Gardening: Why grow your own vegetables? | Southsea Green

Think of those crops that are expensive in the shops. A trailing tomato in a hanging basket, a chilli pepper in a pot or a wigwam of climbing French or runner beans can save you pounds.

Know what is in your food. You can avoid using chemicals completely or use a few where necessary. Either way you know what is in there. Food from your back garden doesn’t run up any air miles either.

Taste and freshness. The sugars, acids, minerals and vitamins that make food taste good and be good for you, start to break down as soon as the crop is picked. You can be sure food picked and eaten the same day will taste better and be better for you than those from the shops. You can also choose varieties specially for their taste.

Gardening is good for you, and it is very satisfying to look at a plate of food and say ‘I grew that’.