Grow Your Own

If you saw the recent survey conducted by the British Nutrition Foundation during their Healthy Eating Week, you will know that some children are still not eating enough fruit and vegetables.  And, NO! fruit pastels and fruit jam do not contribute to your five a day!  It also suggested that a lot of children still don’t know where their basic foods comes from.

However, there is one quite easy way to rectify this……. ‘Grow Your Own’

Not only can your children get an understanding of how some foods grow but they will be more likely to eat more fruit and vegetables.

Why grow your own? 

Satisfying: Nothing beats going out into the garden to pick the fruits of your labour. Any child would be thrilled to say “Look what I did!”  I’m the first to admit, I still get that thrill.

Flavour: Home grown fruit and veg tastes far better than anything you can buy from the greengrocer or supermarket.

Healthy: Home grown produce needn’t contain chemicals, there are plenty of natural fertilisers available and you can even make your own.  And of course you’ll get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh air and exercise.

Cost: I heard a lovely story about mother reluctant to pay the extortionate price that the supermarket was demanding for strawberries.  Her daughter, who’s just learnt to read, pointed out that they were “Half Price”.  Mum wasn’t going to be swayed; instead she went to the garden centre and bought some strawberry plants.  Her daughter is now proud to be able to go out in the garden and pick her own strawberries.  A thrill for the child and an investment for mum.

Fun:  It doesn’t have to be all square beds and bamboo canes.  Add some colour to your plot and use unusual containers to add a light hearted feel to your vegetable garden, particularly if you have young children.  When you’re planning where your beans are going to go why not consider a cane tepee large enough to play in?

Mug Pot Holders: 

The mugs pictured make great pot holders. Don’t plant straight into them as there’s no drainage. Find a suitable sized plastic plant pot, drop it in, fill with compost, plant your seeds and wait for their ‘hair’ to grow!

Potty about carrots

Don’t forget to cut slits in boots for drainage.

Why Start Now?

If you don’t already grow your own, now is the perfect time to get started.

With the school holidays just around the corner, it’s always a challenge to find things for the children to do.  There is a limit to how many days out most of us can manage, both physically and financially.  Weather permitting; get them out in the garden or on the plot with you.

Plants grow rapidly at this time of year so there is plenty going on to keep them interested and it’s great to be out in the garden on a warm summers day.  If you get organised now you can be ready for the fun of harvesting during the summer holidays.

Plant quick maturing crops that will be ready to pick by the end of the holidays.

What to grow?

If you’re new to fruit and veg growing, start with things that are easy to grow.

Sowing:

If you plant quick maturing crops like salad leaves and radish they will be mature enough to pick by the end of the holidays.

Tomatoes are so easy to grow, there is no excuse not to grow your own.  It may be too late to grow these from seed now but you may still be able to a buy a plant or two from a garden center or even greengrocers.

You don’t need an allotment or even a large garden.  Tomatoes can be grown quite easily in even the smallest  of gardens or in a pot on a patio or balcony.  There are even tumbling varieties that can be grown in hanging baskets and window boxes.

It’s not just tomatoes, other salad crops or herbs can very successfully be grown in small spaces.

Veg suggestions: Lettuce, Rocket, Spring onions, Radish, Courgettes, Peppers, Tomatoes, Aubergine, Carrots, Peas & Beans.   Sow salad crops, little and often to avoid a glut, in very hot weather they will run to seed quite quickly.

Herbs: Culinary herbs are very easy to grow.

Fruit Suggestions: Soft fruits are easy to grow i.e. Strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Blackcurrants & Cape Gooseberries (Small, sweet, orange fruits often served with deserts).

Try things that the children enjoy eating and some that are new or that they claim not to like.  It’s often the case that when they have seen something growing and tended it themselves, they may want to try it.

On a recent visit to a friends house I was greeted with a very excited little boy.  He couldn’t wait to tell me that he had been eating Radishes that they had grown in their own garden!!!

Colurful Children’s Garden

So, if you want your little ones raving about radishes by the end of the summer holidays, get prepared now!

If you would like some support and inspiration to get you started, then why not book a Consultation?  I can help you create a child friendly, ‘Grow Your Own’ area in your garden that your children will love!

Why wait, get in touch today  Give me a call on 07870 603753

or email debbie@creativegardendesign.co.uk

Consultations

£85 for up to two hours on site, no written report.

£120 half day on site, no written report. 

£195 for up to two hours on site and including a detailed written report.

Tiny Productive Plot