More an more we are hearing of how important fresh fruit and vegetables are in our diet and many of us try to ensure we are getting our "five-a-day".

And there is no denying the health benefits of fresh fruit and vegetables but its often difficult to judge exactly how fresh the produce we buy from the supermarket really is.

Often, many of the vegetables have been sitting in storerooms for weeks before it is sold, meaning the vegetables we serve at the table could have been picked months ago. And with vegetables – the fresher they are the better they are – and all this sitting around does little for the nutritional value of the veg – or the taste!

Furthermore, whilst organic vegetables are still growing in popularity, they are still more expensive than conventional vegetables which are often sprayed with all sorts of chemicals.

Growing your own vegetables is one way you can ensure you are not only eating fresh, tasty and nutritional vegetables but also you can be certain there are no chemicals, pesticides or other chemicals on them.

And growing vegetables yourself isn't really that difficult and you don't necessary need that much space or even a garden.

Vegetable growing kits are a great little short cut that allows you to grow your own vegetables without any of the hard work or tender-loving-care that vegetable garden usually requires.

These instant vegetable patches are started off in professional organic nurseries and when the vegetables have grown enough to be moved they are sent directly to you to replant in your own garden to be finished off.

You can even replant them in a window box or hanging basket too so even if you don't have a garden you can still have a few home grown vegetables that can be picked minutes before you cook them – And I doubt you'll find fresher or tastier vegetables anywhere.

Richard N Williams is interested in green innovations and writes about them. Please visit our website if you are interested in  vegetable growing kits or other eco-friendly products

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