Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
with CLAIRE RATINON — Organic food grower, writer and gardening columnist for The Guardian. Author of Unearthed.
Lesson 4 of 24
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Whether you like to eat tomatoes or courgettes, in this lesson you’ll learn why it’s important to grow what you like to eat and how growing your own could introduce you to unique and rare varieties.
Starting out on your gardening journey can seem a little overwhelming but it needn't be. In this lesson, I'll explain why it's important to think about what you want to grow and why.
Before you begin your growing journey, the most important question to ask yourself is: what do you want to grow? While this might seem a bit obvious, when you're growing in a small space it is essential to grow food that you actually want to eat.
To begin with, think about what fruits and vegetables you enjoy eating and what you like to cook on a day-to-day basis. Growing some of the things you eat most regularly is a great way to ensure that you use your garden and get the true benefit of your space.
Another thing to consider though is what you enjoy eating that you can't often find in your local shops. Are there any unique or rare varieties that you enjoy that you can't find, or perhaps you are prohibited from buying regularly because they are expensive?
Make a list of some of the crops that you would love to grow in your garden. Look through seed catalogues and visit your local garden centre to see what seeds are available, and don't forget to pay close attention to heritage varieties too.
Vegetables:
Fruits:
Herbs:
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479 reviews
Read moreCreate Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of inform...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renew...
SG
May 31, 2026
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
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May 30, 2026
The best adventure. I like all the courses, but my favorite are both Rita Konig interior design courses and Anna Jones. Excellent!
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May 20, 2026
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
Harvey
Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Organic food grower, writer and gardening columnist for The Guardian. Author of Unearthed.
Claire Ratinon is a food grower and writer, specialising in growing food organically. She is passionate about the act of growing plants - especially edible ones - and the potential for this to be nourishing, connecting and healing. Her journey into horticulture began on a rooftop farm in New York City and since then she has spanned a range of roles, from growing produce for Ottolenghi’s Rovi restaurant to delivering food growing workshops and talks. Claire writes a regular column in The Guardian's magazine and is a contributor to Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, Waitrose Food Magazine and Bloom magazine. Her book, ‘How To Grow Your Dinner Without Leaving The House’, celebrates the food growing possibilities of small spaces, from window boxes to balconies.
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