Herbs the perfect solution for novice 'grow-your-own' gardeners

18:07 4th March 2010

Even green-fingered enthusiasts with small gardens or limited space in their greenhouses are able to save money and enjoy tastier home-cooked dishes by growing their own herbs, one expert has advised.

With the government's new Landbank scheme set to push the number of Britons opting to grow their own produce higher still, many homeowners will likely be debating whether they should concentrate on planting fruit or vegetables for the month ahead.

However, according to gardening expert Jessica Elizarraras, herbs could be the best option for many people, allowing them not only the satisfaction of seeing the results of their efforts in extra-quick time, but also enabling them to save money on store-bought flavourings.

"Even without space for a full-on garden, herbs are relatively simple to grow, even for novice gardeners," she advised in a column for SeattlePi.com.

"Not only are the plants flavourful and pretty, they're also hardy and adapt well to containers."

However, the expert added that using soil that is too heavy in a garden or a greenhouse will stunt the growth of most herbs, including mint, thyme, dill and chives.

These tips come just days after Which? warned gardeners to avoid buying over-priced vegetable seed after research found that some people are paying 100 times over-the-odds for their seeds.