With prices of essentials continuing to rise, more and more people are looking for ways to save money. According to This is Money, the inflation rates on food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 18.2% in February 2023, and are showing no signs of slowing down.
One way to cut back on your spending, and care for the environment whilst you’re at it, is to grow your own vegetables and fruit at home. Research shows that the average household will spend £706 on fruit and vegetables alone in 2023 by simply growing the produce at home. Growing garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and other seasonal vegetables could lead to a substantial saving for households up and down the country.
The team at HelloFresh are helping to educate the UK on how to grow their own fruit and veg with a helpful and easy-to-follow video and guide, with expert tips from expert, Mimi Morley.
What’s in season in the UK and what can you grow at home?
Mimi, shares her top tips on growing your own fruit and vegetables, including the easiest vegetables to grow and when to sow and harvest them. Growing your own ingredients saves money, benefits the planet and is fun too.
Here are the top fruits and vegetables that you can grow easily in the UK climate, saving yourself some serious money along the way. Potatoes and carrots are some of the easiest vegetables to grow, so they’re a good place to start for beginners.
A lot of fruits and vegetables like to be sown or planted in the UK in early spring, meaning there’s no better time to grab your gardening gloves and get started! Remember, everything you do when starting a vegetable patch is an opportunity to learn and experiment, so don’t worry if you don’t get perfect results the first time round.
Fruit / Vegetable | Sow / Plant | Harvest |
Carrots | Feb – Jul | May – Oct |
Lettuce | Mar – Sep | May – Nov |
Strawberries | Mar – Apr | Jun – Sep |
Potatoes | Mar – May | Jun – Oct |
Peas | Feb – Jun | Jun – Oct |
Beetroot | Mar – Jul | Jun – Oct |
Raspberries | Nov – Mar | Jun – Oct |
Rocket | Apr – Sep | Jun – Dec |
Cherries | Oct – Mar | Jun – Aug |
Blackcurrants | Nov – Mar | Jun – Aug |
Tomatoes | Feb – Apr | Jul – Sep |
Blueberries | Nov – Mar | Jul – Sep |
Sweetcorn | Apr – Jun | Jul – Oct |
Broccoli | Apr – Jul | Jul – Oct |
Cucumbers | Mar – Jun | Jul – Oct |
Peppers | Feb – Apr | Jul – Oct |
Pears | Nov – Feb | Aug – Nov |
Apples | Nov – Mar | Aug – Nov |
Brussels sprouts | Feb – Apr | Aug – Jan |
Olives | Mar – May | Sep – Oct |
Mimi went on to explain: “In the UK, we are coming into spring/summer, which means it’s carrot, peas and broccoli season. Why not make a roasted vegetable curry or vegetable lasagne with your harvest? Or even simper, try this vegetable soup recipe for the ultimate home-grown feast.
You could even take a further step into sustainable living and batch make your meals and freeze or share with friends, family and neighbours.”
For more information on what’s in season in the UK right now and recipe ideas to use your home-grown produce, see HelloFresh’s ultimate guide on how to grow your own vegetables and fruits at home, including an easy to follow video.
