Why your house sales might just need some added “John Innes”

Posted on Monday, June 26, 2017

Have you ever tried to grow your own vegetables? I tried a few years back in those temporary canvas vegetable bags you can buy in Wilkos. I did ok (ish). I managed to get several potatoes, grow a few tomatoes and even a few (albeit small) onions. I was rather proud of my efforts, even boasting about my results on social media, all of which were documented with full technicolour photos. Of course, this prompted several friends to post their homegrown efforts online, all of which made mine pale into insignificance.

Last year I decided to try again. I decided to up my game. This was serious stuff. We purchased a greenhouse. We built raised vegetable beds. If I was to grow veg fit for the dinner plate and worthy of a social media post, I was going to take it seriously. However being the novice I am, I got my timing slightly wrong. I didn’t really understand the difference between soil and compost - Isn’t it all mud? My corns on the cob didn’t quite pollinate properly and I didn’t realise alpine strawberries weren’t the size of the strawberries I could purchase in Booths. They hardly constituted a meal.

This year I invested in gardening books. I got myself a planting guide and started earlier, even attempting to grow from seed. I went to the garden centre at weekend, all in eagerness, ready to buy my grow-bags for my peppers and tomatoes. And the confusion really hit. A grow-bag isn’t just a grow-bag. There is a choice and believe when I say they vary in price and also size!

Mr JDG and I scratched our heads. Should I just get the cheapest? How about the biggest? After all isn’t it just all mud or compost? We were discussing it when an older more experienced chap stepped forward. He asked me if I wanted maximum yield. I asked what he meant. Quite simply put, if I was to buy a grow bag with added John Innes and Tomatorite, I would get more tomatoes then with a basic vegetable grow bag. I could, of course, go for the cheaper bag and purchase addition plant feed, but that way it would end being more costly! Interesting don’t you think……

I learnt a lot from this man. He shared with me his knowledge and planting tips. His advice was invaluable. Already I have more cucumbers growing than I know what to do with and my whole team will be eating tomatoes all through the Summer. I still need to feed my plants, however, they are starting to crop really well. Knowledge is a wonderful thing and the small investment I made has already proven to be well worth it.

We can apply this learning to many of life's experience, including that of selling houses.

Invest in your house sale. Choose an agent rich in knowledge and experience ( the added John Innes ). Don’t settle for a basic service at a bargain price. You and your home deserve better. Remember, we all want maximum crops, or should I say when it comes to selling your home maximum price!