as a bit of an afterthought in the garden has – excuse the pun – blossomed into a passion. I’ve since taken on an allotment – starting with a half plot and working my way up to a full plot – and was growing so much fruit and veg that it filled two freezers and I still have cupboards full of pickles and chutneys.
With all the fruit plants I started growing at home, I was overwhelmed with fresh fruit – which kickstarted a healthier lifestyle for me. You wouldn’t believe how many bags of frozen berries, chopped apple and rhubarb I have in my freezer. Plus, when I want a sweet treat, there are plenty of pots of blackberry or strawberry jam in my pantry!
So, this year I’m scaling it back and want to see what produce I can grow in the limited space I have in my garden and just how cheaply I can do that. I want it to be achievable and rewarding – showing just how much can be achieved even in a small space and with limited time.
Now is the perfect time of year to start thinking about it as many vegetable crops can be started over the winter, ready for cropping in the spring. With money-saving at the forefront of my mind (as always) I want to only plant seeds that I can buy for pennies and grow produce that will save me money on my weekly food shop throughout the year. Such as:
- Beetroot
- Parsnip
- Radish
- Peppers
- Carrots
- Spring onions
All of these vegetable seeds come in packs that contain 100s of seeds and only cost £1 per pack – and sometimes you even get a twin pack for that price! This is a great time of year to buy your packs of seeds in preparation for the growing season as you’ll often find discounts and deals when buying out-of-season. Plus, it lets you get a head start on planning your plot.
Chillis, chives, parsley, rocket, coriander, basil and other herbs can also be grown from seed and can be grown indoors all year round. So, you can get started straight away by growing pots of herbs on your kitchen windowsill. Then there’ll be no need to replenish your storecupboard with dried herbs and spices throughout the year when you’re growing them fresh.
Oh – and don’t forget onion sets. Autumn is the time of year that onions must be planted in order to grow during the winter – and that applies to garlic bulbs and shallots too. So pick up a net of onion sets or some bulbs to get started straight away. It’ll help you to feel an early sense of achievement when those little green shoots start popping up in a neat line in your new veg bed.
The good news is that you don’t need any fancy equipment or materials to start a veggie patch of your own. As long as you’ve got some essential garden tools, such as a spade and fork, you can simply dig over a bit of unused garden and start sowing your seeds or planting your sets.
Let me know if you’re planning to have a go at creating your first veg plot this year – I’d love to hear how you get on in the comments below. Plus, please share your tips for bargain fruit and vegetables that are easy to grow at home. Thanks!
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