Grow Your Own magazine is a leading monthly publication in the UK that serves as a comprehensive resource for cultivating your own produce. As one of the country's best-selling publications in the kitchen garden category, it offers a wealth of practical advice, inspiration, and community for anyone from a complete beginner to a seasoned gardener. The magazine's core mission is to empower readers to embrace a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle by showing them how to grow delicious and healthy food, regardless of their plot size.
Key Features and Regular Sections:
The Grow Your Own magazine is meticulously structured to guide readers through the gardening calendar, ensuring they are always equipped for the season ahead. Each issue is packed with a variety of engaging content:
- Seasonal Guides: A staple of the magazine is its detailed "What to do now" section, which provides a month-by-month rundown of essential tasks, from planting seeds and tending to crops to harvesting and preparing for the next season.
- Expert Contributors: The publication draws on the knowledge of a dedicated team of experts. Regular contributors include well-known figures in the gardening world like Mark Lane (a television presenter and garden designer who shares his monthly garden diary), Simon Akeroyd (an author who focuses on unusual edible varieties), and Rekha Mistry (who offers tips for growing in small spaces). The magazine also features guidance from professionals at Garden Organic, the UK's leading organic gardening organization.
- Practical Projects: Readers are treated to step-by-step guides for a wide array of projects, such as growing specific crops like autumn radishes or spring cabbage, as well as creative ideas like growing peas in a drainpipe.
- Troubleshooting and Solutions: The magazine helps gardeners tackle common issues, offering advice on how to deal with problems like ripening issues, potato rot, and various pests, often with a focus on organic solutions.
- Recipes and Cooking: Beyond the garden, Grow Your Own Magazine inspires readers in the kitchen with delicious recipes and ideas for preserving their harvests, helping to turn home-grown produce into a meal.
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- Community and Connection: The magazine fosters a strong sense of community through its content, which includes reader reviews and a forum called "The Grapevine" where gardeners can share tips, ask questions, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.
The Dirt: The Gardening Podcast from Grow Your Own Magazine
Expanding its reach into the digital space, Grow Your Own magazine also produced a podcast titled The Dirt. The podcast is an audio extension of the magazine's philosophy, providing a fun and informal conversation about all things fruit and vegetable gardening.
Podcast Content and Style:
- Honest and Relatable: The podcast is celebrated for its down-to-earth tone, which celebrates the failures and learning experiences on an allotment just as much as the successes. It's a space where gardeners can feel a sense of camaraderie and shared experience.
- Diverse Topics and Guests: Episodes cover a broad range of topics, including specific gardening jobs, seasonal advice, and discussions on gardening trends. The hosts frequently interview a variety of guests, from professional gardeners and authors like Mark Ridsdill Smith (an expert on container growing) to food writers and conservationists like Kevin Hancock (founder of the Gardener's Beehive) and Adrian Thomas (from the RSPB). Topics have included everything from growing mushrooms at home and using upcycling hacks to attracting pollinators and the mental benefits of gardening.
- Behind-the-Scenes Insights: The podcast provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a gardener, with guests sharing personal anecdotes and lessons learned from their own plots.
While new episodes have not been released since late 2022, the existing catalogue remains a rich and inspiring resource for anyone looking to dig in and start their gardening journey.
