Growing your own veggies at home

John Doherty teaches budding gardeners a range of skills

As more and more of us are attempting to grow fruit and veg at home, more and more of us are realising it's not all that easy to do.

Whether you've got a tomato plant on your window ledge, or a whole allotment to tend to, there are simple things you can do to have a more fruitful harvest.

BBC Tees spoke to John Doherty, who runs courses at Preston Lane Allotments to teach the basics.

Find out his advice, and follow his course attendee's successes here.

In pictures: Preston Lane Allotment

"I've been growing fruit and veg since The Good Life was first on the television, in 1976." Explains John.

His course, down at the Preston Lane Allotments learners plot is one of many in the region, a growing demand for skills has meant that these courses are perking up in popularity.

Some people are trying to beat the credit crunch by making their own food, and some are simply doing it out of interest and as an experiment.

Preston Lane Allotments learners plot

The great thing about growing fruit and vegetables is that you don't actually need a field full of compost to get started:

"Window boxes and pots and tubs are all suitable for growing vegetables and herbs but suitable small varieties should be chosen that will not run out of space.

"Baby salads, radishes and herbs like sage, thyme and rosemary are very suitable for growing in containers"

"The easiest veggies to grow outside include radish, broad beans, onions, potatoes, beetroot and cabbages.

"But if you want more of a challenge try cauliflower and carrots, which are frequent failures due mainly to poor watering and unsuitable soil respectively."

So if you're having a bash at doing this at home, but just want some hints and tips, check out the links at the top right of this page.

And keep checking back as BBC Tees' Brigid Press will be keeping a monthly diary with the best advice for budding gardeners in the new year.

Presenter Profile: Brigid Press

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