How old are you and how long have you grown ya own?

[Charley]

I'm 35 and this is the first year I've really grown anything properly. I grew strawberry plants last year, indoors - yep indoors. WHAT? I didn't know okay!! Needless to say we got two strawberries and that was it lol

I can't believe how obsessed I am though, I find myself peering into other peoples gardens to see if they are growing veg or working.

I love going out into my garden lifting up leaves, checking for beasties.

[Markyreds]

Hi, I'm 36 and this is my first year of really trying to grow my own veg. I have made room in my garden for a small veg patch 3mtr x 3mtr with a bed running down one side about 6mtr x 0.6mtr. I have my name down for an allotment but probably won't get one for about 3 years!!!!

[jackie1955]

I am 56 the other half built me a greenhouse for my 55th birthday (best pressie I have ever had) I have wanted a greenhouse for years its my little haven. On my second year of growing and eating my own veg I love it , so do my grandchildren who love to pick and eat the crops, it never ceases to amaze me every time I go in the green house how things are growing. Now I am starting to grow outside the green house too in containers and its going really well ................Allotment.....maybe next year !

[Flummery]

I'm so encouraged by the number of younger people (ok - most people are young compared to me!) who are interested in growing vegetables and care about what they eat. Keep it up, youngsters!

[Rabidbun]

I'm 37 and have been growing for I think 4 or 5 years? Losing track already, which can't be good!

[grenhouse]

I'm 25 and have had my plot for 3 years now, and grew in my mum and dads back garden before then with my ickle veg plot! Most of my mates take the micky, but when they come down the lottie, particularly when the strawbs are out they love it! I'm a teacher and the kids who do horticulture at school love it, great to see younger people getting into it, not as much moaning at the lottie now ehehehehe

steve

[thepopela]

I wish they taught horticulture when i was in school, i may of taken more of an interest then!
I think every school should teach some sort of gardening/vegetable growing. My kids love it, especially eating the peas straight from the pods, they never make it to the pot!

[WelshGirl]

I'm 26, and this is my fourth year growing my own. Before then I had never had even a slight interest in the garden, but I love strawberries and was always complaining about supermarket prices, and someone asked me why I didn't just grow some. So I did, and that was it! The addiction began and suddenly I wanted to grow everything!
As Thepopela wrote - A few years ago I also would have laughed at anyone who suggested I'd be majorly hooked on gardening in five years time!

[witchwoo]

I am 41 got into growing flowers last year, then veg and now i am hooked I feel lost if i haven't been in the garden doing something went on the lotty list now got a lotty and am as happy as a pig in muck, like someone else said i too find it amazing that from that tiny seed things grow. Im also hooked on odd colored veg lol and i think i have a tomato plant fetish theirs just so many different types and i want them all lol

[Edie]

I turn 30 in a few weeks and I started growing veg in a very small way last year. I am growing veg in a slightly less small way this year. I'm recovering from some health problems, so just expanding slowly so I don't take on more than I can cope with.

I was never allowed to grow anything as a child except a tomato plant in a grow-bag, and I didn't even like tomatoes (though I do now) so it wasn't very inspiring.

My dad has recently retired and is increasingly turning over parts of the garden to vegetable growing as well. He helps me a bit with the heavy work in my own garden.

[adamhartree]

im 20 (21 in september) and ive been growing on the allotment for 2 years but was growing things in the garden sinse i was about 15. i love going it, find it very calming and thereputic.

[Mantha81]

I'm 29 at the moment (30 this year, o Oh!) and am a full time Office Manager for a firm in the construction industry. I started growing my own Easter last year. I had always been interested in doing so since I saw my uncle growing his own when I was younger in my nan and grandad's garden at there old (simply gorgeous old sand stone cottage with huge gardens. But that's another story).

I took my little cousin to a garden centre and bought a grow house with I think four shelves in it. Got myself some seeds such as courgettes, cucumbers, leeks, carrots, swedes, runner beans, tomatoes and the like. We spent the Easter weekend sowing seeds and putting in my grow house. I have an awful slabbed area and needed to hide it. It's still there, with dreams it will be gone soon, hopefully with the aid of a JCB or dynamite, I'm not bothered which!

I had a fantastic year growing out of containers and using wood to make planters kindly donated by a local wood yard! I love free!

This year hasn't been so successful with various hiccups along the way, notably hot April weather and a baby in May (how inconvenient)! I'm already planning for next year when I can get back into properly. Absolutely love my veggie gardening. I'm a country girl at heart and it gives me back a sense of country life living in my suburban jungle.

[ukmastiff]

There's clearly an incredibly wide age range here. I'm 45 and have been growing for only 3 seasons over 4 years (I lost faith in year 3 due to rabbits).
Now I only grow under cover and I'm worried as my need for a larger poly each year means this is going to get expensive. I call my poly my man creche and do like having her to look after me as well as my crops

Regards Mas

[supraflyguy]

35 next month but still a novice.

I've only been growing for 2 years, unfortunately I live in a flat but luckily my mother has let me use her garden for growing vegetables. It's not big but it does me for the moment - my nearest allotment has a 10 year waiting list!

[Fred Perry]

55 years old. Started by helping a mate in his lotty, then offered to share/help in a lotty after the owner had a shoulder op, then after 2 years it was signed over to me. On me 6th year lottying now, could not do it without the patience and assistance of OH.
All the best to all.
Fred P.