Growing Your Own In Spring
Growing Your Own In Spring
Shortages of tomatoes and other produce have highlighted the precarious nature of supermarket’s buying from abroad. So, it’s little wonder an increasing number of people are donning their gardening gloves and growing their own. Not only is home grown produce cheaper than buying from the supermarket, but it’s healthier too. Plus, it’s more environmentally friendly because it hasn’t travelled halfway across the world.
Put simply, nothing beats the taste of fruit and veg lovingly nurtured by your own fair hands.
If you’re interested in growing your own, spring is the perfect time to do so. Here, we’ve created some simple tips for growing your own in spring, including the best vegetables to sow and the most effective way to produce a stronger, healthier crop.
What to Plant When
There’s no need to wait until the summer to get growing. As we enter spring, there’s a host of tasty produce you can start to grow outside. Here’s our pick of the bunch!
Early Spring
Late Spring
Ways to Grow Your Own
Growing your own in spring isn’t without it’s difficulties. Because the temperature is still a little chilly, you’ll need to start your seedlings off undercover to keep them warm. Although most seedlings can be started off in a greenhouse, chillies thrive in hot conditions and should be sown indoors before moving them outside. Usually, late April is the best time to transfer them into your garden. At Christow, we have a number of products to protect your plants and grow the best crop possible.
Greenhouses
Greenhouses are great for nurturing seedlings and growing potted fruit and veg. While three and four tier greenhouses are ideal for first-time growers and smaller gardens, walk-in greenhouses have extra shelving to expand your growing space. Furthermore, they have space to stand inside, making it easier to tend to crops. All our greenhouses can be easily disassembled and safely stored away when the growing season’s over.
£24.99
Grow Tunnels
Grow Tunnels are perfect if you’re growing crops directly in the ground. As well as protecting ground crops from the wind, rain, and pests, they’re provide them with optimal sunlight to promote stronger, healthier growth. Features include roll up doors to easily tend to your plants, plus pegging points and pegs for extra wind-resistance. Once you’ve assembled your grow tunnel, simply place it over your crops, peg it down, and you’re good to grow!
£29.99
Tomato Growhouses
Tomato Growhouses are the best choice for growing tomatoes and other taller plants. Because they don’t have any shelves, they provide taller plants with plenty of height to grow. They also have metal eyelets on their covers to thread through bamboo canes and provide extra support for plants. Plus, enough ground space to grow your tomatoes directly from a grow bag and give them the nutrients they need to produce a larger crop.
£54.99
Cold Frames
Cold Frames have a solid wooden construction with strong polycarbonate windows. As a results, they’re able to maintain a temperature 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. As well as allowing you to start the growing season earlier than usual, they’re ideal for extending the growing season into the colder autumn months. Also, they’re a top choice if you’re growing chillies and other plants that are used to warmer climes.
£119.99
Final Tips
- Choose a spot that is relatively sheltered but sees plenty of sunlight during the day.
- Choose a flower bed, potting tray, or grow bag suitable for the veg you’re growing.
- Don’t grow plants too close together – follow the instructions on the seed packet.
- Protect your plants from slugs and snails. Coffee grounds are a great natural way!
- During sunny and dry times of the year, water your plants regularly and thoroughly.
