If you long for freshly picked produce but don’t know where to start, try these sure-fire winners
A
t this time of the year, gardeners are susceptible to the lure of colourful, quirky veg catalogues. But hold fire! A little restraint is our friend. By focusing on reliability, yield and flavour over exotic looks, we are likely to have an easier and more successful year on the plot.
The following fruit and veg should produce hassle-free harvests. They may not look like the most exciting crops, but they will result in more food on your plate, having been tried and taste-tested for a high chance of success and good flavour. Their reliability and resistance to problems makes them easier to grow, and they’re also simple to harvest and prepare, so you’ll be left with more time to enjoy eating them.
Vine tomatoes are a bit of hassle, but there’s a payoff. Side shoots need to be removed, forcing the plant to grow up to 2 metres tall with the support of a cane or 3mm twine tied to a polytunnel or greenhouse beam. They also require weekly watering and feeding with an organic tomato fertiliser. Your reward for this faff is that they pump out tons of toms all summer into autumn using little space. Try cherries ‘Golden Crown’ and ‘Apero’, salad ‘Tigerella’ and beefsteak ‘Brandy Boy’.
