Will food shortages cause Brits to grow their own food?

It might be time for us Brits to dig out the spades and get rid of our precious lawn, bedding plants and rose bushes.

The agriculture minister David Heath has claimed that unless households start digging and growing their own food, we will face empty supermarket shelves as they will struggle to import enough food to feed us. The government are currently warning about future food shortages which could occur as the UK currently imports 40% of its food.

Freezing temperatures earlier this year have already had an effect on crops, with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and peas all being affected by waterlogged ground and low levels of light. More shockingly, over the past 10 years, the growth of tomatoes, cucumbers and spring onions in Britain has fallen so low that they have been labelled as “endangered”. Brussels sprouts, lettuce, leeks and cauliflower are also at risk of becoming “endangered”. If action isn't taken by the government, there will be even less home grown food on supermarket shelves and food prices will continue to rise.

While we wait for the government to take action, people can do their bit by growing fruit and vegetables in their gardens. The number of people growing their own fruit and veg is already on the increase, as the share of fruit and veg grown in allotments and gardens rose from 2.9% in 2008 to 5% in 2011.

For those looking to make small changes, herbs, salad leaves, chillies and garlic are all easy to grow and a great way to get started. So why not give it a go and see what you can grow. Growing your own food shouldn't be a daunting task. This year I took on the challenge of growing my own herbs and vegetables and so far it is going well. Having cleared a small patch in my garden, I have so far planted onions, spring onions and carrots all of which are doing well. Indoors I have managed to grow some chives, parsley, coriander and chillies. This is my first time at doing anything like this, so I am very pleased. So go on, don't be scared give it a go! 

Top Gardening Apps

With smartphones and tablets taking over, there is an app out there for everything! Take a look at these handy apps to help you out in the garden.

Dig My Garden

This app gives a bird’s eye view of your garden, allowing you to see your garden bloom over the seasons. With this app you can create and ‘plant’ your actual garden with hundreds of plants, vegetables, herbs, trees and shrubs to choose from.

Garden Tracker

With this app you can plan your garden plots, plant vegetables and track your gardens progress.  Garden Tracker comes up pre-loaded with over 50 vegetables, with detailed information such as ideal soil temperature, recommended planting season and more!

Landscaper’s companion

Landscaper’s companion is an interactive plant database, with over 26,000 plants from around the world.The app provides a short description, size, cultivation advice and pictures.

Vegetable garden guides

This app is a great reference tool, with guides for successful growing of over 90 vegetables. Each vegetable has a section on the growing process, how to grow and disease information.

Garden Pro

Garden Pro provides users with all the necessary information about particular flowers and plants, with a directory of over 7,000 species. Details provided by this app include growing requirements, how to care for the plant and common pests.

How to protect your vegetable garden from the frost

Britain is set to face a big freeze over the next couple of days and we are told this could continue throughout December, with temperatures as low as -20c! If you are planning on keeping your vegetable garden alive and thriving, throughout the winter and cold weather but are worried your crops will be ruined by the frost, help is at hand. 

Cover your vegetables

The most common way of protecting your vegetable garden is by covering them with some type of material. Any material can be used, such as old blankets and sheets. Lightweight material can be draped directly on top of the plants, however if you use a heavyweight material this will need to be supported, to prevent your vegetable from being crushed. Secure your covering with stakes, rocks or bricks. Covers should only be placed on at night and removed in the morning, to allow your plants to breathe. Card board boxes are also a good at covering your vegetables, again don’t forget to remove these in the morning.

Mulch

Mulch is great at insulating your plants from the cold, as it helps to lock in moisture and holds in heat. A depth of 2 to 3 inches should be sufficient and you can use items such as straw, pine needles and leaves.

Water

Watering your vegetables a few days before frost is due to hit, is another way of helping your vegetables see out the frost, this is because wet soil can hold more heat than dry soil. Make sure you only water the plants lightly before the temperature drops.

Containers and pots

Anything you have growing in a container or pot should be brought into a garden shed, garage or greenhouse if possible. If the containers are small enough, why not take them inside. If they cannot be moved, wrap the containers in bubble wrap to help keep them insulated. Burying the pot in soil is another good way of keeping your container vegetables insulated.

Cold frames

Cold frames are a transparent- roofed enclosure for growing vegetables and plants in, while protecting them from harsh weather conditions.  Cold frames provide air and soil temperature insulation, as well as shelter from the wind. Using cold frames is a good away to protect your vegetables from frost. And help them survive the winter.

If you are growing vegetables this winter, this advice and tips should help to keep your vegetables alive and thriving.