Maximise vegetable and money yields

NS&I is alerting people that they can save money by growing and cooking their own vegetables and that produce grown in Britain could soon be very different to what we grow traditionally. As global warming increases and Britain's average temperatures rise, the vegetables we can take from 'plot to plate' are likely to take on a more traditionally Mediterranean feel. In summer, melons, chillies and aubergines and hot climate herbs such as coriander grown without the need for a greenhouse or hot and sunny windowsill could be as common in the south as the good old spud. Traditional 'biggest leek' or marrow competitions could soon be joined by the tallest basil or hottest chilli challenges.

NS&I will be encouraging people to think about growing and cooking their own vegetables more this coming week, as it sponsors the Growing Tastes Cookery Theatre at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (8-13 July). Visitors will be able to see top chefs demonstrating how to make the most of vegetables people can grow themselves - including traditional Mediterranean produce, which might soon be as commonly grown as carrots here in the UK.

The scientific community has largely reached a consensus that global warming is a reality, and there is no doubt that it will affect people gardening in the 'global greenhouse'. Temperatures may increase by 3-4°C in summer and 2-3.5°C in winter by the 2080s. Summer rainfall is also predicted to fall by 20-40 percent. This will make temperatures more akin to those in the South of France and the Mediterranean - the equivalent of Britain 'moving south' by about 600 miles.

Chris Warwick, Head Chef at Colette's Restaurant at The Grove, is experienced at working in climates ranging from London to Los Angeles and Dubai. He explains; "Growing your own vegetables is an extremely fun, rewarding and money-saving pastime. Just as we, in our kitchen garden at The Grove, need to think about what plants will thrive in different conditions, people growing their own vegetables need to think about how warmer temperatures will affect their crops of the future. We will probably find people growing and cooking more Mediterranean foods such as peppers, tomatoes, chillies and even melons!"

Tim Mack, Head of Marketing and Communications at NS&I commented; "As UK's temperatures increase we will be able to grow more exotic vegetables which tend to be more expensive to buy. By incorporating them into vegetable plots we can take advantage of the warmth and really extend what we take from plot to plate."

This year's Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Grow Your Own Veg campaign is sponsored by NS&I. For more information on which vegetables suit which conditions, visit the dedicated website at rhs.org.uk/vegetables/ or visit nsandi.com/rhs. The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is from 8-13 July, for more information visit rhs.org.uk/HamptonCourt/2008/index.asp.