Finding time for gardening can be a challenge, but one horticultural whizz has spilled the beans on the easy-to-grow veggies that won’t hog your schedule. A recent survey revealed that 39 per cent of Brits have hung up their gardening gloves due to time constraints, with 35 percent feeling clueless about where to begin.
But fear not, green thumbs and newbies alike, as gardening ace Amy Chapman has dished out the “beginner friendly” seeds perfect for an April planting, promising it’s a quick affair. Amy, posting on TikTok under @inthecottagegarden, said: “Courgettes or zucchinis are one of the easiest vegetables you can grow and they’ll reward you with huge harvests.”
She advised that these “super fast growers” should be potted individually in compost rather than cramped trays, as they’ll soon need more space.
“I like to sow two seeds per pot and remove the weaker seedling later on,” Amy shared, instructing to cover the seeds with a centimetre of compost and then keep them indoors until the frost risk is over.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) suggests moving the plants outside in early summer, with the first pickings ready by late June. These prolific plants can keep churning out courgettes right through to autumn, stopping only at the onset of the first frosts.
The expert also praised cucumbers and cucamelons as “pretty easy” plants to take root, pointing out that they can thrive if given proper support. She detailed her method: “I sow the seed into small trays of pre-watered compost, dropping one or two seeds in each small hole.”
As growth kicks off, Amy ensures only one plant occupies each module. She shares: “Cucumbers need warm soil to germinate, so ideally keep these in your house somewhere warm, such as on a heat mat or above a radiator to help them grow.”
According to the RHS, these veggies should be sown outside come early June and are ready for picking from July through to October.
Another veg Amy touts as low-fuss is runner beans, describing them as “resilient and rewarding”. They’re also touted as cost-savvy, since saving the beans for next season’s planting is straightforward – bye-bye store bought seeds.
The green-fingered expert advised: “Just push one or two seeds into each pot of compost about two inches deep. Cover them over and keep them on a sunny windowsill in your house.”
It’s key to remember that runner beans don’t take kindly to frost, so hold off on moving them outdoors until you’re sure Jack Frost has made his exit. The RHS notes you’ll be harvesting those beans between July and October.
Amy’s useful video won praise from followers, as one noted with enthusiasm: “Courgettes are the one thing I never have an issue with compared to many other things.”
Another was inspired, exclaiming: “About to go buy all these seeds and going to start my little vegetable patch,” while a third shared their own gardening exploits: “I sowed courgettes and cucumbers today.”
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