A SOMERSET garden centre has doubled the size of its fruit and vegetable department this month (June, 2010) to help meet increasing demand from the county’s gardeners for Grow Your Own (GYO) products and plants.

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton saw a 30% increase in GYO sales in April and May, in comparison to 2009, and has now decided to devote more space to the pastime.

Norma Moore, General Manager of the award-winning garden centre, explained: “We’re seeing sales soar this year across the board when it comes to GYO products and plants.

“The new GYO area includes vegetable plants, herbs and fruit trees and canes. This year to meet demand we’re stocking a few unusual items too including Chinese leaves, sweet potatoes, blueberries, Goji berries, grapes, kiwi, crowberries, lingoberries and loganberries.”

The new space also includes products such as raised beds, cold frames, greenhouses, plant feeds and supports.

Norma continued: “People are very keen to try growing their own food even if it’s just in a small way with tubs on a patio or in window boxes.

“One thing our customers say is that they want to reduce their carbon wellyprints. Growing your own means you can help lessen food miles.”

Norma and her team at the garden centre expect all products and plants related to GYO to continue selling well throughout the year.

Norma added: “Sales of GYO items are the highest they have been in the past 25 years.”

To find out more, please visit Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, or call 01823 412381.

Photograph caption: Jane Earthy, Seasonal Plant Supervisor at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre officially declaring open the garden centre’s new GYO area.