Sharon & Andy are expert allotment-ers. They started an allotment in 2018 and thousands follow their gardening journey on Instagram @grow.to.eat. We chatted to Sharon to find out more about their grow to eat gardening lives.
When did you start gardening and how much knowledge of gardening did you have when you started?
I’ve always gardened really, ever since I was a child, however, in 2018 I began to take it more seriously. I have quite a bit of knowledge all from experience over the years.
Was gardening a thing in your household when you were growing up?
Absolutely my father had a substantial allotment I spent all my spare time there when all my friends were shopping for clothes
Who else gets involved with your plot is it a family affair?
I do most of the hands-on veggie care Andy concentrates on DIY in bed prepping.
Where do you get your inspiration and gardening advice from?
Books, lots and lots of reading I find my gardening style comes from a mix of authors. Some of my favourites are Charles Dowding, Nikki Jabour and Huw Richards.
What are you planning to grow this season?
This season I am concentrating on our favourites such as salads peppers root veg and brassicas.
How does gardening have an effect on your lifestyle?
I have a very busy life working full time as a manager so both time in the garden and being able to post our gardening journey on the grow to eat page really helps me unwind and de-stress.
What do you find most challenging in your garden?
Weeds at home we are no-dig but the allotment is hard work.
What has been your greatest success?
I find every season has different successes this season was onions last season was brassicas.
Any big growing challenges you plan to take on in the future?
Next season we are concentrating on being even more self-sufficient we are also constructing a new herb bed.
Three top tips you would give someone starting out?
1 - Start with easy crops to avoid disappointment,
2- go down no dig if you can and
3 - garden a little every day it’s good for the soul
Three people you’d recommend following on Instagram?
