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AREPORTED three million have taken up gardening in Britain since last March, which is why B&Q has launched a Gardener Of The Year competition with comedian Jim Moir. But while it’s easy to get enthusiastic about growing vegetables and transforming your flower beds, the reality is that it takes practice and patience.
Veteran broadcaster Richard Jackson, once resident gardener on Phillip Schofield’s Going Live! with Gordon the Gopher, has launched Couch To Five A Day Challenge 2 to help new growers: a collection of tomato, pepper and strawberry seedlings plus French bean and spinach seeds, with an easy-to-follow booklet on how to grow them.
“Last year lots of people went to garden centres and were buying lots of plants but weren’t getting the success they needed, so we wanted to introduce a kit to make it easier,” says Richard, who has also launched Plantsmith tonics for houseplants and orchids – created with his son Nick.
Many vegetable seeds can still be planted for summer crops over the next few weeks, such as beans, courgettes, squash and salad leaves.
Look out for Burpee Seeds Europe, which supplies companies including Thompson & Morgan with Courgette Sure Thing F1 Hybrid, among others, and take a look at online websites such as Yougarden.com for bedding plants. Its current sale has 40 plug plants from just £4.99.
Finally, this month’s virtual RHS Chelsea Flower Show is still available to watch online at rhs.org.uk if you’re in need of some inspiration and creative ideas.
Garden glove and scissor set, £1 (0800 731 5622; pound land. co.uk)