This blog was written by Robyn Booth, a senior gardener with the National Trust at Packwood House, in Warwickshire. Grow: Fill your world with plants is her first book.
Keen to get your fingers green but not sure where to start? Here are my top tips to get you growing this spring.
1. What have you got?
Take a look at your space, no matter how big or small and make a plan. Think about how much light there is, what you would like to grow, and what you have time to manage. Whether it’s a windowsill, balcony or back garden you’ve got plenty of options!
2. Get sowing and planting
Once you’ve decided what you’re going to grow and where it will live, it’s time to get your hands dirty. Sowing seed is the cheapest way to grow a range of plants, whether it’s veg, herbs or maybe annuals to brighten up your patch. Start them off somewhere bright and warm. Once they’ve emerged after a few weeks, ease them out of the compost into their own individual pots or modular trays.
If you’re short on time and space, plants that have already been grown on a little (known as plug plants) are a quick win, and a great way to get some easy veg like tomatoes or peppers on the go. These are simple to get hold of online too.
3. Aftercare
It’s official, you’re now a plant parent! This means you’ll need to devote a bit of time to looking after your new babies. Keep your seedlings moist and in good light. Once several leaves have developed you can pinch out the tips to keep them bushy and healthy.
Any plants you’ve bought and planted should be watered in well, especially if we’ve had a dry spell. Once the weather starts warming up in March, it’s a good idea to add a liquid feed for your plants in pots – this goes for houseplants too.
4. A green oasis…
Just being near plants can help to lower your stress levels and improve your focus, so don’t forget about adding some plant power to your indoor space.
There’s a wide range of houseplants available now to suit lots of growing conditions inside your home, so why not make room for a new fern, palm or peace lily?
As a general rule with watering, check to see if the top few centimetres are dry – if so give your plant a drink and allow it to dry out a little in between waterings. Different plants have different needs, so make sure to do your research to choose one that will work best for you.
5. Keeping on top of things
As well as feeding and watering regularly, don’t forget to remove any dead or dying leaves, trim off faded flowerheads and check for signs of pests or disease. Don’t be put off if things aren’t quite ‘perfect.’ Just by getting started growing you can be contributing to increasing biodiversity, soaking up pollutants and beautifying your space – all huge benefits for you, your environment and your friends and neighbours too!
If you want to know more about how to plant, which houseplant for which room, or if you just need some more inspiration to tackle your garden, you can read more in my new book GROW, which is out on the 2nd March.