Seeds of Hope

After the pandemic many of us have a renewed appreciation for our outdoor spaces. Studies by the RHS have shown the benefits for our mental and physical health that our gardens can bring.

Professor Alistair Griffiths, Director of Science and Collections at the RHS says; ‘There are very few, if any, other activities that can achieve all of the things that gardening can – in particular the measurable impact on active lifestyles, mental wellbeing, and social interaction. Gardening helps us keep fit and connect with others, to enjoy and be part of nature, and to revel in colour, wildlife and beauty’. The combination of being outdoors, engaging with nature and getting your hands dirty improves your wellbeing so much so that gardening is often being prescribed by GPs to compliment medicine. With autumn now nearly upon us now is the perfect time to start!

What would I like to grow?

Think about the type of growing project that would add most to your life, if it’s veg how about trying to grow the veg you buy the most when you do your food shop. There really is nothing better than eating your own home grown veg and sharing it with friends and family. Maybe you’d like to sow some herbs like basil for fresh leaves to add to pasta dishes, or perhaps you’re bored of supermarket salad leaves - growing your own would mean you could enjoy more variety and pick it fresh. If it’s flowers you’d like to try, perhaps start with a couple of varieties of annuals for cutting to brighten up your living space. It can be tempting to try and grow lots of different things at once but focusing in on just a couple sowing projects often means your attention isn’t spread too thinly.

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow

AUDREY HEPBURN

Photographs by Jonathan Kemper, Unsplash

What have got that I could grow in?

Don’t get put off by thinking you need raised beds or loads of space, you really don’t. To start seedlings off, cardboard loo rolls are brilliant, they just need filling with soil and a seed in each. They’re great because when it comes to transferring your young plants to a larger container you don’t even have to take them out of the cardboard roll as it will break down into the surrounding soil. Containers work great, pretty much anything that has enough depth for soil and as long as a few holes for drainage will do the trick. Considering the height of containers will make it easier to keep an eye on your plants. What do I need to get going?

Find a bright windowsill in your home, this will be a great place to start your seedlings off. You’ll need some peat free compost and your chosen seeds. A pair of gardening gloves are good to start with to protect your hands and investing in a couple of good hand tools will help. The Easy Grip range of ergonomically designed gardening tools are a great for comfort and will put less strain on your hands and wrists.

Photographs by Neslihan Gunaydin, Unsplash

FIND OUT MORE: • Visit the RHS site for tips and advice