GREENHOUSE OR IN THE HOUSE?

Mr Fothergill’s are currently encouraging people to grow veg indoors. Their recent survey revealed that 66% want to grow more plants and vegetables to keep themselves fed but many feel they are deterred by a lack of time (39%), not having any outdoor space (37%) and not knowing enough about how to do it (35%).

Herbs and sprouting seeds are easily and often grown on windowsills indoors but with a bit of thought and planning it is possible to grow quite a variety of salad crops and some veggies indoors – especially if you have a sunny conservatory or porch.

Growing tomatoes in the house is feasible in a light sunny position, but choose varieties like Balconi Red and Yellow, Sweet ‘n’ Neat,

Micro Tom or Tom Thumb, which as most of the names suggest are small plants and with some TLC will all grow happily in just a 6” pot.

Heartbreaker Vita F1 is also a great choice. A prolific producer of lovely little heart shaped tomatoes, it is far from a heart-breaker.

All of these dwarf varieties will reach somewhere around a foot in height.

Ideal conditions are a sunny windowsill with daytime temperatures around 18C and around 15C at night.

Tomatoes will perform much better with perlite included in the compost to retain moisture and will need feeding regularly.

Watering is best done from below in a flat saucer or tray.

Salad leaves will be quite happy indoors with you too and TV gardener David Domoney shares lots of top tips to grow your confidence by growing on windowsills and sunny spots in the house at www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/ windowsill

Mr Fothergills is also currently offering some “classic” vegetable seeds for just 99p per packet. Choose from broccoli, Chantenay carrot, Golden courgette and Telegraph cucumber, Red Cherry tomato, spinach or parsnips.

There are also several seed starter kits, including Heavenly Herbs, Pots About Veg and Super Salads to choose from.

That’s quite an incentive to “get growing”, indoors or out.