GROWING your own fruit and veg can save you cash on food shopping, plus it is fun and rewarding.
You don’t need acres of land or a big garden to create your own harvest.
Here are some tips for growing in even the smallest of spaces.
WIRE UP: Growing cages are a great way to support tomatoes or peppers growing on a patio area and make them easy to move.
The support keeps them upright as they grow taller so they don’t spill outward which can be tricky when you are working with small spaces. You can buy these from around £7.99 on Amazon.
GO UP: Another option for smaller areas is to plant upwards and make the most of vertical space.
An old wooden ladder can be stacked with pots of strawberries, herbs and salad leaves for example, and adds character to a patio or a balcony.
Alternatively, a wooden pallet on its side can be used to attach pots with chicken wire.
Make sure it is secured to a wall so it doesn’t fall over. Pallets are often given away for free on local selling sites such as Facebook Marketplace.
Or hanging baskets are perfect for cherry tomatoes. Fill with compost and plant the tomatoes around the edge.
PICK YOUR CROP: When you are limited on space, try to buy crops you love to eat and are more expensive to buy in the shops.
Avoid a wait with veg that takes months to grow such as pumpkins or potatoes.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”My 3 favorite plants to repel pests from your vegetable garden – they’re pretty and will increase your harvest too” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6348988770112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Opt for varieties that grow faster such as spring onions, radishes and runner beans that can be ready to harvest after four weeks.
Look for space-saving versions of the vegetables you want. You can get dwarf and bush versions which take up less room or baby veg which will crop earlier.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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