Alys Fowler started gardening in her early teens, and won a scholarship to study at the New York Botanical Gardens before becoming a presenter on BBC Two stalwart, Gardener’s World. Now with her own BBC Two series The Edible Garden and an accompanying book which focuses on growing vegetables and flowers, Alys’ quirky style has quickly become a favourite with viewers and readers alike.

How did you become a presenter on Gardener’s World?
I was the head gardener at Berryfields, which was the old Gardener’s World location, and they decided that it would be good to show that there were people behind the scenes.

Did you ever think you would end up on camera?
No, it’s never been my game plan to go into presenting. I think I prefer being behind the scenes, but when opportunities come your way you have to just run with them.

How was your scholarship at the New York Botanical Gardens?
New York was a really wild and funny place to garden. The botanical gardens in the Bronx are amazing, they’re incredibly beautiful and a wonderful place to visit, but it’s not the first place people think to go for a garden. It was really good fun because it’s a really built-up, urban environment where you have to look at gardening in a very imaginative way to find space.

What inspired you to write your book, The Edible Garden?
I had this idea that I’d dig up my back garden to see if I could give up the supermarket completely. It became quite obvious that it was unrealistic, and while it was interesting for me to try and do, nobody else would bother. Then I thought “I still want to have a garden and grow produce”, so the book is by no means saying that you can be totally self-sufficient off your garden, it’s just that you can grow a lot more than you think you can.

Since the recession a lot more people are growing their own produce. Do you think this trend will continue?
Yes, because it’s not just about money, other issues are motivating people too. It’s about taste and getting closer to nature, and I think a lot of people are motivated by an environmental desire to lessen their carbon footprint.

Is the UK climate well suited to growing produce?
We’ve got an amazing climate for growing stuff; it’s very benign and you can grow food all year round. The peak time is in April until about June for sowing most of the obvious things, but if you want to you can definitely grow all year, there’s no excuse.

Do you have any advice for novice growers?
Start slowly, do a little bit and get confident with that first. People quite often dig really big vegetable beds but just start small and then add to it. You have got a whole lifetime to perfect it so you don’t need to dig up your whole garden.

What are the best things to start with?
Rocket because it’s quite expensive in the supermarket and so unbelievably easy to grow, Swiss chard is really easy to grow, most salads are pretty easy and I suppose if you have limited space, herbs like rosemary and thyme.

What flowers work well in a vegetable garden?
Marigolds are really good because they attract lots of insects that you like to have in your garden. Nasturtiums and violas are good as they’re edible flowers that look very pretty and colourful, and camomile because it sows itself and is very pretty. Though sunflowers rob the soil of food, they look great and make fantastic cut flowers, and with the flower heads on they act as a natural bird feeder.

Do you have any other projects coming up?
I’m currently writing another book, which will be out next year.