The best fruit and veg to grow in the UK

To grow your own vegetables can seem like a very daunting task, as many people believe that it will take up too much of their time and energy. Once the long hours have been spent in the garden and the novelty of gardening has worn off, many people simply give up on the growing process.

However, help is now at hand! With the assistance of Suttons, a premium seeds retailer, we can provide you with the best fruit and veg to grow in your own garden, and how you can incorporate them into some fresh, healthy meals.

Radishes and spring onions

These two vegetables are very easy to grow, and can be grown in a pot or sown straight into the ground. These vegetables are usually grown as we progress into the warmer summer climate. Both are ideal within a fresh, flavorsome salad; the spring onion provides a sharp, sweet crunch, whereas the radish can add a natural pepperiness to the dish. Ideally, these vegetables grow in plenty of sunlight, so wait until the end of spring before you start planting your seeds.

Growing potatoes

As a vegetable that you can grow during the spring or summer, it is an incredibly versatile and durable fruit. Potatoes are the staple of most dishes and go great with a lean steak or as a jacket with tuna. The growing process is also fun: plant your seeds in a potato bag and as the green shoots start to sprout, cover them again with compost. Keep doing this until your potato bag is full and then you can start watering them. Wait around 10 to 20 weeks until the foliage begins to go yellow, then tip your bag upside down to see all of the potatoes that you’ve managed to grow!

Blackberries

As an old-time British classic, you cannot beat a blackberry; it’s also incredibly easy to grow in your garden and goes perfect with overnight porridge. To make this sweet but nutritional breakfast, take rolled oats and pour either coconut soy milk or usual soy milk over the top of them (only enough to soak them). Mix your blackberries in and then leave it overnight to chill in the fridge. When you take it out in the morning, it’ll be a creamy texture perfect for a fresh spring day. To grow them, take the plant and train the stem into wires so that they are easier to harvest when they fruit. They can grow anywhere in the garden, as they don’t need a lot of light or attention. If you don’t want to deal with thorns, then use a variety such as the Apache.

Perfect peas

Peas are relatively easy to grow and won’t cause you too much hassle. Generally, they sprout in cooler weather, so think about the climate before trying to grow them in the summer. Remember, once you’ve planted the seeds, the peas need support from the stems; use either chicken wire or other netting between supports at the end of each row. Peas taste even better straight from the ground, and you can use them as part of a green vegetable medley or alongside a lean meat to finish off a dish. The best thing about them is that the more you pick, the more they produce!

Go exotic with Goji Berries

In the British climate, Goji Berries can grow perfectly well – even though they might seem a little exotic! The fruit is extremely juicy and are rich in nutrients. Make sure they’re dried before you eat them though, as they can be quite bitter. They are surprisingly tough as a shrub and can grow in windy coastal areas, but make sure they’re exposed to plenty of sun as spring moves into the summer months. Once picked, mix the berries in a blender on a morning with other fruits and natural yoghurt to make a superfood smoothie to help you face the day. Or alternatively, use the fruit as a topping for your morning cereal to give it an exotic twist.