Cheap and Rewarding Gardening in Spring in London

Home grown freesias on my balcony - April 2019

With spring here, gardening is a cheap, relaxing and fun way to spend your time. It could also save you money in the long run, afterall, how much do you spend on flowers, vegetables and herbs?

If you love flowers, seeing them bloom one day can warm your heart and brighten up your day. The first bloom of freesias really cheered me up. I think they are freesia, because I vaguely remember buying some seeds or bulbs from M&S last year and they've only popped up this month.

Plant growing on my balcony - June 2018

It is satisfying seeing something grow or rebloom. It is that feeling of success that's not validation from your boss or instagram likes.  It also feels like you are helping the planet.

Orchids reblooming April 2019 - this never happens until now ...

I've found some great tips online about:

• getting free garden stuff,
• creating compost with food scraps, which is great for the environment and you just need paper, a ziplock bag and scraps (I didn't know there's so many things you can compost - see these 100 things),
• using things around the home as containers to grow stuff,
• diy fertiliser and I love the ideas for using banana peels in different ways (check out frugal chicken's website),
• creating a greenhouse with plastic bags over seeds in containers,
• regrowing vegetables and herbs from scraps and supermarket bought roots like garlic, ginger, carrots, onions and coriander (see these article on foods that regrow and food revolution.org), and
• you can even grow seeds in a paper towel and I love that you can do it with a plastic bag!

Did you know you can grow kiwi trees from the seeds from supermarket bought fruit? I love the idea of growing a tree on my balcony.

I'm also intrigued with vines and things that can grow big quickly and easily - like sunflowers and morning glory. I've grown sunflowers before but this time I have giant 2m ones I'm trying. I don't really have big pots or space, but I'll see how it goes. Morning glory sound fun and my seeds germinated after 3 days with a quick soak, scratch then paper towel.

It's amazing all the information around and how much you can learn.

Poundland has been great for picking up cheap supplies. Lidl has some cheap plants and B&Q is great too. Of course there's Amazon and Robert Dyas are great for convenience if you're a Londoner.

Shopping on the high street, can be cheaper and easier at times.

Poundland update their stock with a variety of tools and plants. I'm trying to grow raspberries and roses this year. Recently I bought add water to make compost packs. These will likely be good for growing lavendar.

B&Q have a great range of reasonably priced potted plants. It's limited what they deliver, but in store is great for a browse and bargain. The other week I saw potted roses in Lidl for £1.99.

Robert Dyas has an array of seeds which identify perrenials from annuals. In the past, I've had luck with their cherry tomatoes and am trying again this year. I've lots if little seedlings crowding window sills at the moment.  Though I've not scored gardening bargains at RD, I did find a slow cooker on sale for £7.92 which has been a brilliant addition to my life.

Amazon seems to be good for large bags of compost as there's only so many £1 for 10 litre bags I can lug from Poundland. 

Temple Garden in London on a rainy April day

London's Regent's Park - 395 acres

In London and living in any city, it's important to get back to nature and find a little calm. Balconies, window sills, allotments or even volunteeering somewhere can be rewarding and cost very little.

Greenhouse at The Pig hotel, Dorset

If you're outside of London, there are many lovely places to visit. I love The Pig in Dorset which has yummy food and a gorgeous garden.

Roses discovered on a walk - June 2018

There's parks all over London which is one of the many things I love about this city. Victoria Park has some lovely roses and the canals also are a treat with wild flowers. Even walking around, you'll find all the gems planted by people. It's a great way of being present and practising mindfulness for a healthy body and mind.

Potted tulips near the gardener's yard at Inner Temple Garden  

Regent's Park April bloom

Happy gardening or else, please enjoy the beautiful gardens around you next time you are out and about - I recently visited Inner Temple Garden for the first time and Regent's Park which I haven't been to in ages.