Grow some of your five-a-day at home this February
With the days getting longer, there’s no better time to start thinking about your green spaces and how to make the most of your garden.
That’s why we’re giving some helpful advice on what to plant and grow in time for the summer and autumn, including what you can do if you don’t have a garden.
Gardening has fantastic benefits, which go beyond having a nice green space to enjoy. Recent studies have found it can also reduce risks related to cardiovascular disease and support your mental health.
Grow your own food
Lettuce
Lettuce is an easy green leaf to grow, either outside or in a window box, in a nice sunny spot. Spread your seeds thinly on top of the soil, making rows if you can. Cover them with about 1cm of soil. Keep the soil moist by watering it regularly, especially when it feels dry. If you’re growing indoors, pick a loose-leaf variety which will grow well in small spaces. If you want fresh lettuce all summer long, plant new seeds every two weeks to keep your supply going. Eat your lettuce soon after picking because it wilts quickly.
Spring onions
Spring onions are another great option for an easy vegetable to grow – and they grow fast, meaning fresh home-grown vegetables on your plate throughout the summer. You can start planting them in March and keep planting every couple of weeks to have a fresh supply all summer. Sow them thinly, about 1cm deep. For the tastiest flavour, pick them when they're 15cm tall.
Leeks
Leeks grow better from seed in small containers, and you can start planting from now up until June, and then harvest them in late summer moving into autumn. Scatter the seeds thinly on the surface and cover with a thin layer of compost and keep them moist. Once your leeks start to grow – move them into the ground or into a large pot or bucket, to give them more room, ready for the harvest.
Herbs
Most herbs like lots of sunlight and a protected spot. You can grow them indoors on a sunny windowsill, in pots outside, or directly in the ground. Plant seeds of annual herbs such as basil and coriander every couple of weeks for fresh leaves all summer. Perennial herbs like oregano, rosemary, chives, and mint can be planted in pots or in the ground. Harvest their leaves whenever you need them. Save seeds from annual herbs before composting the plants at the end of the year but your perennial herbs should grow again next year.
Gardening support for disabled tenants
Everybody deserves to enjoy the outside world, so if you’re looking for advice or support on gardening as a disabled person, the Royal Horticultural Society has put together a fantastic list of resources which may be helpful to you, including for grants and funding to help with your garden.
