I’ve been growing vegetables since I was 7 years old after we moved from our East London slum to our first home. Our neighbour grew beans and tomatoes, he taught me and a vegetable gardener was born!

Growing up my gardening hero was Geoff Hamilton, who pioneered organic and ‘make-do and mend ‘ vegetable growing. Because of this, I have always grown organically and have never used pesticides or herbicides.

My first proper growing endeavour came about when I took on a small allotment plot in North East London in 2006. It was hard work but we managed to grow enough vegetables to make an impact on our food bill. It was only then I realised I had been doing, what I now know as no-dig gardening; nurturing the soil rather than the plants.