Anna Greenland shares the key things every vegetable gardener needs to know

What is your advice for those with a shortage of outdoor space that want to grow their own vegetables?

Most vegetables, herbs and even fruit can be grown in pots, so even if you only have a small space, ‘growing your own’ is possible. As long as you make drainage holes, you could repurpose any container from an old sink or bath to chimney pots.

Secondly, grow up! Using plant supports is a great way to maximise space, while also creating structure and beauty. There are plenty of ready-made options from trellis and teepees to metal arches. Or get creative with what you can find locally, like hazel for beanpoles. By growing plants like runner beans, climbing beans and winter squash upwards you can utilise the space underneath for other crops like herbs, edible flowers or salads. The same is true of tomatoes – underplant them with basil and French marigolds to maximise space. Alpine strawberries also make a good understory plant.

And finally, growing microgreens on a sunny windowsill is a great way to add flavour to your food without having a garden. They are the dainty seedlings of a range of vegetables and herbs, cropped with only a few sets of leaves. Surprisingly flavourful and nutritious for their size, they offer quick returns and year-round harvests. Try red mustard, greek cress, pea shoots, kale, red cabbage, Rambo radish, nasturtium, red amaranth, sunflower shoots and lemon basil. You can find specific seed suppliers online – go for the organic suppliers.

What mindset do you need to get started with growing herbs, fruits and vegetables?

You need to be open to experimenting. You may have a few losses but you’ll also have plenty of successes so you need to be philosophical. It’s not just about the final yields but the action of getting your hands in the soil and being outside surrounded by plants that is so beneficial.

And what about tools and equipment?

The most important thing is to ensure you are growing in healthy soil or compost. If growing in pots, source organic, peat-free potting compost. Healthy soil grows healthy plants. Consider starting your own compost. It’s possible even in a small space with a wormery or sealed hot compost bin.

If buying seed, try Real Seeds or Vital Seeds – they are two of my favourite suppliers and have a wonderful array of varieties. A decent pair of secateurs is also a must. Felco secateurs are a professional gardener's favourite brand.

What are the best crops to start planting in June in the UK?

Crops to sow or plant in June are: beetroot, carrots, kale, courgettes, runner and French beans, salad, basil, cucumber and tomatoes (plant not sow), winter squash (plant not sow) and any potted herbs or fruit.

You can get dwarf varieties of fruit trees or those grown as espaliers and fans to grow against walls in small spaces. Strawberries and blueberries work really well in pots.

In your opinion, what’s the biggest benefit of growing your own fruits and vegetables?

Nothing beats the flavour of home-grown food. You can try varieties of crops that you never see in the supermarkets but that are really special. However, the biggest draw for me is the chance to grow something in tune with the natural world. Getting outside, hearing the birdsong and insects buzzing past, watching the worms at work in the soil. Knowing I’m doing my bit to help them!

By creating a garden, no matter how small, and planting a mix of veggies, flowering plants and herbs, you are creating a little ecosystem. If you can add in a water source (even a bird bath or half-barrel pond) and read up on creating a habitat for wildlife, you will see and feel so many benefits. annagreenland.co.uk.