We are living in uncertain times with social isolation and social distancing now becoming the norm, though at least with the digital age we are still able to communicate.

Online ordering gives some sense of normality, however it was interesting to read email correspondence from well known online horticultural suppliers informing that they hope to continue delivering their services to gardeners at what is a particularly busy time of the year – well, it must be gardening season again as Gardeners' World is back on TV!

However, one particular comment which was being repeated from these online suppliers that raised my eyebrow was that they are all experiencing higher than usual levels of order for the sale of vegetable seeds and young vegetable plants. I’m not sure how long we expect the current position in society is to run for, though for some it seems that we may be in for a long run.

I know that food and in particularly fresh vegetable food could become in short supply and that many supermarkets are introducing rationing. So, maybe growing a few fresh vegetables is not a bad idea. I’m fortunate to have a ‘Kitchen’ garden and have been sowing vegetable seeds over the last few months and a number of these are developing into young vegetable plants which I was hoping to plant out over the Easter period.

If you want to grow your own vegetables, then it’s not too late and you don’t need to have a garden to grow vegetables! All you need is a light and airy open space and if this is hard standing, then you can simply build raised beds. All materials and compost can be ordered online for home delivery. Raised beds can be constructed from any materials which can make a frame at least 30cm tall.

Line the frame base and interior of the frame with heavy duty woven weed landscape fabric control ground cover, then fill in the frame with compost to just above the frame edge and firm in well. You can then sow or plant into the compost with a range of vegetables. If you have flower planters and baskets, maybe this summer grow vegetables in place of flowers, or maybe grow herbs in your window boxes. Don’t forget that bags of composts can be placed on their sides, cut open the top edge and this will create a deep contains that even parsnips can be grown in. I also use composts bags this way to grow outdoor tomatoes (for cordons and bush types) cucumbers, courgettes/marrows and aubergines.

So, what edibles can you grow in term of the short period to the longer term. Well, There are many quick growing ones such as radish, turnips, lettuce and leaf beet, shallots and onions, peas and beans along with baby carrots. Longer term crops include the brassicas which do best grown in very firm ground. They will grow in raised beds or containers but they make a leafier plant. Don’t forget quite a few herbs can be grown quickly from seed. However, you are limited when it comes to fruit, which need time to establish – however, you can still plant strawberries for this summer harvesting along with Autumn fruiting raspberries – the primocane varieties (not the summer fruiting ones.

Even hanging baskets can be used for growing edibles, such as strawberries and tumbling tomatoes. Strawberries are available from a number on online suppliers as bare rooted plants which will need to be planted on arrival. As I said earlier, many vegetables can still be sown now, for early cropping these can be sown in small post on the windowsill or in a few weeks’ time direct outdoors. Shallots, onions and garlic sets can also still be purchased, and these are planted directly outside when received. If you cannot seed raise your own edibles, then don’t worry as you can purchase young edible plants direct from online growers as individual vegetables or as a vegetable collection, these will be delivered by the grower at the correct time of the year and can be planted directly.

Please do keep yourself and your family safe and help society by keeping social contact to a minimum. On a positive note, do remember pottering around the garden is an enjoyable way to keep yourself occupied in these uncertain times and helps to focus the mind.