Product Description

More than ever, organic food is becoming a desirable option for those who are concerned about the safety of their food. A growing consumer awareness of chemically enhanced produce means that more people are turning to growing their own, however small their gardens. This book offers a wealth of information on growing organic fruit and vegetables in small urban spaces, including rooftops, patios and balconies. It provides the basics of planning your garden, what to sow and, where necessary, soil conditions and ideal climate considerations. It includes useful information on the varieties of dwarf and ornamental vegetables that can be grown in window boxes, growing bags or hanging baskets as well as advice on chemical-free pest and disease control. Finally a number of garden plans with detailed planting information show you how you can make the most of your space, however small.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #899095 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 96 pages

Review
Renowned gardening writer Barbara Segall shares her many years of gardening experience in her guide "Practical Kitchen Gardening". Specifically aimed at the smaller gardens so often found in towns and cities today, it is a helpful and informative look at the opportunities that can arise to grow your own fruit and vegetables in these tiny spaces. Full of inspirational photographs and innovative ideas, Barbara Segall shows how you can grow produce in an attractive manner thus gaining the best of both worlds - a pretty garden together with plenty of home-grown fruit and vegetables. From rooftop terraces to courtyards, tiny green plots to containers, she demonstrates the scope of growing methods available in limited spaces. No longer is the only option the ubiquitous growbag. Hanging baskets full of strawberres, windowboxes full of herbs. These will last far longer than annual flowers such as petunias and lobelias and give more enjoyment at the same time as being a visual feast. From site assessment and preparation, Barbara Segall takes you through the choice of fruit and vegetable suited to your particular aspect and situation, tackles pests and diseases, and offers attractive garden plans too. Written in easy to understand language a novice can understand, the book should incite more people to "grow their own". You will be surprised at how easy and rewarding it is to do. - Lucy Watson

About the Author
Barbara Segall is a gardening expert and widely published garden writer, whose work appears in a number of specialist gardening publications such as BBC Gardeners' World magazine, Kitchen Garden, Country Living and Herbs. She is also Editor of The Horticulturist, the quarterly journal of The Institute of Horticulture, and is Chair of The Garden Writers Guild. She maintains a traditional garden, including a potagerstyle kitchen garden, at her home in Sudbury, Suffolk.

Customer Reviews

Lovely beginner's guide
Lavishly illustrated with photographs & sketches, this is a seriously useful book for anyone tempted by the current trend to grow-your-own (and speaking as someone who has grown-their-own for a number of years now I highly recommend it!)

It straightforwardly explains how to plan & prepare your garden or containers, how to choose the best varieties of vegetables, fruit & herbs (complete with recommendations) and how to deal with common problems.

And if it's still to cold & wet to venture outside, it also makes a gorgeous coffee-table book!