So, want to start growing your own fruit and vegetables at home? Not sure what is going to work best for your ability? Salad leaves are a great place to start, not only are they great to eat during the summer months, but they are incredibly fast growing too, in fact, if you look after them well, you may find that you can cut off leaves in as little as 3 weeks, ready for you to enjoy.

Tomatoes are another great thing to grow yourself. You can sow these in the early spring and in no time at all you will have tomatoes that are ready to eat. They are simple to grow, which is ideal for children and if you are short on space then you can grow them in hanging baskets and window containers as well as planted in your garden too!

Fruit wise, strawberries are a great starting point. Strawberries are incredibly versatile and like tomatoes, they can be grown in pots or baskets as well as grown in your garden. They should be grown in April or May and in a few weeks you will have the ideal treat after tea. Not only this, but strawberries are a fruit that will also produce beautiful flowers too.

Herbs are a popular thing for people to grow, one of the most fragrant, useful and easiest to grow has to be mint. Mint is often bought as a young plant straight from a garden centre and will often grow all year round if you bring it inside during the colder weather. Not only does mint smell great, but mint also works in a wide range of recipes and drinks.

The benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables

Now you know some of the fruits and vegetables that you can try and grow yourself, what are the reasons behind giving this a go? When you grow your own fruit and vegetables you are going to have the satisfaction that you have been able to produce your own food and feed your family a healthy and delicious meal. It is also a great family activity too, you can involve your kids and teach them how valuable it is to try and grow things yourself.

You can also save yourself some money too, which for any of us is a good enough reason to get out there and get planting.

There are so many reasons why it pays to grow your own, whether you are a seasoned pro at gardening or a complete novice who is just starting out. Make sure that you not only think about all of the things that you are going to need, but also think about which fruits or vegetables are going to be easiest to grow, giving you the experience, knowledge and confidence to then go on and try your newly green fingers on something that is altogether more challenging.

Typically, the category is very general. Many of us at some point in our lives have thought about starting a clothing brand. Contrary to what most might believe, the percentage of male and female customers are almost equal, so fashion newcomers are not just women with dress ideas. Mainly aged 25-50, be it a hobby project, a lifelong dream, or a way to escape the 9 to 5 corporate job we have very different customers with truly diverse ideas that are looking for a place where everything can be taken care of - a one-stop-shop.

What does the customer need to bring to you so you can start the production process?




We always say, “It all starts with an Idea” so the customer seeking clothing manufacturing companies on our platform at least has to have a dream design in mind. Most have much more than that but if it’s just a vague idea there are designers and freelance specialists who can help finalize the idea to a technical sketch or even a Tech Pack.

What are the main stages of production?



Complete the prototype (technical designs, tech pack) -> Approve the sample (cut patterns for the style and make a physical sample) -> Grade to other sizes (if the fit is right, it is graded to other required sizes)-> Prepare all fabric and trims for production (calculate how much fabric, trims will be required for the X amount of garments the customer needs) -> Start bulk production

How long does the manufacturing process take?




This is a very common and straightforward question! A lot of customers ask this, and honestly, the answer will differ from clothing manufacturer to clothing manufacturer. Why? Simply because there are a lot of factors involved. In most cases, the completion of a production run involves the work of more than one company and always more than one department. Whenever you want a custom, not “off the shelf” product it will take time.

In part, because a lot of this depends on the customer. How fast can the customer approve the prototype? When will the fabric and trims arrive if these are supplied? Are there any last-minute changes?

On the manufacturers' side: what is the quantity of the order, what sort of garment is required to be produced, how busy is the season at the scheduled production run slot time, how many people the factory can allocate to that specific production slot.

People need to bear in mind and consider when they want a quick yet accurate answer.

Having firm answers, definite information and being decisive when dealing with bulk production companies will ensure a shorter lead time.

In ideal conditions, it usually takes 1-3 weeks for a clothing factory on average to produce a sample or prototype. If it is a Sampling Studio or Atelier the lead time can range from a couple of days to a couple of weeks because they are more tailored to one-offs and small runs. Then for production of say 200-1000 items, it would usually take 4-6 weeks. European based factories and service providing companies on average will have a shorter lead time than manufacturers from the far east but the latter will not take on small runs. Again, this is just in general and does not determine the lead time for a specific company the Brand chooses to work with.

Do you have anything else to add?




Never move based on assumptions as the industry may be new to you, move on guided information. Starting and running a clothing brand is just like starting and running any business. Have a plan, have a budget.

Thanks to Boris for answering my questions! What do you think of a service like Sewport?

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That said, they've always got that potential to be stressful.

Not once they get started of course,  just stressful to put together, which is mad because there’s nothing to it but food, drink and great friends. But still, stress finds a way to get into the preparing process. What I love about garden parties is that they whether they are more formal or casual they are still great fun. So, dear readers, I've put together a list of stress-free garden-party tips and tricks to get your spring off to a flying start. Enjoy.

1. Never Enough Lists

That’s right. There is no such thing as too many lists. This is because there is more to set up than you probably have thought of until right before your guests ring the doorbell. We’re talking about guest lists, playlists, ingredient lists, to-do lists, decor lists, and lists for just about anything else that crosses your mind. My advice: use that checklist-bullet-point-thingy in the Notes app of your iPhone. It’s a modern-day saviour. Or use the old school method of paper and pen!

2. No Mess, No Stress

You don’t want to have to be worrying about tidying everything up while your get together is still in full-swing, which is why you should minimise the damage sooner rather than later. Don’t worry, this is easier than you might think. Simply dot a few rubbish bins around the place so people can dispose of their own bits, head to Bridgman.co.uk to get some waterproof outdoor cushions should anyone spill anything, use disposable paper cups and plates and foil cooking tins so there’s no washing up, and nail down your gazebo so that rain can’t stop play. Little things like this really can help keep you chilled.

3. Bring Something To Share

Creating a feast that will make taste buds trip the light fantastic is a pretty tough ask, especially nowadays where side dishes tend to be the talk of a do. Anyway, to relieve some of the stress from your shoulders ask each of your guests to bring a dish with them too. It could be a dessert, it could be a salad, or a side, or a tasty plate of barbecued chicken. Anything that will keep the cost down so you don't have to spend all day in the kitchen. Not only will this see you have an array of foods to serve, you’ll be able to focus on other areas of party prep, like the decor or seating area or pressure-washing your decking.

4. Don’t Wait For The Day

Don’t wait until the day your garden get-together is meant to kick off before you start getting everything ready. That will spell disaster. That will spell a flustered hostess that hasn’t quite got everything finished, not showered. Not ideal. Instead, start what you can the night before. Put up your gazebo, take care of your garden, prep all the food you can prep, make loads of ice, bake your brownies and chill your prosecco. Everything you can, really, so you can relax and enjoy all the fun and none of the stress!

If you are completely changing up your kitchen and are of the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ mindset, then it makes sense to update your appliances in line with this. So many people are still using the ovens or fridges they first bought when they moved in years ago and relish the opportunity to update them to all new products. Whether you choose to give into the smart revolution and have all smart appliances in your home or whether you are still a bit wary of going completely ‘smart’, but want new features like a fan oven, or one touch hobs, then updating your appliances is a must when making big changes to your kitchen.

Make More Room

One thing I notice when I see people redoing their kitchens is that they are always looking to make more room. Of course, some people are limited in what they can do - if they live in a flat such as I, for example. There are a couple of things you could do, like removing a dividing wall to make an open plan lounge diner or if you live in a house, an extension leading off from the kitchen into a conservatory is perfect for making some extra space. 

Some people can get frustrated at the lack of dining space they have and how they have to utilise some of their kitchen to sit down and eat their meals. Wouldn’t it be perfect to have a conservatory where you can sit and eat meals together without getting under the feet of the cook?

There are so many different conservatory types to choose from so do your research - perhaps classic Edwardian conservatories are more your style or maybe a more modern style. There are other changes you can also make if a conservatory isn't an option, like replacing the unit doors, and unit tops. UPVC roof lanterns can help brighten the kitchen too and give excellent light for cooking, and your Instagram worthy photos.

A Lick Of Paint

When thinking about your cake, it is important to remember that the size of it matters - after all, you will be wanting each guest to sample some for themselves. Whilst a wedding cake with a few tiers may go round a few hundred guests, a cupcake tower may be better suited to a wedding with a smaller amount of guests so everyone can enjoy the cakes.

Do what you want

At the end of the day, your wedding is about you and your partner. It is so important to remember this and to choose what you want and not what other people think you should have.

It is okay to take advice but don't be afraid to go with your gut instinct and your preferences. Whether you want a many-tiered fruit cake or a one-tiered chocolate cake, whether you want cupcakes or a cheese tower, whether you want something completely obscure or want to keep to traditions, it is all about what you as a couple want. As long as you are both happy, then that is always going to be the perfect wedding cake for you.

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