Grow your own
Recycle Now is encouraging people to put their compost to good use by trying their hand at growing their own fruit and vegetables as a way to go green and save money. From large gardens to patios and balconies, from the novice to the expert gardener, or even those who simply love good-tasting, great value food, we can all benefit from the goodness that home made compost can bring.
One step at a time
If you're new to growing your own fruit and vegetables, don't start with anything too challenging. Try starting with tomatoes or herbs, which you can plant outside now that the weather is milder. Your local garden centre will be able to advise you on suitable plants.
Space needn't be an issue
If you have limited or no garden space, look for varieties of salad, vegetable and fruit that will thrive in pots on your patio, balcony or even windowsills
Recycle and save
Old yoghurt pots, egg boxes or food trays can be used as seed trays and will save you buying new containers. Simply make drainage holes in the bottom and ensure they are sturdy enough to hold compost.
Go organic
To be truly organic and a green gardener, try to use peat-free compost and organic fertilisers. Using peat-free compost containing recycled materials in effect 'closes the loop'. The garden waste put out for collection can end up back in the garden as a nutritious treat for plants.
Watering your plants
Peat-free composts need to be watered little and often as they tend to retain water better than peat.
Get the kids involved
There's no better way to help children eat healthily than to let them grow their own vegetables. Tomatoes are an obvious choice, especially cherry types, as children can pick and eat them straight off the plant - but don't forget to wash them first!
Compost your food and garden waste
Composting at home provides a free and nutritious plant food that can be used to help grow fruit and vegetables. All sorts of things can be composted - from vegetable peelings to egg shells, tea bags to garden waste, all helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Anyone with outside space can compost at home or use a wormery.
Don't give up!
Remember that growing conditions vary, even from garden to garden, so there is an element of trial and error involved when you set out to grow your own.
