Programme Information

Reap what you sow with BBC Dig In

BBC Dig In

• www.bbc.co.uk/digin (website available later)

The BBC is urging the nation to roll up its sleeves, pick up its trowel and start digging, with a new campaign to encourage people to grow their own vegetables. Launching on Gardeners' World and CBeebies' Green Balloon Club on Good Friday 10 April, the Dig In campaign will get growers off the ground with free seed starter packs, available through the Dig In website at bbc.co.uk/digin (which will be available nearer the time).

Suitable for a range of growing locations, soils and climates, the seed starter packs will include five varieties of vegetables, including gardener's delight tomatoes, lolla rossa, or red salad bowl lettuce, Boltardy beetroot, harrier or hunter butternut squash and early Nantes carrots. And would-be growers don't have to be experts to get started – or even own a garden – as the plants can be grown in a variety of places, including window sills, doorsteps or even a yoghurt pot.

Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland is keen to encourage new growers to start growing their own produce, regardless of their ability or experience: "Growing your own veg is good for your health, good for the planet and, above all, good fun," says Toby. "Vegetables grow themselves – all you need is to be interested and you'll discover that everyone has the ability. I've found that you learn as you go and the rewards just keep you at it."

And Toby is keen to point out that you don't need a raft of expensive equipment or a vast amount of space. "All you need to get started is a hand fork to dig out any weeds and a stick to scrape a line in the soil to plant the lettuce seed. You can start the tomatoes and squash off on a windowsill indoors, in pots filled with moist multipurpose compost, and you're away," he says.

"There's a misconception that you need a lot of fancy equipment and space to grow food," adds Toby. "Herbs, for example, which can turn ordinary fare into fantastic food, only need a pot to grow in and some water and sunshine. You can get a handful of berries to put on your cereals every day in summer from just a pair of blueberry plants in a pot. Even a small harvest is thrilling and something to show off to your friends."

Toby also has some suggestions for keen grow-your-owners who don't have gardens of their own: "You can get your name down for an allotment or borrow space at a friend's garden and do a profit-share," suggests Toby. "Or if you've got children you could consider starting a school garden. If you watch Gardeners' World you can even see some examples of people who have taken the grow-your-own-ethos to work with them!

"Or you could simply take up the Dig In Grow Bag Challenge. Buy yourself two grow bags, cut out a large rectangular hole in both and put together like a grow-bag sandwich. Cut a hole in the top – essentially giving a 'double-decker depth' grow bag. Then you can grow your free Dig In seeds or cuttings from friends and customise as you see fit to look like your very own mini garden. We'd love to see people getting creative with their bags and then logging their results on the Dig In website."

Most of all, Toby is keen for people to roll up their sleeves and get started. "Just get digging," he urges. "I promise you it gets easier! And remember to watch Gardeners' World and the Green Balloon Club for tips on how to get the best from your crop throughout the growing season."

Toby's top tips for sowing success

• When you prepare your patch make sure you fork out all the weeds and their roots first. They will only grow back if you don't.

• There is an old gardener's adage – feed the soil and it will feed you. If you have the resources, pile on soil improver and garden compost.

• Give your vegetables as much sun as possible. Use raised beds or lift pots from shade so that the heads of the plants catch the light.

• Go for easy wins for quick returns, such as salad leaves, lollo rosso lettuce and coriander.

• If you're not growing in the ground use large pots with good drainage holes.

BW2