Grow Your Own

Sitting somewhere between a conventional shed and a greenhouse, the potting shed was overlooked and undervalued for too long. Thankfully that's changing, with 2018 promising to be the start of a new era in gardening: the reign of the potting shed.

Earlier this month, we spoke to our friends at The National Allotment Society about National Allotment Week, the benefits of keeping allotments, and how the society works to provide, promote and preserve allotments.

Nothing beats the taste and aroma of freshly picked herbs especially when they've travelled food metres and not miles. A herb planter placed in a sunny spot outside your kitchen door will provide herbs for many months of the year.

We caught up with the people behind Eat Seasonably, a website that focuses on growing your own or buying food that is in season. We chat about the benefits of this and how eating seasonably can cut the cost of fruit and veg.

We spoke to the great people at Capital Growth, London’s food growing network with over 2,000 members, about what they do and how to get involved.

Warmer temperatures during July make this a good time of the year to start planting, especially if you're a beginner. Seeds will germinate more easily and seedlings will grow faster so you'll see the rewards of your hard work before you know it.

We caught up with Catherine Hughes, owner of the Growing Family blog, to talk about spending time on allotments and fitting gardening in around a hectic family lifestyle.

Traditionally the garden shed has been as a storage space for lawn and garden tools. However, people are finding new and inventive uses for these buildings and one of the latest trends has been to turn the structure into an edible garden shed.

By making your own compost, you'll save money and help the environment by recycling food scraps and reducing the amount of waste you send to landfill.