Grow your own

Grow Your Own
“Grow your own” refers to cultivating fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible plants at home or in an allotment, offering fresh, nutritious produce right at your fingertips. Whether you have a sprawling garden, a sunny patio, or even just a windowsill, growing your own food allows you to enjoy the satisfaction of nurturing plants while reducing your reliance on store-bought produce.

This practice supports sustainable living, encourages biodiversity, and can be tailored to any skill level. From quick-growing salad greens to long-term investments like fruit trees, “grow your own” is a rewarding and versatile way to connect with nature, eat seasonally, and make the most of the available growing space.

Growing Winter Vegetables: A Beginner’s Guide

Winter gardening offers the opportunity to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce even in the colder months. By selecting the right vegetables, preparing your garden, and using simple techniques to protect...

Allotment Planner 2025

MonthWhat to PlantKey TasksJanuaryNone (focus on planning and soil preparation).Plan crop rotation, order seeds, clean tools, improve soil.FebruarySow tomatoes, chillies, aubergines indoors.Prepare ground, install cloches, prune fruit trees/bushes.MarchDirect sow...

Guide to Companion Planting on Your Allotment

Companion planting is a traditional gardening method that pairs plants strategically to support their growth, deter pests, and boost overall yields. For allotment gardeners, where space is often limited,...

Can You Grow Oranges in the UK?

Growing oranges in the UK can be challenging due to the cooler climate, but it’s possible with the right care and conditions. Here's how you can do it: Growing oranges...

Prune Apple Trees

Pruning is an essential task for maintaining healthy, productive apple trees. Proper pruning shapes the tree, improves fruit quality, and prevents disease. Here’s everything you need to know about...

Force Rhubarb: A Gardener’s Guide

Forcing rhubarb is a traditional gardening technique that produces tender, sweet stalks, perfect for early-season pies, crumbles, and...

Grow Plants From Kitchen Scraps

Grow plants from kitchen scraps for free! Fruits 1. Citrus (Lemons, Oranges, Limes) Germination Temperature: 20–25°C (68–77°F) Steps: Plant fresh seeds in...

How to Preserve Vegetables by Blanching

Preserving vegetables is a wonderful way to enjoy your garden’s bounty all year round. One of the most...

Male Asparagus or Female Asparagus : What’s best?

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a dioecious plant, meaning it produces male and female flowers on separate plants. Understanding...

How to Grow Tomatoes in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops to grow in the UK, providing fresh, delicious fruits that...

Growing Onions in December: A Guide for UK Gardeners

While December isn’t the traditional growing season for onions, it’s still possible to start your onion-growing journey during...

How to grow Cardoons

Here's a guide on how to grow cardoons in the UK Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) are large, striking plants related...

go tropical

Join our Facebook group to learn more about tropical gardening in the UK. Join our friendly community to share pictures of your plants or garden and learn from other tropical growers. The group has nearly four thousand members.

TROPICAL GROUP

DO YOU NEED HELP?

Join our Facebook group to find a Local Gardener near you. Just join the group and post that you are looking for a gardener. Please give the area that you live in. If you are a gardener supplying garden services, please feel free to join the community and show your work. The group has nearly eight thousand members.

FIND A LOCAL GARDENER

WEATHER

Your gardening weather

London, GB

9:47 pm, January 20, 2025

4°C

overcast clouds

90 %

1017 mb

5 mph

Wind Gust: 0 mph

Visibility: 6 mi

Sunrise: 7:54 am

Sunset: 4:28 pm

hardiness rATINGS

RHS Hardiness Ratings	USDA Plant Hardiness Zones	Approximate Temperature Range (°C)
H1a H1b H1c	13 12 11	>15°C 10 to 15°C 5 to 10°C
H2	10b	1 to 5°C
H3	9b to 10a	-5 to 1°C
H4	8b to 9a	-10 to -5°C
H5	7b to 8a	-15 to -10°C
H6	6b and 7a	-20 to -15°C
H7	6a	Below -20°C

POT SIZES

Square Top Pots

Top Dimensions	Base Dimensions	Height	Volume
10 cm x 10 cm (4 in x 4 in)	8 cm x 8 cm (3 in x 3 in)	10 cm (4 in)	0.6 L
15 cm x 15 cm (6 in x 6 in)	12 cm x 12 cm (5 in x 5 in)	15 cm (6 in)	2 L
20 cm x 20 cm (8 in x 8 in)	15 cm x 15 cm (6 in x 6 in)	20 cm (8 in)	5 L
30 cm x 30 cm (12 in x 12 in)	25 cm x 25 cm (10 in x 10 in)	30 cm (12 in)	18 L
40 cm x 40 cm (16 in x 16 in)	35 cm x 35 cm (14 in x 14 in)	40 cm (16 in)	56 L
50 cm x 50 cm (20 in x 20 in)	45 cm x 45 cm (18 in x 18 in)	50 cm (20 in)	113 L
60 cm x 60 cm (24 in x 24 in)	55 cm x 55 cm (22 in x 22 in)	60 cm (24 in)	216 L

Round Top Pots

Top Diameter	Base Diameter	Height	Volume
10 cm (4 in)	8 cm (3 in)	10 cm (4 in)	0.5 L
15 cm (6 in)	12 cm (5 in)	15 cm (6 in)	1.7 L
20 cm (8 in)	15 cm (6 in)	18 cm (7 in)	3.2 L
30 cm (12 in)	25 cm (10 in)	30 cm (12 in)	14.7 L
40 cm (16 in)	35 cm (14 in)	40 cm (16 in)	37 L
50 cm (20 in)	45 cm (18 in)	50 cm (20 in)	88 L
60 cm (24 in)	55 cm (22 in)	60 cm (24 in)	181 L

Notes on Sizes

Square Pots: Great for plants needing even root distribution (e.g., vegetables or roses).
Round Pots: Ideal for taprooted plants (e.g., trees or larger shrubs).
Extra-Large Pots: Use for ornamental arrangements or permanent planting solutions like fruit trees.

Local GardenerUNDERSTANDING GARDENING