Lockdown has had its benefits!

Ashort story about my dad, partly because it was his 75th birthday last week, just like our own Carol Klein, but mainly because I think he’s typical of so many gardeners in 2020. Having worked in agriculture all his life, he showed no interest in growing fruit and veg on retiring, thinking it something of a busman’s holiday. He tended the flower borders, watered the pots... but didn’t grow a single thing to eat. Until this year, that is. When we went into lockdown and people started panic buying in the supermarkets, he decided to grow his own vegetables. As much as anything, it gave him something to do outside, so he prepared a couple of beds and sowed anything he could think of. Maybe it was his farming knowledge but everything grew fantastically well, so well, in fact, that lettuces are coming faster than he and mum can eat them! It’s wonderful to see how much he’s enjoying his garden but as I say, I’m certain he’s very typical of so many gardeners this year, who are either taking it up for the first time or returning to it after many years.

For my part I’m also delighted as it means birthdays and Christmas become easier – for his 75th he asked for a compost bin! Next on his list is a greenhouse so he can continue to work through the winter.

He’s growing lots of tomatoes, so I’ll point him in the direction of our feature on page 24, which is full of advice on beating typical tom troubles, though he seems to be doing just fine! Have a great gardening week.