From Seed TO PLATE

Enjoy the fruits of your labour – or in this case, the veggies too. Growing and harvesting your own bounty is a possibility for any keen gardener

- PAT INGARFIELD

Gardeners all over the world have included vegetables in their endeavours, but these days the interest in planting one’s own produce has really taken off. Even those who showed no interest are having a crack at it. The healthy eating movement has created a global curiosity about what actually goes into our food and what it takes to grow our own fresh produce.

This inspired a trend that demands that fresh produce be organically grown – in other words, cultivated without poison or any chemical fertilisers. This desire for organically grown fruit and vegetables has led to home growers increasing in numbers, as truly organic produce is pricey. Then came COVID-19, and in 2020 most of us were confined to our homes. Again, there was a notable resurgence of interest in gardening, especially growing vegetables. People discovered how rewarding it is to plant seed and nurture a crop, eventually harvesting the fruit of their labour and feeding their families with it.

Rising food prices are another reason why planting vegetable and fruit gardens has suddenly leapt into the spotlight. It has been predicted that food security is going to become severely threatened in the future and a knowledge of how to work the land could become essential.

TOP TIP

Plant tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes and sweet peppers together. They make great companions, but be sure to give the courgettes enough space to spread a bit.