Now there is increased awareness of organic farming and healthy eating so many more people are trying at growing their own vegetables.

These plants were picked as they require minimum maintenance and suffer from few pests and diseases, they will produce a decent yield with little skill or effort.

Beetroot ‘Boltardy’

This is popular and very reliable beetroot. It has great resistance to bolting, making it a great choice for beginner growers. This plant produces medium size roots, smooth skin and a deep red flesh.

Salad leaves – cut and grow again

If you want an easy-to-grow but fresh salad, try growing your own cut-and-come-again salad leaves. Lettuces can be harvested for young leaves rather than mature hearts. As they are harvested when they are young, they don’t need a lot of space to grow, so you won’t need to keep thinning them out. They grow over a long period, so you are able to harvest the leaves in winter to early spring.

Bush tomato ‘Gartenperle’

Easier to grow than the cordon varieties because they don’t need supporting and the side shoots do not require pricking. These tomatoes grow well in a hanging basket or even pot, both outdoors or in a greenhouse.

Early potatoes ‘Anya’ or ‘Red Duke of York’

These potatoes can be reared in a container or in the ground. Early potatoes should be harvested in July, before any hot, humid weather increases the impending threat of potato blight. When the flowers have died down, poke around the base of the haulms and then dig out the golf ball size tubers with a fork that has a blunt end.

Peas ‘Half Pint’

These peas are smaller than normal regular pea plants, so they don’t require staking. This plant can even be grown in a container. The younger tips should be trimmed for adding to salads and are followed by flowers and pods.