As a part of our ‘From the Plot’ collection over on Instagram, we’ve been speaking to particular growers who share their gardening data with others. We just lately spoke to skilled gardener Nikki Jones, aka @thriftygreenlife, who hopes her eco-friendly method and natural allotment will encourage her youngsters and followers alike.
Right here’s the complete interview…
My journey started with an allotment
I’m Nikki, the skilled gardener, author, natural gardener and eco-blogger behind Thrifty Inexperienced Life, a web site that shares cheap gardening suggestions to assist your backyard, and the planet, to thrive.
My gardening journey began after I acquired an allotment, and my ethos is centred round rising my very own meals in concord with nature. My gardening fashion has at all times been to work with nature and never towards it. Being an natural gardener is a big a part of this – defending the soil, encouraging wildlife and provoking my youngsters (and hopefully others) to do the identical.
I’m impressed by conventional potager gardens
Photos courtesy of @thriftygreenlife
My allotment is loosely impressed by a standard potager backyard as I like to develop lovely flowers in between greens. I grew roses and beans collectively final yr which I liked. I actually benefit from the untamed look; nature isn’t excellent due to this fact neither is my allotment. That’s my excuse anyway!
I like to develop new and strange fruit and veg
Photos courtesy of @thriftygreenlife
I really like rising strange issues, particularly purple beans and vibrant squashes. Yellow courgettes blew my thoughts once I first began gardening. My latest version this yr is a ‘Pinkberry’, a pink relative of the blueberry.
My high achievements
I’m at the moment engaged on my very first gardening guide, which encompasses every thing I’ve learnt, and practised, about inexperienced gardening over the past 7 years. I can’t wait to share it with you all!
Set your self up for fulfillment with data
Photos courtesy of @thriftygreenlife
My high tip for newcomers is to establish the circumstances in your rising house earlier than you plant something. Is it shady, part-shade or full solar? Is it damp or dry? Is your soil clay, sand or loam? Doing this implies you should purchase the correct crops for the correct place which is able to assist them thrive.
Develop like Nikki
These eye-catching pink blueberries are candy and ornamental
Picture: Blueberry ‘Pink Lemonade’ from Suttons (© Shutterstock)
You possibly can comply with Nikki over at @thriftygreenlife. And if you wish to examine different inspirational growers, take a look at our #suttonsfromtheplot collection over on Instagram.