There is nothing, and I mean nothing, to beat the taste of freshly picked fruit and veg literally plucked from the plant moments before it hits your plate or taste buds!
And that is just one of the great reasons for you to grow your own - no matter how big or small the space or garden you have.
Other positive reasons for growing your fruit and veg include reducing packaging and food air miles and improving your recycling, saving money, getting healthy.
Of course, you will also know exactly what does and does not go into your food and where it comes from.
When you grow your own you will get healthier in a number of ways.
Not only will you end up eating more fruits and vegetables, but also you will be getting added exercise.
Did you know that you could burn as many calories in 45 minutes of gardening as you can in 30 minutes of aerobics? And, working in the garden reduces stress.
What’s not to love about growing your own?
Even the NHS advocates the benefits of growing your own fruit and veg!
I’m lucky to have a small allotment at Eden Allotments, located just outside Carrickfergus.
After being on the waiting list for a few years, (which reflects the popularity of the ‘Grow It Yourself’ movement) I was delighted to be allocated a small site two years ago.
In those two years, I have learned a lot about growing fruit and veg from books, the Internet and the amazing community of other growers on the site always willing to share advice, tips, seeds and even garden equipment.
I’m no expert – rather a keen amateur always willing to learn more and improve my skills.
And that is one of the great things about growing fruit and veg – it’s an ongoing learning process.
Every year you will face different challenges and you will have different successes and from trial and error you will learn what works for you.
Gardening is a very personal experience, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables.
Different locations, soil conditions, exposure to sun and wind and personal taste preferences will influence what you can and will want to grow.
And don’t be put off if you don’t have an allotment or a big garden.
You will be surprised at just how much produce you can grow in a small garden, patio, window box or even on the balcony of a flat!
As the nights start to lengthen and the weather starts to warm up, now is the time to plan and plant so you can reap the fruits (and vegetables) of your labour long into summer and even early autumn.
If you are new to growing fruit and veg, the best advice I can give you is not to be too ambitious at the start. The more success you have, the more motivated you will be to carry on.
Plant the food you and your family like to eat and plant it in the quantities you think you can manage.
I made that mistake and planted too many vegetables last year and every one of my neighbours and anybody who visited my house over summer went away with a bunch of carrots, an armful of courgettes and a bag of spuds! Nobody complained – in fact, most came back for more.
But remember, you are not a farmer or commercial grower. You just need enough to supplement what you normally buy and sadly often throw away half-used because it has wilted so quickly in the fridge.
So a window box full of lettuce, a hanging basket bursting with trailing tomatoes, a planter packed with herbs or even a patio tub brimming with field-fresh spuds, will give you the ‘grow it yourself’ experience without too much time or effort on your behalf.
Like anything in life, you will reap as you sow.
You don’t have to be an expert gardener or spend a lot of time and money to achieve very satisfying results.
Imagine cooking your favourite steaks on the BBQ this summer and being able to clip some Rosemary from a planter to enhance the flavour and then serving it with super fresh salad harvested moments before from your window box and finishing your al-fresco feast with freshly picked sweet, succulent home-grown strawberries.
That’s the taste of success!
So what are you waiting for? Get Growing!
