Think you’ve got green fingers? Then put your money where your mouth is this spring and join the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity’s Potato Growing Challenge.

The charity, which runs community-based exercise classes for cardiac patients across Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent, is staging the challenge from March 27 to June 25, to raise funds for one-to-one rehab support at home for people who can’t get to community classes.

Sponsored by Abergavenny Garden Centre, the three-month challenge is open to all ages, with the winner being the grower with the heaviest yield of spuds at the “grand reveal” weigh-in at the Garden Centre at 3pm on June 25.

Entry costs £5, payable at the Garden Centre, with proceeds going to the rehab charity. In return participants will receive a standard home-growing kit including:

• 1 x organic “Colleen” variety seed potato

• 1 x 10-litre pot

• growing instructions.

Kits will be available from the Abergavenny Garden Centre, at Church Lane, Llanfoist, from March 21 to March 27.

“From there it’s up to entrants to choose their compost and decide other key factors, such as where to place the pot, how often to water it, and when to feed,” says charity chairperson Jacky Miles, MBE.

“We’re super-grateful to the Abergavenny Garden Centre for sponsoring the challenge and supplying the prizes, with first, second and third prizes being awarded in both adult and children’s categories.

‘‘It’ll be fun to see who our winners are at the weigh-in on June 25.”

Abergavenny Garden Centre manager Gavin Trinder says: “We’re delighted to support such a worthy cause, especially as my grandfather came through rehab after suffering a heart attack.”

And his top tip for potato-growing success? “Place your pot outside in a nice sunny spot – but watch out for any late frosts!”

• For further information about the Potato Growing Challenge, including the rules, email [email protected], or call charity secretary Tony Lowery on 07938 549 801 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).

• To find out more about the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity (Reg No.1056887), visit cardiac-rehab.org.uk.