MAKING DINNER

How to grow your own fabulous fruit and veg

THERE’S a reason why foodies always talk about cooking with the seasons – they know that food grown in season, locally, and served as fresh as possible, is food at its most delicious. Which might explain why growing food has become the latest must-have hobby for chefs, hipsters and families alike. But gardeners have known all along – homegrown food just tastes better. It’s also really easy, and you don’t need half as much space as you might think. You can grow herbs on window sills or in pots by your kitchen door. Give them as much sunlight as you can and water soft leaves (such as basil) regularly.

Use all the space you have, and look for dwarf varieties if your patch is small. Hanging baskets are a great way to find room above ground, and strawberries love to grow here, high above the slugs and snails that would attack them.

Deciding what to grow depends partly on your site, but also on what you like to eat. Grow things that are harder to get at the supermarket.

‘I started growing perennial flowers and herbs last year for the first time,’ says Ciarra Willard, 29. ‘I was worried that growing food would be more challenging and time-consuming but it’s so rewarding and satisfying.

Now I have herbs, two pots of peppers, peas and radishes growing. I’m definitely hooked.’

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, Sam Smith, 25, can relate. He started growing veg from his central London balcony during lockdown and was so bitten by the bug that he started potgang.co.uk, an urban grow-your-own veg subscription service. It delivers everything you need each month to create your own tiny farm at home, from the right seeds to sow, to the pots, propagators and compost.