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    ""

    10 easiest things to grow

    The Trust has teamed up with Eat Seasonably to produce this no-nonsense guide to the ten easiest fruit and veg to grow...

    We're not stopping there, we've also got a guide of the best time to sow it, where and in what.

    Here's what's on the menu:

    Salad | Mint | Tomatoes | Strawberries | Beetroot
    Courgettes | Peas | Dwarf french beans | Onions Pumpkins

    Lettuce leaves Mint Tomatoes

    Salad

    • The facts:
      Easy to grow indoors in moist compost
      Leaves can be picked and will continue to grow back for multiple salads
      Add variety by planting different types of seeds, e.g. Rocket, green or red lettuce, or special salad mixes like oriental saladini
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for either the garden or an indoor window sill
    • What you need:
      Seed tray, pot and soil
    • What to sow:
      Seeds
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      All year round

    Mint

    • The facts:
      Can be bought as a young plant and will keep on providing plants
      Can be used in salads, cooking and drinks
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for either an indoor window sill or garden
    • What you need:
      Pot
    • What to sow:
      Plant
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      All year round

    Tomatoes

    • The facts:
      Satisfying and fun to grow, especially for children
      They just need a sunny space outside and a stick to support them
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Grow bag and soil
    • What to sow:
      Plant
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant in late May, harvest August to October

    Back to top

    Strawberries

    Beetroot

    Courgettes

    Pea pods

    Strawberries

    • The facts:
      If bought as young plants they will produce fruit in weeks
      Can be planted in your garden, in a large pot or even in a hanging basket, so you can eat the fruit straight off the plant!
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Grow bag, pots, soil or a hanging basket
    • What to sow
      Plant
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant between April and May, harvest June to September

    Beetroot

    • The facts:
      Beetroot is east to grow and is the nation's best-selling vegetable seed
      Can be sown directly into the garden or in a big pot
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Pot and soil
    • What to sow:
      Seed
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant between March and July, harvest June to October

    Courgettes

    • The facts:
      Easy to grow and generous in crop - one plant will easily feed one person
      Easiest if bought as a young plant and can be grown in a pot or in the garden
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Pot and soil
    • What to sow:
      Plant
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant late May to June, harvest late July to October

    Peas

    • The facts:
      Peas can be grown for their tasty young shoots which make a great side salad
      Cut the shoots off when they are 3 or 4 inches high, or even leave them to grow into proper plants and harvest the pods
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Soil
    • What to sow:
      Seed
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant late March to July, harvest June to October

    Back to top

    French beans

    Onions

    Pumpkin

    Dwarf french beans

    • The facts:
      Easy to sow and doesn't need additional supports
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Soil
    • What to sow:
      Seed
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant mid April to June, harvest June to October

    Onions

    • The facts:
      Easy to grow from sets (these are the tiny onions grown for planting) in the spring
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Soil
    • What to sow:
      Plant
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant late February to April, harvest July to August

    Pumpkins

    • The facts:
      These large seeds are easy to sow and produce satisfying results
      Great fun for children
    • Where to grow:
      Perfect for the garden
    • What you need:
      Soil
    • What to sow:
      Plant
    • When to plant, and when to harvest:
      Plant late May to June, harvest September to October
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    Peas growing at Rosedene
    © NTPL / Robert Morris
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