Whether you have a balcony, windowsill, garden or allotment, there is always a way to grow something green. Gardening can brighten up your home, support local wildlife and boost wellbeing — and with spring here, now is the perfect time to get started.

From colourful flowers to homegrown fruit and vegetables, growing your own plants can be rewarding no matter how much space you have available.

🌱 Growing Plants on Your Balcony

There are many ways to use your balcony — why not add some colour to it and make it a welcoming and buzzing environment for pollinators?

Whilst balcony space is limited, these few tips can help you optimise the space and grow as many plants as possible:

• Use every inch of the space, such as the little corner behind the door you never go to — plants would love it!
• Use hanging and raised planters. It is incredible how many ways you can recycle leftover wood to make shelves and add double the plants in the same space.
• Be creative and replant leftover vegetables you would have thrown away. These forgotten gems will flower and attract wildlife.

As well as providing a wonderful environment for wildlife, your green balcony will bring you privacy and help you enjoy your outdoor space in peace. Flowers, bees and a book can transform even the smallest balcony into a relaxing sanctuary.

🌱 Growing on windowsills

Windowsills are a great space to have plants on. With sunlight directly on them at some point in the day, they give plants natural light — an essential for healthy growth.

From growing succulents to designing your own little herb garden, your windowsill is the perfect place to grow plants. Herbs such as basil, mint and parsley thrive indoors and can be used in everyday cooking.

Windowsills are also ideal for:

• Seedlings before moving them outdoors
• Small salad crops such as cress or lettuce
• Aloe vera and other easy-care houseplants

Plus, plants simply look great on windowsills and can brighten up your home.

🌱Growing in Your Garden

Whether you want to grow your own food or enjoy a colourful flower sanctuary, there is so much you can do in your garden.

Make it welcoming for wildlife by planting a range of wildflowers, which are amazing for pollinators and all the other insects thriving in these patches. Use the space around your fence or hedge for planting too — these spaces are perfect for plants to grow as this is rarely where furniture would go.

If you can, why not use a little patch to grow your own tomatoes or strawberries? These can also be grown in raised planters, saving you from bending to keep them tidy and giving you extra planting space.

You could also try:

• Potatoes in grow bags
• Courgettes and beans
• Lettuce and salad leaves
• Lavender and pollinator-friendly flowers

A wildlife-friendly garden not only looks beautiful but also helps support bees, butterflies and birds throughout the year.

🌱Growing on an Allotment

Allotments are fantastic spaces for growing larger amounts of fruit, vegetables and flowers while connecting with nature and other growers in the community.

You do not need to be an expert gardener to get started. Many easy-to-grow crops are perfect for beginners, including:

• Onions
• Carrots
• Beans
• Pumpkins
• Courgettes

Allotments are also a great way to grow seasonal produce and enjoy fresh food straight from the soil. Adding flowers around planting beds can encourage pollinators and help crops thrive naturally.

Spending time on an allotment can be incredibly rewarding, giving you fresh air, gentle exercise and the satisfaction of watching your hard work grow throughout the seasons.

♻️Regrowing Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps

Did you know that some vegetables can regrow from leftovers you would normally throw away?

Regrowing vegetables is an easy and affordable way to start growing at home, especially if you are new to gardening. It is also a brilliant activity for children and families.

Here are a few easy vegetables to regrow:

• Spring onions — place the white root ends in a small glass of water and watch them regrow within days.
• Lettuce — leave the base in shallow water and new leaves will begin to appear.
• Celery — regrows well from the bottom section when placed in water.
• Herbs such as basil and mint can often regrow roots from cuttings.
• Potato peelings with “eyes” can be planted to grow new potatoes.

Many of these forgotten gems will eventually flower too, attracting bees and other wildlife to your space.

🌼The Benefits of Gardening

Whether your space is indoor, outdoor, great or small, there is always a way to grow plants.

Gardening has shown to have great effects on mental health and the satisfaction of seeing the seeds you planted a few weeks ago begin to grow is worth every second of your thorough thinking, planning and planting.

Gardening can help reduce stress, encourage time outdoors and create a stronger connection with nature and your local community.

🌼 Apply for the #InBloom Seed Fund

The #InBloom Seed Fund is currently open and offers support for projects that help improve green spaces and encourage community growing.

The fund is open until 31 May 2026, so now is a great time to apply if you have an idea to improve your garden, balcony, community space or growing project.

You could use the funding for:

• Seeds and plants
• Raised beds or planters
• Gardening equipment
• Wildlife-friendly planting
• Community growing projects

Find out more and apply here: https://www.sng.org.uk/in-bloom/in-bloom-seed-funding

🌿 Happy planting! 🌿