Rewards of the harvest

Much has been said and written about the importance of understanding where our food comes from. I believe that growing at least some of your own is one of the most effective ways of changing your attitude to what, and how, you cook and eat. Eating seasonally, and making the best use of your ingredients, seems to come more naturally when they are growing right outside your door. can cope with the most inhospitable conditions.

One of the great advantages of container growing is that it is easy to extend the growing season. Many plants will benefit from the additional warmth found close to the house or apartment, and it is the work of a few seconds to throw a piece of fleece or hessian over more vulnerable pots.

Another bonus of container gardening is that there is no back-breaking digging, and you are free to create different compost mixes to suit the needs of individual crops – light soil for carrots and parsnips, acidic for blueberries and so on. A container garden also provides opportunities to grow unusual varieties or hard-to-obtain ingredients, such as that obscure herb you need