The BBC is jumping on the home-growing bandwagon, and even giving away free seeds to help us along. Don’t get too excited – the seeds aren’t available until 10 April – but if you get your hands on some, or you buy your own, you can then spend the next few months growing along with the TV, and then cooking your produce in the autumn.
The seed starter packs will contain five different vegetables, including Gardener’s Delight tomatoes (which we already grow every year anyway), Lolla Rossa or Red Salad Bowl lettuce, Boltardy Beetroot, which we grew with great success last year, either Harrier or Hunter buternut squash (we failed with these), and Early Nantes carrots, which are very easy to grow.
It’s great to see they’re encouraging wannabe gardeners to get started with proper vegetables, and not just herbs or cress.
Once you’ve got your seeds, whether you bag the freebies or you buy your own, you can grow along with Gardeners’ World on BBC 2 right through the season to make sure you don’t go wrong and then, at harvest time, dig them up and use them to cook along with Nigel Slater.
It’s an excellent idea, and something I’ll definitely get involved in, assuming there’s still space in the plot to plant things by then.
If you want to, too, bookmark the Dig In website. It’s not live yet, but it will be from 10 April. Make sure you’re there on launch day for the best chance of getting your free seeds.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for posting about this – isn’t it a brilliant idea!
Likewise, I’ve failed miserably with butternut squash in the past so it will be good to have regular advice!
One small problem, I’m really limited on space this year so I’m growing most things in pots. It will be interesting to see the point to which I can follow-along, before the need for soil in the ground (rather than in a pot) becomes an issue!
According to the BBC, the idea is that everyone should be able to join in to some degree – even those who only have a grow bag on their balcony.
pete says
very good idea’s for first time gardeners
Due to a huge response to the Dig In seed pack offer, it has currently been suspended while we deal with the applications that have already been received.
P.S. All plants should be legal.
i am a childminder and would appreciate any help or tips to start our own garden. obviously safety is a big issue with ofsted so if u could help with ideas i have astro turf down and have children from the age of 1 at the moment. I would appreciate any posters etc if possible to help promote healthy eating.
thanks