It's the latest thing, growing your own. Concerns about food miles, freshness, conventional growing methods and just the cost of fresh fruit and vegetables plus all the television chef's and gardeners extolling the virtues of homegrown produce means more people are having a go in their gardens.
Shops like Argos and Wilkinsons have caught on and it's easier and cheaper than ever to buy gardening supplies that were once the preserve of the garden centre.
Before you invest your time, effort and money there are a few thing s you need to consider.
Do you mind getting dirty? Really dirty...... the black under your fingernails sort of dirty. Even growing salad in containers means getting your hands into the compost and there are some jobs you can't wear gloves for. Growing vegetables involves digging, hoeing, weeding, raking, muck carrying and nothing sticks to your shoes, clothes and skin like well turned soil after a couple of days of rain.
Do you mind hard work? A successful garden requires lifting, carrying, kneeling, stooping, pulling, pushing. An hour in the garden can leave you ready for a hot bath and in need of a nap.
Can you make the time? Unless you can afford to hire someone growing your own will take time everyday. You may think you're just going to do 20 minutes of pottering about but, before you know it you've been out there over an hour.
Do you mind the idea of becoming obsessed? It's a terrible thing but gardening is highly addictive. You start out growing a few things in tubs and before you know it your favourite read of the Saturday paper is the gardening sections. In winter you pour over the supplements for and catalogues looking at new varieties and special offers seeds. You may even find yourself writing lists and ordering plants for the Spring. At parties you will be found in a corner with other gardeners discussing the different seed potatoes available and whether planting broad bean seeds in October for an early crop worked.
If you find yourself thinking no I don't mind getting dirty, hard work never hurt anyone and I have nothing better to do with my spare time;
If you find your now wondering about winter crops and what you might try growing;
If you think gardening has got to be a better subject then some of the rubbish people talk about;
then growing your own fruit and vegetables may be the pursuit you've been looking for
