The Kitchen Gardener: Grow Your Own Fruit and Veg
£0.80
Allotments with ten-year waiting lists; fruit and veg seeds outselling those of flowers – Britain is growing a passion for home produce and the time is right for the nation’s favourite gardener to provide the definitive book on the subject.
Alan’s comprehensive guide will tell you everything you could possibly want or need to know about fruit and veg and how to grow it, including herbs, baby veg, salads, every-day fruits plus gourmet or unusual varieties, and how to fit them into today’s stylish small gardens. As well as providing the key facts needed to yield good results and what to do when things go wrong, the text is sprinkled with Alan’s personal observations, anecdotes, culinary tips and quirky historical uses. The book takes a very practical approach, starting from scratch for the benefit of anyone who’s never grown their own before, but is also ideal for those with some experience who might be growing edibles in a new way – perhaps in a small space that needs to look attractive, or on a new allotment.
Lavishly illustrated throughout with over 250 photographs and artworks, this inspirational and authoritative fruit and veg bible from the UK’s best-selling and most influential gardener will become a classic in the genre.
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | BBC Books (6 Mar. 2008) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 312 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1846072018 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1846072017 |
| Dimensions | 21.59 x 3.05 x 27.94 cm |
by JB
I bought this book from Amazon many years ago and have never needed any other book. Sure, I’ve bought others (gardeners do!) but I always come back to this one. Thought I would write a review now as there are many newbie gardeners looking for a good book, and to them I would say – look no further! Everything you could possibly need to know is here . It includes every aspect from preparing to grow, choosing varieties, how to sow/plant, how to nurture, possible problems to watch out for and when/how to harvest. He tells you how to make a raised bed, how to grow in pots and how to prepare the ground for a veg plot. There’s a section on growing herbs too. It’s very clear and has lots of good-sized photos. There is also a list of specialist suppliers at the back. It is easy to read (he has a great writing style) without being patronising. Well worth the money, even at full price. Highly recommended.
by Mash
I bought this book as a gift after getting one myself. Over the past few years I’ve been growing things without really understanding the needs of the plants I was trying to develop.
This book ideal for those like me who want to try and grow things the correct way and the type of pests and disease’s to look out for.
It’s easy to read and has plenty of useful but easy to read tips and guides (not too technical). It also has a very useful calendar of events from sowing through to harvest. It’s a fantastic little reference book for those budding gardeners like me.
by Anouska Mac
After seeing this book at my cousins I was very happy to find this seller had a good as new book, as it was no longer published.
The book seller dispatched it immediately at no extra postage cost and I had it in my hands the next day. I mean, seriously, what more could you ask for?
The book is exactly as described – almost as good as new seems accurate…(OK, I haven’t yet turned every page yet).
The book itself is a joy – simply written, easy to follow, loads of pictures and step by step guides to every aspect of growing a wonderful kitchen garden, no matter how much space you have.
Every part of this purchase has been fantastic.
I have saved this seller for future literary needs and recommend highly.
by Marand
Although I am a keen gardener, until this year I had never tried growing my own veg. I received this book as a Christmas present and read it thoroughly before I started. It begins with the basics – soil preparation, feeding & types of fertilisers, different cultivation methods (containers, raised beds, traditional plots & allotments), watering, pests and diseases and so forth. The information is clearly set out, easy to follow and immensely reassuring for the novice.
Thereafter the book is divided into two sections – one for veg, one for fruit. Each section contains an alphabetical list of fruit & veg. Each individual section starts with a calendar of when to sow; plant out; expect to harvest; growing instructions – the first entry being a succinct indication of the degree of difficulty; suggested varieties; potential problems; harvesting & storage. Where relevant, container cultivation is discussed which, as I am largely growing in this way, I found to be very useful.
Having had a reasonably successful first season I am now looking at seed catalogues to identify new varieties to try and new crops – I’m even planning on including a few veg plants in my borders (cavolo nero for its architectural qualities and subsequent use in cooking!).
Highly recommended.
by Sue H
This is an excellent book for any one relatively new to veg and fruit gardening. It is written in Alan T’s usual pragmatic style, but also with a good level of passion and humour. The overview at the beginning is the good length, and explains techniques, rather than the ‘do as I say’ style of some veg authors. For example what may happen if you add manure to your potato patch, and how to rotate crops which are not brassicas, and roots. Why you may want to grow some plants in pots on your patio if you have an allotment which is two miles down the road. There is an section on jobs to do per month, and a lenghty section listed alphabetically by plant. The photo’s are very good, and at last a photo of potato blight! Not every brown patch on a leaf is blight. Calendars are helpful to indicate planting sowing and harvesting. However a little confusing at first if one is used to reading seed packets where the information is contained in one or two lines and not three. Alan is organic but does not present this as the only way as other popular garden celebrities do.
Even Mr T though fails to get the science quite correct. Water and vitamins are both chemicals essential to life. Some of the most toxic materials known to man are derived from plants so it should not be assumed that natural is safe. There are a few culinary hints and tips however Sarah Ravens Garden cookbook is not to be missed when wanting lots of seasonal recipes for using the produce you’ve grown.
by Amazon Customer
I borrowed this from the library and was so impressed that I bought one. I find all Alan’s books easy to read, and this is no exception. In fact, it’s the best of his that I’ve come across and would appeal to novice and the more experienced alike. I’m a keen gardener, but haven’t grown much veg, and this book was great last year to get me started in my new garden. I like the way each vegetable/fruit or herb is listed alphabetically, with an easy to read layout stating degree of difficulty or care needed, suggested varieties, growing and harvesting advice and potential problems and their treatment. The style of writing is very readable and often amusing, and there are a few recipes too. I also really like the year planner, separated into months. An excellent buy!