WHAT SHOULD I GROW?

Whether you're cultivating a compact courtyard or expansive allotment, starting with a more considered plan of what to grow will help you grow smarter, waste less and harvest more. Benedict Vanheems offers his step-by-step guide to choosing the best crops for you

- Benedict Vanheems

Every year, kitchen gardeners across the country are drawn to seed racks and catalogues like bees to lavender. The explosion of colour and promise on those seed packets can be magnetic. Tomatoes in every hue. Novelty squashes. Dwarf this, heritage that. The temptation is real, and many of us succumb to it with gusto. The result? A patchwork of planting that often reflects our whims more than our needs.

No doubt it's a joyful way to garden, but when space, time and energy are limited - as they are for most of us - it pays to take a step back and ask a deceptively simple question: just what should I grow?

It seems obvious when you say it out loud, but by taking a step back and making decisions based on your space, schedule and lifestyle, you can design a truly productive and satisfying kitchen garden or allotment without the scattergun approach. So, let's strip things back and take a more considered approach to crop selection as we explore how to build a garden plan that truly maximises yield, efficiency and joy.

STEP 1: KNOW YOURSELF - AND YOUR GARDEN

Before so much as picking up a seed packet, it's essential to understand who you are as a gardener, as well as the space you are working with.

Start by assessing your level of experience. If you're just starting out, opt for reliable performers like lettuce, potatoes, runner beans or courgettes. These are beginner-friendly, productive and forgiving of common mistakes. As your skills grow, you can branch into more challenging territory, expanding your green-fingered repertoire to include, for example, aubergines or brassicas such as cauliflower and broccoli.