Who would have thought 'cool' would have come to vegetable gardening? Well, it has in a big way!
Sales of vegetable seed are up by more than 50% with home vegetable plots or a local allotment 'de rigeur'. Especially popular are wooden and plastic 'raised bed' kits and compost bags whose contents are tailor made for specific types of seed. Simply open the bag, sprinkle the seed and water as instructed. Now you can even grow vegetables on the patio!
So what has led to this renewed interest in growing vegetables? Undoubtedly the main reason is the huge publicity given to the importance of healthy eating with 5 helpings a day of fruit and vegetables recommended. People are also beginning to worry about the environmental harm being caused by importing vegetables over vast distances. They are also becoming aware that 'fresh is best' and there cannot be a fresher source than your own garden or allotment.
Economics is also playing a part. Growing your own vegetables is an enjoyable and healthy way of making a positive contribution to the family budget which right now is under great pressure for a lot of people.
Seed suppliers are playing their part by bringing to market a wider choice of seeds reflecting the greater variety of vegetables being offered by restaurants and supermarkets. Peppers, chilis, asparagus, artichokes for example.
Rumour has it that growing vegetables is now a more trendy topic of conversation than mortgages and house prices and it comes with plenty of scope for bragging rights!