Sustainable ideas to grow your own food
We all know that planting is amazing for the environment, but we can take it one step further in sustainability and grow our own food, even if you don't have an outdoor space!
You can grow a lot in your own home 🏠
Abby and Cel Spellman show us how to grow our own veggies, herbs and salads without the need for an outdoor green space. You can make all three of these brilliant ideas in the comfort of your own home, perfect if you live in a flat without a garden, for example! 🌱
Idea 1: Grow your own spuds! 🥔
You will need:
A compost bag, or a strong shopping bag. It needs to be strong enough to take the weight of the soil.
Soil.
Seed potatoes, you can find these in garden centres.
Plenty of sunlight and regular watering.
Use a pencil to pierce some small holes in the bottom of the compost bag, so that water can drain away.
Fill your bag with the soil, about half way, and add in your seed potatoes. Cover them with soil, leave it in a sunny spot and water it regularly. When you see shoots emerging from the soil, cover them in even more soil until the bag is filled, giving the potatoes lots of room to grow.
All that's left to do is keep watering, and wait!
In summer, when flowers appear or the leaves on the on potato plant turn yellow, your potatoes are ready!
Idea 2: Grow your own edible plants 🪴
Why not grow some small potted edible plants such as salad leaves or delicious herbs like basil, thyme and rosemary?
You will need:
A small plant pot filled with soil.
Seeds for your plant of choice.
Water.
A space with lots of sunlight light.
This is such a simple idea, we can't wait to see what you'll grow on your windowsills!
Why not nip down to your local garden centre and find seeds for lettuce, chives or mint?
Fill a plant pot with soil, pop your seeds in, leave it in a sunny spot like a windowsill or balcony and water them regularly. They should quickly grow into something tasty!
Idea 3: Regrow your veggies! 🥕
Did you know it's possible to regrow the veggies you buy in the shops? With this idea, you can basically regrow your own salad bar right on your windowsills!
You will need:
Old vegetables, such as spring onions, carrots, celery and even beetroot!
A glass of water.
When you've prepared a delicious salad, make sure you save the root ends of your veggies such as the bulb of a spring onion or the top of a carrot. You simply have to leave it in a glass of water in a spot with lots of sunlight and wait for it to grow new leaves for you to use in next week's salad. 🥗
The hardest part is remembering to change your veggie's water daily!
Will you give this a go?
We can't wait to see what you'll grow and create! Will you be making a delicious salad with regrown veggies, you own mashed potatoes, or adding your homegrown herbs to your recipes? 🥬
Send us your pictures by clicking the 'Send your stuff' button below. What are you most excited to grow? Are you already planning an extra-tasty meal to make with these ideas? Let us know if you'll give it a go in the comments below!
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Find out more ways you can Let It Grow with Blue Peter
This spring, Blue Peter are teaming up with Radio 2, asking you to “Let It Grow”!
Here you’ll find lots of amazing things to do, like our brand new Let It Grow game, super green quizzes, eco-friendly makes and loads of top tips to inspire you to look after the environment and protect the incredible nature around you!
