Grow Some Herbs and Veg to Save Money on Food during summer
With the cost of living and tuition fees, food is something that most students find themselves having to scrimp on or having to buy poor quality food in an attempt to get by. However, there is a novel idea to prevent you having to shell out cash on expensive branded products and also meaning that you won’t be stuck eating Tesco’s value baked beans.
Growing your own may not seem like something that is really done in the modern day but instead was something done by grandparents in World War II.
However, it can give you an extensive supply of really high quality food without the cost of going out to buy it and will also give you a sense of achievement as you eat your own produce.
How can I do this?
Firstly you need the means. This requires space and garden area, which many students living in flats or on campus simply do not have. However, this may not be quite true, you could always get a few friends together and run an allotment together, or be sure to buy some large window boxes to try to maximise space that you never knew you had.
When you return home, be sure to utilise any of their unused garden space and then bring back what you grew back to University. You then need the motivation, if you really don’t want to do it or you find yourself growing things that you don’t think you’re going to eat, then the exercise becomes pointless.
Grow what you enjoy to eat and then natural motivation to tend your crops will come.
What should I grow?
As I mentioned previously, growing what you are going to enjoy eating is the best policy if you’re stuck for ideas straight away. However herbs and salads are the best as the seeds are relatively inexpensive, and they will grow quickly and be ready to eat in as little as a few weeks.
Some other vegetables such as courgettes, beetroot or tomatoes are also advisable but will require a larger amount of space to grow.
How to look after my plants?
To look after your plants you must be sure to do a few key things.
Water them daily – Not too much and as soon as the soil stops absorbing the water straight away stop.
Keep them in direct sunlight – This will ensure they grow nice and large, green and will probably make them taste better.
Be sure to pick the edible bits – Only certain bits of plants are enjoyable to eat, so be sure to check which parts of your plants are advisable for consumption.
Good luck and enjoy your new found freedom and green fingers!