GROW YOUR OWN

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 21, 2009 | by Anonymous

No allotment? No problem! Grow your own herbs and vegetables in pots on the patio for fresh and nutritious fare that will save you money at the supermarket too...

BE A BASKET CASE

EVEN if you don't have a garden there is no need for you to miss out on growing your own. Many salad varieties are suitable for growing in hanging baskets and even in colanders.

Growing tip: Buy packs of ready-mixed salad seed in garden centres. After about six weeks, when the plants are 2in to 4in high, cut enough for a meal, but leave a stump about 1in above the compost. This should re-grow to give you second or third harvests.

pounds How much? Packs of ready-mixed salad seeds in garden centres pounds 2.99.

RAISE YOUR BEDS

IF you don"t have room in your garden for a big vegetable patch, consider growing your vegetables in raised beds. You'll save energy as there is no need to dig or bend to tend crops, and you can improve yield by packing more into the space.

Growing tip: Sow your vegetable selection at two to three week intervals to get a non-stop supply of food to harvest almost all year round.

pounds How much? Wooden raised bed kits from pounds 12 (www.harrodhorticultural.com, 0845 402 5300).

KEEP YOUR HERBS HANDY

LARGE containers overflowing with lush, scented herbs can look terrific on the patio, but as they are very heavy to move around you'd do better making them a permanent feature close to the kitchen door. Grow tender herbs in pots so that you can bring them inside before the frosts to extend the season.

Growing tip: Arrange displays according to what you like to cook. For example, grow oregano, thyme and basil for your Mediterranean dishes and your favourite herbs to add to salads and seasoning barbecued meats.

pounds How much? Herb plants from pounds 7.95 (www.primrose- london.co.uk, 0870 499 0220).

TRY CHILLIS & PEPPERS

CHILLI plants and bell peppers love heat, so it needs to be hot to get a decent crop outdoors. Instead, consider growing them in a greenhouse. Keep the plants wellwatered and mulched to improve the soil and protect them from drying out.

Growing tip: Chilli peppers start green and although most of them ripen to a rich red, they can also be orange, yellow, purple or brown. They not only vary in size and colour, they also vary in how hot they are - so choose carefully!

pounds How much? Three chilli plants pounds 3.47 (www.plantsbypost.com, 0115 983 0239).

GO BOLD WITH CABBAGE

YELLOW nasturtiums and purple-leaved cabbage make visually exciting companions. Buy young plants now and plan to get an early cabbage crop started by sowing a batch of seedlings two to three weeks before the last expected frost.

Growing tip: Cabbages are classified by head shape - round and flat heads are the most common. They also come in white, green and purple and the taste varies by variety, so be adventurous and start a patch. pounds How much? Red cabbages 50p each (www.victoriananursery.co.uk, 01233 740529),

POT YOUR AUBERGINES

AUBERGINES are ideal plants for pots and you can grow them in a greenhouse or on a sheltered, sunny patio. But they are incredibly thirsty. Dry compost will quickly lead to a check in growth, so make sure they never dry out.

Growing tip: If you buy young plants that have already produced flowers, immediately start feeding them each week with a liquid feed high in potash, such as a tomato fertiliser.

pounds How much? Three plants pounds 3.95 (www.unwins.co.uk, 01480 443395).

RAISE SOME RADISHES

RADISHES are an excellent way to introduce children to gardening and a good choice for growing in pots on a sunny patio. If you can, put them in the shade of other plants to stop them running to seed or bolting very quickly.

Growing tip: The key to crisp, mild radishes is regular watering. Sow small amounts of radish seed at three-week intervals. Choose winter varieties to sow July to September ensure a continuous supply.

pounds How much? Seed from pounds 1.30 (www.suttons.co.uk, 0844 922 0606).

No space?

from to CREATE space in a window box, sill or pot by the front door. Try the salad bar, above, or a hanging basket.

What you can still plant this season

FROM SEED

THERE'S still time for the best value way to grow. Try beetroot (ready to harvest in 11 weeks), Tom Thumb and Little Gem lettuce (14 weeks), radishes (2 to 3 weeks), spinach (12 to 14 weeks), French beans (12 weeks) or carrots (8 to 10 weeks).

FROM SEEDLINGS

Buy young plants from garden centres or boot sales. Try sweetcorn, tomatoes, beans, peppers, courgettes or squash.