Why should I do it?

Importing food to the UK by plane, boat and lorry releases over 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, making a significant contribution to climate change. You can help reduce this level by growing your own fruit and vegetables. It’s fun, cheap and has some tasty results.

Where can I do it?

Practically anywhere that gets some light. Back gardens and allotments are great for planting carrots, lettuces, potatoes and the odd raspberry or blackcurrant bush. And a greenhouse creates the ideal environment for growing tomatoes. But you don’t necessarily need lots of space. Carrots, beetroots and strawberries can all be grown in outdoor tubs. And window boxes can be used for dwarf tomatoes, spring onions and herbs. You can even grow cress, chilli peppers and strawberries indoors behind a well-lit window.

How much will it cost me?

Seeds are generally very cheap, at one or two pounds a pack from your local gardening centre. You can also buy small seedlings for two or three pounds. You’ll probably need a small bag of compost which is another three or four pounds, or you could buy a container for around £10 and make your own compost out of orange peel, grass trimmings and other organic waste. Gardening tools can also be bought relatively cheaply, although you might need to shop around a bit. Planting containers and tubs are another four or five pounds and a basic watering can will cost around three pounds.

When can I do it?

You can work on your garden all year round. Autumn is the best time to start digging and composting the ground, ready for planting later in the calendar. Onions can be planted in mid-December while carrots and potatoes do well if planted in March or April. It will then take two or three months for your crops to grow. In the meantime, they’ll be plenty of watering and weeding. And if you are using your window boxes or windowsills for fruit, then April is a good time to get going. Come summer and autumn, lots of lovely fruit and veg will be ripe for the taking.