Lockdown GROWing

 Growing Indoors

1. A windowsill indoors is a great substitute for a greenhouse/polytunnel, and is an ideal location for raising seedlings. It also has the added benefit that you can't help but notice when your plants need attention!

2. Most herbs will do very well indoors in small containers and it's ideal to have them so close to the kitchen. Raise from seed and pot up, or buy small plants. Try parsley, thyme, mint, lemon balm, sage and basil.

3. Try growing sprouting seeds such as mustard, chickpeas and fenugreek – they make an excellent addition to salads or a great, healthy snack for a train journey!

4. Peppers (chilli and sweet) are compact little plants and like heat and light and so will do very well indoors.

5. Dwarf varieties of vegetables are ideal for growing indoors or in any small space. For example grow dwarf French beans instead of regular French beans. Tiny Tim is a miniature variety of cherry tomato that will do well in a 6-inch pot. There are excellent dwarf varieties of peas, beans, aubergines and cabbages.

Apartment Balcony Growing

1. With a bit of ingenuity, an apartment balcony can be turned into your very own GIY HQ.

2. The key to maximising growing space on a balcony is to go vertical! A four or five-shelf plastic "greenhouse" for example would be a great investment – each shelf will support five or six pots and it has a zippable plastic cover to keep your vegetables toasty warm on cold nights. Stash some gardening tools, compost etc on the ground beneath the shelves.

3. Take a bit of time to work out which plants should go where based on which part of your balcony gets the most sunlight. Some plants need direct sunlight while others prefer partial shade, so check seed packets.

4. Patio growers will also be able to use existing balcony features such as a railing to trail climbing plants up. You can also hang rectangular planters for rows of lettuce and other plants that have shallow root systems from the rails on your balcony.

5. Bear in mind your veggies may be exposed to the elements if you are growing high up on a balcony, so use netting or bamboo screens to act as a windbreak. On the other hand, slugs are generally not a problem four floors up on a balcony!