With many people moving away from the traditional quarter acre house block and into apartments, townhouses and share accommodation, saving money by growing your own vegetables and herbs requires a little more thought.  

Gardening is a gentle, meditative exercise which helps you to manage your blood glucose levels and also allows you to be in the moment and de-stress. 

Considerations 

• All gardens require some amount of maintenance – consider what you are physically able to manage 
• Plants require light, water, and fertiliser 
• If you find it difficult to remember to water, you might want to consider an irrigation system or self-watering planter 
• Climbing plants may discolour or damage walls or other fixtures 
• Think about drainage holes and where the water is collected. 

Approach your local nursery for personalised advice. 

Look at your home and think where plants may be happy to grow: in the kitchen, bathroom, entry or home office, on a windowsill or balcony, or perhaps you have a courtyard or backyard? 

There are lots of ways to incorporate plants into your life, regardless of living or work arrangements. 

Pots come in as many varieties as humans have personalities:  

• All the colours of the rainbow 
• Sizes – from tiny to grand 
• Shapes – from oval to square and step-planters 
• Dimensions – tall and squat  
• Contemporary or classic 
• Materials – wood, stone (natural or synthetic), resin/fibre hybrids, glass, porcelain, or metal 
• Hanging 

Green walls 

• An added benefit to a green wall is that it can screen a not so attractive fixture (or neighbour!) 
• Green walls come in a range of dimensions from a small picture size to a full wall 
• The walls can be built-in or mobile 

Troughs  

• May contain mass or variety planting 
• Versatile to section off areas 
• On wheels or fixed 

Aeroponic vertical gardens claim to grow your fare up to three times faster but require: 

• A minimum of four hours of direct sunlight 
• Electricity 
• Water 
• A flat space to sit on  

Small garden beds 

• Traditional in-ground 
• Built up so you don’t have to bend over 
• Veggie pods 
• Potato or planter bags 

Seeds or seedlings? 

While this is a personal preference there are pros and cons to each: 

• Seeds are much cheaper to buy than seedlings and amaze us when they break through the soil. But they may require extra care to get them to sprout. If they are not planted directly into their forever location you may need to use seedling containers and/or a grow-starter kit as a once off investment. 
• Seedlings let you eat your produce faster and may offer a higher success rate. 

All these decisions need to be considered before you even choose your plant varieties. What we can all agree on is that fresh is best, so let’s look at growing your own groceries. 

Growing your own groceries 

Herbs 

Many herbs grow well indoors. Not only do they look and smell amazing, but they add flavour and uniqueness to drinks and food dishes. Some herbs can be made into teas or potpourri. Lots of people use herbs for flavour instead of adding salt to their food. 

Common herb options include thyme, sage, chives, lemon balm, rosemary, coriander, mint, oregano, basil, and parsley. 

Vegetables 

Autumn vegetables and leafy greens have many health benefits, including being: 

• High in fibre 
• Highly nutritious and packed with vitamins, minerals, and phyto-nutrients. 

Easy to grow options for pots or smaller plots include beetroot, green beans, onions, tomatoes, peas, radish, spinach, silver beet, spring onions, carrots, and garlic. 

Check here for a seasonal planting guide for your area. 

Added benefits of plants in your life

Plants enhance spaces with beauty, life and colour, and many studies show plants improve mood, focus and productivity. They also make great air purifiers. Gardening and plants and can be a good conversation starter – with others, or with your plants! 

Happy gardening. 

By Constance Russell Registered Nurse, Credentialled Diabetes Educator