Press releases

’GYO Bug’ spreading rapidly, says RHS

February 28 2007

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has identified a new strain of bug affecting thousands of gardens, allotments and window boxes across the country. People are warned that the ‘GYO’ or ‘Grow Your Own’ bug is rampant and can lead to a healthier diet, a fitter figure and an increase in overall happiness. The RHS advises everyone to catch the bug and join the ‘Grow Your Own Veg Campaign 2007’!

The new RHS campaign, which kicked-off in January with the RHS and BBC TV series Grow Your Own VEG, has received a record-breaking response from the public. More than 3 million viewers tuned into the Carol Klein-fronted TV show, around 6,000 budding veg growers visited the RHS Gardens on the ‘Grow Your Own Veg Day’ on 10 Feb, more than 15,000 people subscribed to the RHS veg e-newsletter, and the RHS book Grow Your Own VEG (published by Mitchell Beazley) has reached no 3 in the UK hardback non-fiction chart.

Guy Barter, RHS Head of Advisory, commented: “The GYO bug appears to be highly contagious which is great news for this wonderful pastime! If you haven’t caught it yet, March is the perfect time as the sowing season begins in earnest. Many vegetable seeds can be sown from this month, particularly in mild areas with light soil, including broad beans, carrots, spinach, peas and salad leaves. And you don’t need lots of space to start as many of these can be grown in patio containers or window boxes. If you’re a seasoned grower there are lots of new cultivars to try this year, and for those beginners, don’t be scared. The RHS will be here to help with advice throughout the year - just visit us at our gardens or log on to the campaign website at www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables.”

The RHS Grow Your Own VEG Campaign continues with events at the four RHS gardens. Jekka McVicar will be hosting a herbs talk on 1 March at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Yorkshire will host a ‘Spring Veg Day’ on 11 April, and foodies can look forward to the ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ event at RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon on 28 April. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/vegtables/events.asp for garden entry details and more events.

Those visiting the gardens at anytime will be able to see 3x3m veg plots, based on the RHS Garden Harlow Carr plot seen in the BBC programme. The plots demonstrate how to get the most produce out of a small space and visitors can see them grow into a bountiful harvest as the year goes on.

The RHS website has a special section devoted to vegetable gardening full of practical and sound advice particularly for beginners but also more experienced growers. Online users can view the veg growers’ calendar, see the progress of the plots at the RHS Gardens, collect delicious recipes, share experiences on the bulletin board and view the latest blogs of fellow veg growers. To keep up-to-date with the latest veg news and advice, users can subscribe to a fortnightly e-newsletter.

Veg fans can also look forward to some inspirational kitchen gardens and vegetable displays at the RHS flower shows this summer, as well as enter the fruits of their labours in the amateur growers’ Summer Fruit & Vegetable Competition at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt for details.

Notes to Editors

For more information contact Kerry Law in the RHS Press Office on 020 7821 3044 or e-mail kerrylaw@rhs.org.uk

Visit the RHS Gardens and see the 3x3m veg plots develop throughout the year

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB.
T: 01423 565418.
Open 9.30am - 4pm (Nov to Feb); 9.30am - 6pm (March to Oct)
 
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, North Devon, EX38 8PH.
T: 01805 624067.
Open 10am - 5pm (Oct to March); 10am - 6pm (April to Sept)
 
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Buckhatch Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET.
T: 01245 400256.
Open 10am - 6pm or 10am - dusk (Winter months). Please check with the garden direct.
 
RHS Garden Wisley Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB.
T: 01483 224234
Open 9am - 4.30pm

The RHS Grow Your Own VEG Campaign runs throughout 2007. Visit the website at www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables for details of up and coming events.

www.rhs.org.uk/pressoffice

The RHS is the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. RHS work includes providing expert advice and information, advancing horticulture, training the next generation of gardeners, helping school children learn about plants, and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners.

An interest in gardening is all you need to enjoy being a member of the RHS. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk or call 0845 130 4646.

Founded in 1804, the Royal Horticultural Society is Britain's largest gardening charity and is committed to being the leading organisation demonstrating excellence in horticulture and promoting gardening. Renowned for its outstanding gardens and inspirational flower shows, the RHS is a key source of advice and information for all gardeners. It encourages gardening through its publications, trials, lectures, education programmes and scientific research and is home to the Lindley Library, which contains the most comprehensive collection of horticultural books in the world.

Membership of the Royal Horticultural Society offers many exclusive benefits including a monthly copy of The Garden magazine; free entrance to RHS Gardens Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Hyde Hall in Essex and Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire; free access to a further 88 beautiful gardens across Britain and 20 gardens in Belgium and France; access to seeds collected at RHS gardens; free gardening advice and privileged tickets to 18 RHS flower shows, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.

For further enquiries about membership of the RHS contact: Membership Department, Royal Horticultural Society, PO Box 313, London SW1P 2PE; 0845 130 4646 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm or via the RHS website

For more information e-mail the Press Office or visit the online Press Office