Gardeners urged to plant £1.48 fruit and watch it grow in a pot
Households are being urged to try their hand at growing their own fruit and vegetables as the cost of groceries continues to rise
Green-fingered Brits are being urged to take up blueberry growing in their back gardens in a bid to save on the weekly shop. With the arrival of warmer weather and the days stretching out, now is prime time to embark on those gardening projects.
As food prices soar and household staples like fresh fruit and veg hit our pockets hard, gardening gurus are suggesting we try our hand at growing our own grub. And one gardening expert has shown it is possible to grow your own blueberries in a pot in the garden.
Blueberries are a popular fruit amongst households thanks to their including improved brain function, heart health, and digestion. A 500g punnet in Tesco will set you back £4.30.
While promoting his best-selling book 'Grow Your Groceries', which has been honoured by both the Sunday Times and Irish Times, gardening expert Simon Akeroyd shared a video on step-by-step guidance for nurturing your own blueberries, offering a savvy way to trim down your shopping expenses.
His work offers a plethora of tips especially tailored to turning even the tiniest patches of green into abundant sources of produce, marking it as the go-to manual for novices keen on optimizing their garden's potential.
In the brief but informative 50-second tutorial, having garnered a staggering 840k views and 29.2k thumbs-ups, Akeroyd illustrates how home-grown blueberries can flourish with just a modest pot, some common tools, and a bit of patience, reports the Mirror.
In this highly viewed clip, Akeroyd instructs: "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 stressed the importance of patience, as blueberries require time to properly grow and mature, but noted that homegrown produce is not only tastier but also extremely rewarding.
Simon advised drying seeds overnight before placing them in a container with ericaceous (acidic) compost and scattering the seeds on top. "Leave on a sunny windowsill and soon baby blueberry seedlings will appear," he said in conclusion.
Simon's tips for maximising garden space have earned him significant social media clout, with 801.5k followers on TikTok and 12.5m likes.
The green-fingered guide is an author of over 30 gardening books and his videos often feature budget-friendly gardening tips, catering to both avid gardeners and novices.
By adhering to these straightforward steps, you're setting yourself up to see a wonderful blueberry plant flourish in time, offering an endless supply of fruit.
Patience is key for gardening success, and when it comes to blueberries, they're certainly worth the wait.
Blueberries can last longer if you avoid a common step many people take when preparing and storing them in the fridge, according to chef and cookbook author Nathan Lyon.
He explained that blueberries tend to spoil quickly, so it's not advisable to store them at room temperature.
Two key rules are to refrain from washing them with water and to avoid storing too many in one container.
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