Latest news with #GrowYourGroceries
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
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.
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Households urged to plant £1.48 fruit and watch it grow in the soil
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. 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. 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.
The Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Gardening expert's 99p Aldi hack will give you home-grown tomatoes all summer
Veronica Lorraine, Gardening Editor and Associate Head of Features Published: Invalid Date, THERE'S nothing like biting into a homegrown tomato - and if it's your first time growing your own you won't believe how different they taste from bland supermarket versions. Here in the UK all they need is a warm, sheltered corner and a bit of love and attention. 4 4 4 4 Traditionally you sow the seeds inside from February - or buy plugs to bring on in the greenhouse from now. But as with so much of gardening nowadays - the rule book has been thoroughly torn up - with all sorts of new and exciting varieties and techniques to get your tomato taste buds going. GROW FROM SHOP BOUGHT TOMATOES Gardening author Simon Akeroyd says in his Grow Your Groceries book: Cut a few tomato slices about 3mm thick Fill a container with Peat Free compost to about 3cm deep - you can use plastic grape containers - just make sure there's holes in the bottom. Place the tomato slices on the compost and cover with about 2cm with more compost Place on a warm sunny windowsill and water regularly When the tomato plants have formed true leaves transplant into individual pots Plant outside once the risk of frost has gone Grow Your Groceries by Simon Akeroyd is published by DK, out now. STORAGE TOMATOES Heirloom seed company She Grows Veg have introduced Storage Tomatoes to the market - which last for up to six months ONCE you've picked them! Founder Lucy Hutchings told me: 'They lack the gene that allows conventional tomatoes to self ripen quickly, which means once picked they take months to reach full ripeness - becoming sweeter and sweeter - so you can actually be eating fresh homegrown tomatoes on Christmas day and beyond in the UK.' PICK & JOY TOMATOES One for the urban/small space gardener - these are bred to go on your windowsill and will keep refruiting the more you pick. They're also nice and compact so you don't need much room. Available from Dobbies at £16.99 - worth their money for a whole summer of tomatoes. TOMATO 'FRAISE' Glossy, deep red strawberry shaped tomatoes - with an unbeatable shelf life - with sellers Suttons Seeds claiming they're 'tough against cracking and fruit drop for a more reliable yield.' From £2.99 a packet. REISETOMATE As recommended by Mitch McCulloch in his book The Seed Hunter - these look like a 'fused together bunch of grapes. I'm a gardening enthusiast – plant your tomatoes in late spring with a key companion, you'll deter pests from attacking He says: 'It was bred for trekking across the Andes - its' bobbly structure allowing segments to be torn off and the rest popped back into a bag without leaking juice.' Seeds are currently available on Amazon for £3.77. CORDON TOMATO 'GOURMANSUN' Yellow, big and beautiful, these spectacular Oxhart tomatoes produce large heart-shaped fruit, with golden orange skins streaked with red when they're ripe. Plugs available from Marshalls Garden froim £6.29 for three in May. TOMATO INDIGO ROSE 'The Black Tomato' These ' superfoods ' are loaded with antioxidants like blueberries, and specially bred for extra nutrition. They're also highly disease-resistant. Plugs from Thompson and Morgan from £9.99 HANGING BASKETS A great way of growing tomatoes without taking up much space is to buy a selection that can grow in hanging baskets. Not only are they a space-saver - but they also look great. Just make sure you keep them well watered as hanging baskets dry out quickly. YouGarden have a 'Tumbling Tom' tomato mix which produces hundreds of small, juicy yellow and red tomatoes all summer long. TOP TOMATO CARE TIPS MULCH - make sure you put a layer of mulch around tomato plants - to stop them drying out. SNIP Remove side shoots of cordon tomatoes regularly - so they're putting their energy into growing tomatoes instead of leaves. Bush tomatoes can be left. FEED Keep a regular feeding regime with tomato based feed (which can also be used all around the garden) WATER Tomato plants are thirsty and dry out quickly - keep a regular watering regime and if you're going away, get a neighbour to pop in and carry on. SUPPORT Tomatoes need a lot of support - you can build a cage support with bamboo canes and string HARVEST pick ripe tomatoes regularly to encourage more fruit PROTECT Tomatoes don't like wind so keep them in a sheltered spot
