From the plot: interview with @parkers_patch

To have fun homegrown fruit & veg, our ‘From the Plot’ Instagram collection highlights a few of the particular growers who generously share their sensible data with others. We lately spoke to Julia of @parkers_patch whose many job titles embrace gardener, writer, broadcaster, educator and podcast host!

Right here’s what Julia needed to say about gardens and rising… 

I wish to develop greens from seed

I’m obsessed with rising meals and the vegetable backyard is the place I’m normally discovered! I’m undecided I’ve a gardening type, I assume if I’ve to decide on it will be relaxed with a contact of ritual.

I’m embracing ‘no dig’ and I develop most issues from seed. It’s cheaper and straightforward to do – if one thing goes mistaken, I can simply scatter a couple of extra seeds. Usually, it’s outdoors influences that sluggish or hinder germination, not essentially us. A seed packet normally incorporates extra seeds than we want for one sowing, so it’s faster to achieve for a couple of extras somewhat than drive to a backyard centre or order extra on-line.

I’m all for saving money and time. In my workshops, I encourage individuals to reuse kitchen waste gadgets like cartons and plastic pots as seed trays, and even lavatory roll inserts make respectable biodegradable pots!

I exploit vertical house to develop fruit

I’ve at all times cherished gardens, nature and serving to my mother and father once I was small, so once I had my very own tiny city house I stuffed it with a few of my concepts. These included a water function, a nook gazebo, and I even squeezed a pear tree in! 

Once we left London and moved to the Sussex countryside 19 years in the past, there was a uncared for half walled backyard with a dilapidated greenhouse – each had been crying out for consideration. Having spent years in publishing drooling over backyard pictures for books and magazines, I knew I might flip this house into one thing productive. Now it’s thriving, with extra beds and a fruit cage containing yellow raspberries, blackcurrants, crimson currants, and blueberries, together with fruit bushes educated alongside the partitions – particularly a peach, pear, fig, and grapevine.

I at all times attempt to develop a brand new vegetable yearly

My favorite issues to develop are edibles, with a couple of flowers thrown in for good measure. I actually get pleasure from rising one thing uncommon yearly, to this point I’ve tried luffas, tromboncino, large carrots, mushrooms, lemongrass and ginger. Subsequent yr, I’m going to have a go at rising pomegranates, so keep tuned. 

I really like experimenting too. Presently, I’ve a pineapple plant rising from the inexperienced prime I eliminated and planted from a store-bought pineapple one yr in the past. Optimistically it’s going to produce a small fruit subsequent summer time.

My prime gardening achievements

Listed below are a few of the issues I’m most happy with:

• I co-wrote and printed The Little Grower’s Cookbook.
• Being a part of the Alitex greenhouse group at The RHS Chelsea Flower Present 2023, after we had been awarded greatest commerce stand by the RHS.
• Being shortlisted for the second yr working by The Backyard Media Guild for Sequence 3 of the Two Good Gardeners podcast.
• Month-to-month appearances on BBC Radio Kent’s Sunday present, the place I reply gardening questions and provides recommendation.

High gardening tip 

Should you’re beginning to develop for the primary time, solely develop fruit and veg you or your loved ones wish to eat. Begin off with not more than 5 various things, in any other case it may be overwhelming, and probably take away your enjoyment from future rising.

Develop like Julia 

If you wish to strive a few of fruit and veg that Julia grows, right here’s a fast buying record:

You’ll be able to comply with Julia over at @parkers_patch. And if you wish to examine different inspirational growers, try our #suttonsfromtheplot collection over on Instagram.