More and more people are being drawn to the idea of an organic lifestyle. Whilst growing your own produce does require a lot more effort than going down your local supermarket, it’s a much cheaper and rewarding method that can provide you with fresh and chemical free food. You don’t have live entirely self-sufficiently – just growing a few plants could make a difference to your diet. Anyone can grow their own veg, regardless of where you live. Here are four methods to choose from.
Start a vegetable patch
If you have a garden and you have the space, a vegetable patch is a great project to get stuck into. Most soils are suitable for vegetable growth, although some may be better for certain greens than others. Clay for example can get fairly waterlogged in the winter, but offer rich nutrients in the summer, making it great for summer vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplants and avocados. Stony earth. Stony soil makes deep rooted vegetables such as carrots and potatoes difficult to grow, but is perfectly suitable for beans and peas. Make sure to thoroughly de-weed the patch when laying it out and take pest-prevention methods against slugs and snails as detailed here: http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/slug-and-snail-control.html
Get a greenhouse
For those with gardens that don’t trust their local weather, a greenhouse might be more suitable for growing veg. These structures guard your produce against the cold and heat, the wind and the rain, allowing you to extend seasons and take a more relaxed approach to organic growing. Sites such as https://www.swgreenhouses.co.uk/ are great for showing the variety of greenhouse available – from large structures to tiny cold frames. Plants such as spinach, tomatoes and peppers make great greenhouse growers.
Rent an allotment
If you don’t have a garden or your current lawn isn’t suitable, renting an allotment might make a good alternative. These work by the same guidelines as a vegetable patch, although are often much more fertile. You can meet other keen gardeners with neighbouring allotments and socialise as you garden. Sites such as this one http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/allotment-finder/ are great for finding nearby allotments. Many are council owned and you may need to get on an application list queue if you live in a populous urban area.
Grow indoors
Believe it or not, but many vegetables are perfectly suitable for growing indoors. Providing you can give them enough light, many fruit and veg plants can grow in a pot. Window sills are great places to grow garlic, chilli plants, lemon trees, chives, cherry tomatoes and even carrots. If your windows are all a little poky, you may be able to invest in indoor plant lights. There are all kinds of LED grow lights and propagators available, which you can buy online. These can be combined with hydroponics to save space and money on soil. These are great for people living in flats or bedsits that are still eager to get their green fingers on.
XOXO
Debbie
