To celebrate homegrown fruit & veg, our ‘From the Plot’ Instagram series highlights some of the special growers who generously share their practical knowledge with others. We recently spoke to Julia of @parkers_patch whose many job titles include gardener, author, broadcaster, educator and podcast host!
Here’s what Julia had to say about gardens and growing…
I like to grow vegetables from seed
I’m passionate about growing food and the vegetable garden is where I’m usually found! I’m not sure I have a gardening style, I guess if I have to choose it would be relaxed with a touch of formality.
I’m embracing ‘no dig’ and I grow most things from seed. It’s cheaper and easy to do – if something goes wrong, I can just scatter a few more seeds. Often, it’s outside influences that slow or hinder germination, not necessarily us. A seed packet usually contains more seeds than we need for one sowing, so it’s quicker to reach for a few extras rather than drive to a garden centre or order more online.
I’m all for saving time and money. In my workshops, I encourage people to reuse kitchen waste items like cartons and plastic pots as seed trays, and even loo roll inserts make decent biodegradable pots!
I use vertical space to grow fruit
I have always loved gardens, nature and helping my parents when I was small, so when I had my own tiny urban space I filled it with some of my ideas. These included a water feature, a corner gazebo, and I even squeezed a pear tree in!
When we left London and moved to the Sussex countryside 19 years ago, there was a neglected part walled garden with a dilapidated greenhouse – both were crying out for attention. Having spent years in publishing drooling over garden photographs for books and magazines, I knew I could turn this space into something productive. Now it is thriving, with more beds and a fruit cage containing yellow raspberries, blackcurrants, red currants, and blueberries, along with fruit trees trained along the walls – namely a peach, pear, fig, and grapevine.
I always try to grow a new vegetable every year
My favourite things to grow are edibles, with a few flowers thrown in for good measure. I really enjoy growing something unusual every year, so far I have tried luffas, tromboncino, giant carrots, mushrooms, lemongrass and ginger. Next year, I’m going to have a go at growing pomegranates, so stay tuned.
I love experimenting too. Currently, I have a pineapple plant growing from the green top I removed and planted from a store-bought pineapple one year ago. With any luck it will produce a small fruit next summer.
My top gardening achievements
Here are some of the things I’m most proud of:
- I co-wrote and published The Little Grower’s Cookbook.
- Being part of the Alitex greenhouse team at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, when we were awarded best trade stand by the RHS.
- Being shortlisted for the second year running by The Garden Media Guild for Series 3 of the Two Good Gardeners podcast.
- Monthly appearances on BBC Radio Kent’s Sunday show, where I answer gardening questions and give advice.
Top gardening tip
If you’re starting to grow for the first time, only grow fruit and veg you or your family like to eat. Start off with no more than 5 different things, otherwise it can be overwhelming, and possibly take away your enjoyment from future growing.
Grow like Julia
Image: Tomato Rubylicious F1 Seeds from Suttons (©Thompson & Morgan)
If you want to try some of fruit and veg that Julia grows, here’s a quick shopping list:
- Tomato seeds
- Chilli seeds
- Luffa seeds
- Raspberry plants
- Pear trees
- New veg seed varieties (try something different!)
You can follow Julia over at @parkers_patch. And if you want to read about other inspirational growers, check out our #suttonsfromtheplot series over on Instagram.
