Households urged to plant £1.48 fruit and watch it grow in the soil

Daily Mirror

10-05-2025

Best-seller author and gardening expert, Simon Akeroyd, is now advising his followers to start planting their own produce, such as blueberries, with an easy tutorial.
Gardeners are being encouraged to grow their own blueberries at home in order to save some money. Now with the warmer weather and longer sunlight, it's the best time to do some gardening tasks!
Groceries are getting more and more expensive, especially on essentials like fresh fruits and vegetables. As a result, gardening experts are urging people to take another approach by planting their own produce home.
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Whilst promoting his book 'Grow Your Groceries', a Sunday Times and Irish Times bestseller, gardening expert Simon Akeroyd, shared a step-by-step video tutorial on how to make the most of blueberries, helping to cut down on some costs in the process.
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His book also focuses on another tips for growing food in small gardens, making it perfect for ideal beginners looking to make the most of their outdoor spaces.
During the 50-second clip, he demonstrates how to grow blueberries at home using simple and everyday materials. In a straightforward method, Steven demonstrates that it's possible to grow beautiful blueberries, using a small container and some patience.
In the video, which has played over 840k times and received 29.2k likes, he said: 'Place [the blueberries] in a freezer for a few weeks to stratify (chill) the seeds. Defrost, and then squeeze the berries, and remove the tiny seeds inside the berries.'
The gardener also encouraged viewers to be patient, as blueberries can take some time to grow properly and mature, but the results show that's well worth the wait. Not only homegrown produce tastes more delicious, but the final results give a good sense of achievement and satisfaction.
Simon said to leave seeds to dry overnight and then fill a container with ericaceous (acidic) compost, sprinkling the seeds over the surface. 'Leave on a sunny windowsill and soon baby blueberry seedlings will appear,' he concluded.
Simon has become quite popular on social media by sharing how to make the most of your garden spaces. With a current following of 801.5k on TikTok and 12.5m likes, the gardener has also written over 30 gardening books. His videos also focus on budget-friendly gardening hacks, encouraging experienced and non-experienced gardeners to grow their own food.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that a beautiful plant will bloom, providing you with unlimited blueberries. Although it might take some time to see the final results, the best things take time to come - with blueberries being one of them.