11m families enjoy homegrown food

NEARLY 11million households are growing some of their own food, figures reveal.

But for the majority the goal is not saving money or the environment, but rather the joys of having tastier meals and a more interesting garden.

According to a survey, a herb plot (or pot) is the most popular addition to a garden with 18 per cent of homes growing mint, 16 per cent growing rosemary and 12 per cent growing parsley.

Fruit trees remain popular with 17 per cent growing apples and 8 per cent of homes having pears and plums. Tomatoes are grown by 12 per cent, 11 per cent cultivate potatoes and 10 per cent have beans in their backyard.

More exotically, 4 per cent grow marjoram, 3 per cent grow kale and 2 per cent grow lemon balm.

Insurer Direct Line, which commissioned the survey, said Britain now spends a record £1.64billion a year on the ‘grow your own’ boom and it is younger adults leading the way rather than the typical image of green-fingered retirees. It found the 10.9million homes which now grow produce spend an average of £149 per household with those under 30 spending around 55 per cent more than those over 55.

In the survey, 57 per cent of those who grow their own said homegrown fruit and veg tastes better, 54 per cent said they simply enjoy gardening and 38 per cent reckon the plants make ‘the garden look nice’.

There were also 38 per cent who do grow their own to save cash and, according to Direct Line, they can save around £275 a year doing so. Only 12 per cent grew crops for environmental reasons.