Simon Ward's Grow Your Own diary - Part 1

News Editor Simon plants out his second crops of the year as he tries to finally get some homegrown veggies on his plate.

When it comes to gardening, I’m a novice, despite having had a garden of my own for two years now.

And when it comes to growing my own, I tend to be a ‘plant and hope’-type of person, rather than spending time diligently reading about what you’re actually meant to do. I like to think of this as my own unique twist on organic gardening. No chemicals, no artificial preservatives, just let Mother Nature do her thing.

However, last year this attitude meant that my lovely plump red cabbages, when opened, revealed themselves to be full of slugs (although I did make coleslaw from some of the untainted parts). And my beetroot didn’t so much majestically rise out of the earth as nudge gently at the surface, before giving up.

This year I feel slightly less like it’s all my fault. But only slightly less. For although the cold spring and monsoon summer have clearly taken their toll on my veggie patch, the slugs are back, there are blackflies everywhere and the local birds are now snacking on my shoots. And I haven’t done a thing to prevent any of this.

Slim pickings

So this summer’s harvest so far has been six or seven broad bean pods, garnered from a plant that was put out after starting life in a pot. However, as you can see from the picture, the chances of any more produce from this particular plant are slim at best.The runner beans are also still there, but there have been no signs of long green vegetables snaking out yet.

Meanwhile, growing from seed has been an utter disaster, for all of the reasons above and more.

Still, I am undeterred and rejuvenated, partly because of lovefood's Grow Your Own season. I have now planted lettuce, carrots and beetroot seeds in pots, which will remain in the conservatory until they are ready to be planted out. I've also popped some basil in a pot outside (the original was obliterated by the late spring frosts). I am making a bird scarer from some old CDs (I knew Starsailor’s debut album would be good for something one day) in anticipation of that day. I am watering and monitoring the runners almost on the hour. My aim is to get at least one round of veg from each crop.

I will let you know how I get on through these diaries. In the meantime, if you have any tips to help me on my way (that don’t involve pesticides or other chemicals, remember I am organic), then I’d love to hear them in the Comments box below.

More on growing your own

10 good things to grow and eat

Life on an allotment

How to grow your own curry ingredients