From the Plot: interview with @robgardensandgrows

To have a good time homegrown fruit & veg, our new ‘From the Plot’ Instagram sequence highlights a few of the particular growers who generously share their sensible information with others. We just lately spoke to @robgardensandgrows whose self-deprecating humour all the time brightens up our day. Right here’s what he needed to say…

Instagram is an efficient start line for inspiration

I can get simply distracted so my inspiration comes from in all places! There are such a lot of proficient growers and gardeners on Instagram so it’s price discovering a couple of that make you smile and offer you some ideas on what you possibly can do in your house.

I just lately went to my first ever village present and that was additionally fairly inspiring! The crops and veggies that individuals grew and the standard, it was wild! I rocked up with a couple of measly makes an attempt in a few classes and wow… I must up my recreation!

I get pleasure from visiting gardens for inspiration however I love exploring greenhouses. Seeing what persons are ranging from seed, what they’re preserving in there all 12 months spherical…

My love of gardening comes from my mum

My love for gardening comes from my Mum. My Mum is the queen of tomatoes and she or he’s been giving me plenty of ideas this 12 months – she was slightly horrified at how a lot I’d allow them to go wild. I’m unsure I knew what the phrase truss meant… till now!

My model is vibrant chaos

I believe vibrant chaos sums up my model fairly properly! I moved into this new backyard in January 2024 and it’s an enormous change from my tiny terraced backyard in Walthamstow. I’ve loosely deliberate out areas, however this 12 months it’s been a little bit of a mixture of experiments and determining what’s already rising right here.

One huge problem I confronted is the soil sort. Having been in a London backyard earlier than the place the whole lot grew in containers, I may management the soil. This 12 months I met…. clay! It’s not truly been too dangerous and I’ve been attempting to work with crops that may thrive. I’ve additionally acquired a number of raised beds that I can management in a bit extra element, in order that unlocks an entire world of potentialities when rising issues from seed.

What I’ve most loved rising this 12 months

I grew my first ever pumpkins this 12 months and I actually loved seeing the small ‘speck’ pumpkins sprout and sprawl concerning the place. Additionally they appear to be lasting a very long time, who is aware of.. possibly they’ll make it onto the Christmas tree as baubles.

The strawflowers blew my thoughts. A bit thirsty at first when beginning off within the greenhouse, they’ve given me a lot pleasure throughout the 12 months. They’re so vibrant and so tactile (the sound if you contact the petals is a really intense ASMR second) and the pollinators are obsessive about them. I’d typically discover Crimson Admirals clambering over the flower heads getting slightly choose me up and fluttering off.

Why I like to recommend rising sugarsnaps

Picture courtesy of @robgardensandgrows

My latest crop of sugarsnaps was so profitable! I planted approach too many too shut collectively (oops) and it turned nearly a thick bush of sugarsnaps however, what a deal with! Scrumptious to snack on when doing a little bit of gardening and excellent for throwing into nearly any meal. I can’t fairly consider what number of I used to be in a position to harvest. I’ve some purple ones to attempt subsequent 12 months.

I’d actually suggest attempting these, they have been so resilient and, in contrast to the poor broccoli, they didn’t appear to get ravaged by too many bugs and critters. I planted them alongside an entire bunch of nasturtiums in a raised mattress. One factor I can inform you is… rabbits blooming love nasturtiums!

My plans for subsequent 12 months

Photographs courtesy of @robgardensandgrows

I must discover a second to take a seat down and make a plan and choose my seeds for subsequent 12 months. I do know I wish to double the quantity of raised beds I’ve, which suggests I’ll want some extra seedlings! I wish to attempt some actually creepy trying pumpkins, some lovely flowers and see what number of berries I can develop for the birds to snack on.

I’m trying to show an enormous chunk of the garden right into a native wildflower meadow. It heads as much as a walnut tree in the back of the backyard and I’m excited to see what’s going to develop there. Within the woods close to the home there are frequent noticed orchids and pyramidal orchids. Think about in the event that they popped up within the backyard? I believe I must do a little bit of analysis on encourage that to occur.

Develop like Rob

Photographs courtesy of @robgardensandgrows

If you wish to purchase a few of the issues Rob grows, right here’s a fast procuring listing:

You may observe Rob over at @robgardensandgrows. And if you wish to examine different inspirational growers, try our #suttonsfromtheplot sequence over on Instagram.