Growing your own? Don't forget herbs

ONE of the great things about supermarkets is that you can buy a bag full of mixed lettuce leaves that are washed and ready to munch.

There are packs of herbs such as basil, coriander and parsley and even little trays of alfalfa or mustard and cress — but you'd be insane to pay money for them.

Growing your own is not that difficult. Not only will you save a fortune but the products will be fresher and more nutritious.

The Avenger looked at a few price comparisons. A bunch of basil from a supermarket costs around 69p and has a shelf-life of a matter of days. One pack of 4,000 seeds costs £1 more but will produce enough basil over a period of time to fill a room.

Here's another. A bag of mixed continental leaves will set you back about £1.49 — but 10p more will buy a pack of 1,750 seeds which will keep you in salads for the whole year.

To reinforce the message, the Avenger talked to garden designer and herb guru Becky Wells.

“You should certainly grow herbs because you only need a little at a time,” said Becky.

“Buy the seeds from a garden centre rather than a supermarket. You can grow them outside or on the window sill.

“Also, get a jam jar and punch holes in the lid or stretch muslin over the top. Get some sprouting seeds like mustard and cress, alfalfa or lentils. Pour a small amount of water over them and rinse them for a couple of days.

“After three days, you'll have fresh, sprouting seeds. They're ready for eating, fresh and full of nutrition. There are various salad mixes which you can grow.

“Just pick off the leaves as you need them. Grow parsley now and it will last until next summer. Not only will it be fresh and good for you, it also freshens your breath after you've eaten garlic or a strong curry. And it's packed with iron. They're all easy to grow without any skill needed.”

Other recommendations included rocket and land cress. Plant the latter in a cool shaded part of the garden and the stuff will be with you forever.

And think about growing seasonal vegetables from seed or cuttings. Empty plastic food cartons are great for propagating seeds and can be transplanted to larger tubs available at garden centres.

And while you're at it, you could consider a kit for growing mushrooms in the airing cupboard.