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
Images courtesy of @parkers_patch
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
Images courtesy of @parkers_patch
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
Images courtesy of @parkers_patch
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
Image courtesy of @parkers_patch
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
Image courtesy of @parkers_patch
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
These blight-resistant cherry tomatoes are deliciously sweet
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 From The Plot series.
Last Updated on September 16, 2025 by Suttons Horticultural Team
