Get Inspired To Grow Your Own With The RHS

With the appetite for local, seasonal produce on the rise, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) kicks off its 2010 Grow Your Own Campaign on 6th March with a weekend of special events across its four gardens (Wisley in Surrey, Harlow Carr near Harrogate, Hyde Hall near Chelmsford and Rosemoor in Devon). The events have been designed to inspire everyone to have a go at ‘grow your own’ and to celebrate the start of the growing year, there is a special reduced entry fee of just £1 (RHS Members free) to all RHS gardens on Saturday 6th March.

Home grown fruit and vegetables not only taste better, have zero food miles and generally contain fewer chemicals than shop bought produce, and the process of cultivating and nurturing the plants creates a satisfying feeling of connection with the land. Many people like the idea of growing their own, but are not sure where to start so the RHS Grow Your Own weekend on Saturday 6th March (and Sunday 7th at Wisley and Harlow Carr) is the ideal place to get inspiration from the experts, and there will be plenty for the seasoned gardener too.

The open day gives everyone a chance to get one-to-one advice from RHS experts, as well as talks, planting demonstrations, garden walks, fruit and vegetable displays and advice from the National Vegetable Society. There are also plenty of activities such as seed-sowing for the children, making it a day out for all the family.

Did you know? – Fruit and vegetable facts:

· Beans are the easiest and fastest vegetable to grow, according to a recent survey conducted by the RHS

· Apples and strawberries top the list of most commonly grown fruit in Britain’s gardens

· There are over 7,500 varieties of tomato

· If you are short on space, many fruit and vegetables can be grown just as well in containers or even a window box

· Consult the RHS veg planner (at www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Grow-Your-Own-Veg/Veg-Calendar) to check the right month to sow and harvest each vegetable

The Grow Your Own weekend marks the start of a calendar of RHS events aimed at getting the nation growing more fruit and vegetables. The RHS is also encouraging people to make an online ‘veg pledge’ through its Grow Your Own websitewww.rhs.org.uk/growyourown, and the first 10,000 individuals and 50 companies to commit to growing this year will receive a free starter pack including Thompson and Morgan seeds, a yearly planting planner and much more.

A new RHS book also embraces the Grow Your Own trend. The RHS Allotment Handbook (Mitchell Beazley, £16.99) will be available from the 1st March 2010. Concentrating on how to sow, grow and harvest 40 of the tastiest vegetables, 14 herb varieties and 15 fruit crops, this book is a must-have for any home grower.

Event Details

Grow Your Own Open Day takes place on 6th March 2010 between 10am & 4pm. Booking is not required. Free to Members, £1 to non-members across all four RHS Garden. Extended to the 7th March at RHS Gardens Wisley and Harlow Carr, when normal garden entry prices will apply, free to RHS members.

The four RHS Gardens are:

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Chelmsford, Essex
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon