Top 5 vegetables to grow in garden

Growing your own vegetables has become very popular in recent years, as people look to save money on buying food, utilise the space in their garden more effectively and become more self-sufficient. There is a wealth of vegetables you can grow in your garden, but which ones are best?

Sugar snap peas

Sugar snap peas are a variety of pea. Unlike mangetout, sugar snap peas are bulbous and you can pop the pods open to reveal shiny, green peas. Sugar snap peas are very versatile and they are often popular with children, as they like to pop the pods open and take the peas out themselves. Sugar snap peas are known for being sweet and crisp and they can be cooked in a variety of ways, including boiled, roasted, stir-fried, in addition to being eaten raw. Pea seeds should be planted in April.

Lettuces

Lettuce is the staple ingredient of any good salad and most people like to eat a range of different salads as the weather gets warmer in the spring and summer months. Lettuces should be planted from April onwards and you can plant seeds every two weeks to ensure that you get fresh, crispy lettuces throughout the summer months. Lettuces can be used for a range of different meals, from simple green salads that accompany a main dish to more exotic salads, which include a wide variety of ingredients. There are many different types of lettuce, so you can plant different seeds to get more variety from your garden.

Marrow

Marrows are a very popular garden vegetable and they tend to grow very well in most gardens. Marrows are grown in the same way as courgettes and grow best in sunny, sheltered patches. Marrow seeds can be planted in pots before May or straight into the soil from May onwards. Marrows can be used in a variety of recipes, including soups, salads, cakes and chutneys.

Root vegetables: carrots, radishes, spring onions and leeks

Root vegetables are very popular and versatile, used as accompaniments to many different meals, and are often included in pasta dishes, casseroles and roast dinners. Root crop seeds are normally planted in April and harvested late in the summer.

Runner beans

Runner beans grow well in most gardens and should be planted in mid-May. You will need to create a support for climbing beans, which is easier to do before you plant the seeds. Runner beans can be served with many different meals and are suitable for all seasons.