Providing a guide to the cultivation of both the terrestrial and epihytic orchid species growing in South Africa, this volume includes numerous hints, illustrations and photographs to help simplify the process. Detailed growing notes are given for over 60 terrestrial and over 40 epiphytic species.

Why plant a vegetable garden with the same old tomato and cucumber plants that everyone else has? Small Fruits in the Home Garden is your home gardener?s guide to growing and harvesting small fruit for personal enjoyment. The contributors to this book provide the necessary information and helpful hints for you to grow many new varieties of small fruits, that have wonderful flavor but may not be suitable for commercial production, right at home. Now you can harvest the tastiest varieties at their peak flavor! In Small Fruits in the Home Garden, you?ll see how small fruits can enhance not only your diet, but also your garden and landscape. You?ll learn how strawberry plants, for example, make wonderful perennial borders along paths and walkways and how currants, gooseberrries, and blueberries serve as "edible" hedges that are especially lovely in the summer when their branches are laden with colorful fruit. Each chapter of this unique handbook provides detailed background and growing information on a particular fruit, with special attention to: climate soil pests water table preplant operations planting management pruning fertilizing liming wateringSee how growing and harvesting small fruit can provide you with something nutritious and beautiful that doesn?t demand too much free time. With Small Fruits in the Home Garden, you, too, can easily manage and enjoy small fruit growing.

Learn which orchid plants to choose, how to obtain them, and how to cultivate them, either in a greenhouse or in the home.

This book offers everything readers need to know to grow tasty organic fruit outdoors - whether in a garden, allotment or on their window ledge! It is suitable for beginners and includes a comprehensive directory. This latest title, from a growing and successful series, is by an UK author. What could be better than the enjoyment of tasting your own sweet, succulent, home-grown fruit? Most people have got room to grow some kind of fruit - whether it be a small apple tree in a front garden, a grape vine up a trellis or strawberries in a window box. Gardeners seeking a concise, easy-to-follow approach to fruit growing and maintenance need look no further; this book will provide all the practical advice and information that they need. With guidance on which fruits to choose, when and how to plant, propagate, harvest and store them, plus a comprehensive directory of popular varieties to grow - it won't be long before readers are discovering the delights of their own home-grown organic fruit.

Raising healthy and beautiful succulents has never been easier! This essential beginner's guide provides a complete introduction to growing and combining succulents in ways that are healthy for the plants and pleasing to the eye. It also gives an overview of the most popular succulent and cacti varieties. Succulent specialists Tokiiro (Yoshinobu Kondo) explains how the plants' appearances shift with the seasons, and give advice about how to combine them creatively to take full advantage of their seasonal changes in shapes and colors. This fascinating book includes tips and advice on all the critical topics you need to know, including: Selecting, preparing and potting your succulents Creating attractive combinations that can be enjoyed year-round Detailed information on over 200 succulent and cacti varieties And much more! Hundreds of color photographs provide new ideas that will inspire you to tell a unique story through your plants. With this book as your guide, you'll be able to create a beautiful personalized garden that will impress your friends and bring joy to your life!

'An experienced horticulturist's monthly guide to gardening, with wise, clear and helpful advice on tackling the essential tasks and dealing with problems.' Gardens Illustrated One of the keys to happy gardening is knowing what to do and when for the best results. In this handy guide, experienced horticulturist Martyn Cox takes you through the gardening year, month by month, offering wise, clear and helpful advice on the essential tasks and how to avoid problems along the way. No matter the size of the plot, nor the expertise of the gardener, The Gardener's Yearbook is the perfect handbook to return to throughout the seasons, with tips including: - How to get your lawn into shape for the summer - When you should plant lilies, roses and sweet peas - How and when to harvest and store your fruit and vegetables - When to prepare containers for winter - How to fit a water butt and start a compost bin - An easy-to-follow crop planner Featuring specially commissioned linocuts by artist Heather Tempest-Elliott.

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For centuries, carnivorous plants have fascinated and mystified all who encounter them. From the well-known Dionaea to obscure African Drosera, from the dramatic Sarracenia of the coastal plains of the United States to the microscopic Utricularia of Florida, they are simply remarkable. Quite naturally it is also a special thrill to grow these wonders of nature. Yet even experienced enthusiasts too often find a lovingly tended homegrown plant fading away without capturing a single insect. Help is at hand in this comprehensive guide to identifying, understanding, and successfully cultivating more than 600 species, hybrids, and cultivars from all genera of carnivorous plants. Surprises abound to delight the reader, such as a common weedy mustard that has carnivorous seeds and aquatic spiders that dive into carnivorous plants to steal their captured prey. Trapping mechanisms inspire awe, whether the snap-shut action of Dionaea and Aldrovanda, the slobbery mucus glands of Drosophyllum, or the giant pitchers of Nepenthes that can trap and dissolve rodents.

With over 400 glorious photographs, many never seen before, a broad plant directory, insights from professional carnivorous plant growers and experts, and detailed coverage that is as enjoyable to read as it is practical to use, this is the irresistible resource that hobbyists, gardeners, and naturalists alike have long awaited.

Barry A. Rice is an expert carnivorous horticulturist who has been growing these bizarre plants since 1985 (not counting the Venus flytraps he killed as a child), and has produced many noteworthy carnivorous plant cultivars. He is editor of Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, the publication of the International Carnivorous Plant Society, and is also the society's Director of Conservation Programs.

The exquisite charm, beauty and fragrance of orchids have fascinated people for many centuries, and will no doubt continue to do so for many more. Gone are the days when people believed that growing orchids is only for a select few rich gardeners. This title shows how orchids can be grown in an everyday garden. Learn how to treat your orchids (and most of them are not fussy at all!), how much water and shade they would need, what to feed them how to propagate your plants. Most species are discussed in detail, and the accompanying photographs will help you to identify the different kinds. Growing orchids is a fascinating, easy and extremely satisfying hobby. However, be warned when you buy your first orchid - with it comes an instant, life-long addiction.

GARDEN MEDIA GUILD PRACTICAL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2012 Fruit and vegetables have formed a fundamental part of the Scottish diet for thousands of years. This fascinating and practical book explores the history of fruit, vegetable and herb growing in Scotland, and provides a contemporary guide to the best techniques for growing produce, whether in a garden, allotment, patio or window box. Packed with hundreds of colour photographs, drawings and descriptive diagrams, this is a detailed and comprehensive bible for the gardener. In addition to advice on climate and soil conditions, it has contacts for organisations, specialist societies, nurseries and suppliers, as well as a detailed bibliography and list of useful websites. This is an essential reference book for anyone aiming to get the best possible results from their garden produce north of the border.

Maria Thun, a pre-eminent expert in biodynamic cultivation methods - sometimes referred to as "premium organic" - has here compiled over 100 of her best gardening tips based on 50 years' research. Find out: * how to produce abundant and tasty crops; * how special preparations can transform your soil and produce; * how the moon affects planting and growth; * the difference between 'root', 'leaf', 'blossom' and 'fruit' plants; * what the best storage methods are; and much more. Accompany the author on a journey through the seasons and discover lots of new tips and suggestions. There is a wealth of advice here for gardeners seeking to manage nature responsibly and successfully.

Information on apples for every occasion, covering dessert, cooking and cider varieties. Delicious recipes on everything from apple crumble to making cider. Packed with practical advice on growing and picking your own apples. Everyone wants to eat local, home-grown fruit and vegetables and this helpful guide is a wonderful sourcebook of the quintessential English fruit - the apple. Covering a range of apple varieties that can be found growing in the orchards of the British countryside, the book covers a wide range of dessert apples, cooking apples and cider apples. Information on each variety includes a general description of shape and colour for easy recognition, and, of course, a description of the taste. Recipes and culinary suggestions are given throughout the book, and include everything from apple crumble to making your own cider. Fairy tales, history and folklore appears throughout, demonstrating how this humble fruit is central to our culinary heritage. The book is packed with practical advice on how to grow and pick your own apples, from choosing apple trees to planting and attracting wildlife into your orchard, alongside information on harvesting and storing your crop.

Conventional wisdom is difficult to question, even when it is misguided and contains many contradictions. Gardening has its share of such 'myths' - some with discernible origins in history, others that have become established for no obvious reason - and they often obscure simpler and easier methods of working. This delightfully illustrated book reveals how common sense triumphs and crops are more successful when these 'rules' are overturned. A fascinating but practical book that will save the seasoned gardener time and give new gardeners heart.

Known as the guru of no-dig, Charles Dowding has updated his definitive book on salad-growing in this beautifully illustrated new edition: how to have tasty salad leaves all year round in a garden, balcony or windowsill; how to grow micro leaves and how to serve them in delicious recipes, all using organic or permaculture principles. Great for food lovers keen to eat tasty food with a low carbon footprint. This compendium of practical methods for growing a wide variety of salads throughout the year, will inspire you to grow your own, whether on a windowsill, in your garden or on the allotment. Here is all the information you need for productive, healthy and tasty salads. Learn the subtleties of salad seasons and virtues of different leaves throughout the year. And when your table is groaning with the abundance of your harvests, there are delicious and imaginative recipes by Stephanie Hafferty, exploiting the fantastic flavours, colour and vitality of home grown salad leaves.

This book shows you how to create a garden with glorious colour in every season, with 130 photographs. You can enjoy vibrant beds and borders throughout the year, with practical advice and ideas for stunning combinations. It features easy-to-follow instructions for seasonal gardening tasks - from sowing seeds to overwintering flowers - and details of when plants are at their best. It features planting ideas for low-maintenance, seasonal interest using perennials, bulbs, berries, foliage, stems, evergreen shrubs, heathers, grasses and conifers. It includes a simple reference chart giving planting and flowering times for many common garden plants. As the year progresses, different types of plant come into their own. Bulbs begin to open in spring, hardy perennials make stunning statements in summer, foliage turns golden in the fall, and shrubs provide interest during the winter months. Discovering which plants are at their best at which times is the secret to ensuring a continuous display, and this book is full of expert instructions for providing successional colour all year long. Season by season, the book suggests plants for colour, as well as listing the main jobs that need to be done in the garden. Illustrated with over 130 beautiful photographs, the book guarantees permanent interest throughout the year.

This is an essential guide to growing beautiful plants in your home throughout the year. It includes advice on houseplant care, as well as step-by-step techniques for planting, repotting and propagation. It is an beautifully illustrated A - Z guide to houseplants - from Acalyphas to Yuccas - provides quick and easy identification, information and care advice for each type. It includes suggestions for the best settings, interesting groupings and stunning displays, to make the most of your houseplants and enhance the style and mood of a room. It also includes a useful chart indicating foliage or flower interest, and when blooms should be at their best. Houseplants can transform any living space with their interesting foliage and pretty flowers. Choosing the right plants for your home and how to care for them is clearly explained in this practical, simple-to-follow book. Advice is given on how to achieve different effects, attractive displays and groupings, the right setting for your plants and how to deal with any problems that may occur. An A - Z guide describes the most popular and some less familiar houseplants, and a useful quick-reference chart tells you what plants are at their best throughout the year. Packed with helpful information, the book will ensure your houseplants give pleasure for many years.

This title shows you how and when to prune all the key plants in your garden, with step-by-step photographs. It clearly explains the different methods of pruning, such as deadheading, shaping, clipping and trimming. It describes specific pruning techniques for different types of plants, including roses, shrubs, climbers and hedges. You can learn how to restrict the size of evergreens, trim vines, rejuvenate conifers, train apple trees and shorten the growth on soft fruit bushes to maximize their yield. It includes an at-a-glance seasonal chart to remind you when to prune, and a list of plants' common names. Most plants benefit from a prune for healthy growth and visual appeal, but many gardeners approach the task with trepidation. This accessible handbook provides a clear, easy-to-follow guide through the complexities, explaining why we prune, and giving step-by-step instructions on the different techniques. There is also advice on selecting and using equipment, an extensive section on pruning specific types of plants, and two useful charts showing methods of pruning and seasonal pruning. The book contains all the information you need to keep your plants beautifully healthy, flowering and fruiting prolifically, and looking just as you want them.

Plants and gardens play a central role in life on Earth. They have provided food, clothing, shelter, medicines, employment, leisure and enjoyment throughout history. Both also have many symbolic uses in art, mythology and literature, making plants and gardens the perfect theme for the Designer Bookbinders fourth International Competition held at the Bodleian Library in 2022. The chosen theme also celebrates 400 years since the founding of Oxford Botanic Garden. This beautiful catalogue features richly illustrated texts and finely printed volumes which are bound with skill and creativity using varied materials by binders from all over the world. The fourth in a series following on from 'Bound for Success' in 2009, 'Prize Volumes' in 2013 and 'Heroic Works' in 2017, 'A Gathering of Leaves' is a celebration of the stunningly inventive winning bindings featured alongside all the competition entries.

In a fast-paced world with mega upheaval, including climate crises and a global pandemic, the allure of growing your own food, being self-sufficient, and living green is immense. This yearning for not being wholly reliant on the supermarket, and the growing concerns over pesticides and food miles has led to the resurgence in seeking old-world skills. As showcased in Urban Homesteads, the benefits of a productive garden on your doorstep or within arm's reach, tending to chickens, harvesting your own honey, and using eco-friendly water-harvesting techniques are clear: fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruit on tap, fresh eggs, delicious honey; plus living at a slower pace, better value for money, and a more soothing and mindful existence. Of course, a healthy garden and environment also attracts beneficial insects and birds. Get inspired with this book's range of eco-friendly possibilities from around the globe. With beautiful full-colour photos, gathered here are stories of people who have set up their own productive and abundant back yard or patio, as well as examples of great vertical planters, indoor gardens, and those who have reached into the urban community allotment. Use this book to start your own journey with an urban homestead lifestyle, with lots of generous tips, modern green concepts as well as a twist of modern, technically savvy know-how. All the practical guidance you need on how to be the change you want to see.

How to grow delicious produce in your own backyard In this guide, expert botanist Ginny Stibolt and Master Gardener Melissa Markham provide simple and accessible advice for successful vegetable gardening in Florida, where soil types vary and cool-weather crops are grown right through the mild winters. They offer advice on what to do with over-abundant harvests, strategies for developing a community garden, and suggestions for opportunities beyond the home garden. They also address integrated pest management, appropriate raised bed types, irrigation, seed saving, just-in-time harvesting, and food safety. This second edition is updated with the latest scientific knowledge and growing techniques; new crops for growers to try; more detail in the growing calendars separated by north, central, and south Florida regions; and color photos and illustrations throughout the text. Readers will appreciate this reliable resource that will help them and their families become more resilient by controlling some of their food from seed to table.

Since 1984 when the very first edition of The South African what flower is that? was published, this book has been the reference of choice for South African gardeners (or aspiring gardeners) in flower identification. This new fourth edition has finally appeared, 15 years after the death of original author, Professor Kristo Pienaar. Not only has it been adapted for Southern Africa (and reflected as such in the current title), but the alphabetical arrangement has been rearranged according to family name first, followed by genus, also alphabetically. Naturally, all the latest family delimitations, as well as changes in species name according to current taxonomic studies are featured. Additional common names are included, as well as icons indicating 'waterwise' and 'invasive species' characteristics. All in all The Southern African what flower is that? remains a comprehensive and informative reference for anyone who loves to grow garden- and house-plants, but doesn't always know much about them, or who needs to identify a favourite or a new cultivar. Approximately 1?600 annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and vines commonly found in Southern African gardens, parks and roadsides are easily identified by superb full-colour photographs. The accompanying text is brief, but details each plant’s origin, appearance, how, when and where to plant it and even how it can be propagated. Clear informative icons tell the reader at a glance of a plant's needs, whether it is sun or shade loving and much more.

How to Grow Winter Vegetables shows that it is possible to enjoy an abundance of vegetables at the darkest time of year, whether stored or ready for harvesting when needed. It also covers growing for the 'hungry gap' from April to early June. Not much grows in winter, but a well-organised plot may nonetheless be quite full. You need to plan carefully, and well ahead (as early as spring) for sowing and planting at specific times through the year, so the main part of the book is an extensive month-by-month sowing, planting and growing calendar. Further sections cover harvesting, from garlic in July right through to the last of the overwintered greens in May, and storing your produce. Many salads can be grown in winter, especially with a little protection from fleece, cloches or larger structures. The book includes a whole section on frost-hardy salad plants, explaining how to ensure harvests of fresh leaves throughout winter. The beauty of winter and its produce is captured in glorious photographs from the author's garden.

Grow your way to happiness with this practical handbook for a more sustainable life. Whether you have a large country garden or a small backyard in the city, this essential guide to the 'Good Life' will help you on your journey to becoming more self-sufficient - which is something we all need to be thinking about. Climate change, industrial farming with its reliance on chemicals, rising food prices, fears over food security or just a desire to spend more time outdoors - there are many reasons driving people towards homegrown food and self-sufficiency. Growing your own fruit and vegetables, preserving your produce and generating your own energy are all covered in this thrifty guide by the original 'Tom and Barbara', Eve and Terence McLaughlin, who wrote the first edition of this book in 1979. This information-packed book has expert advice on growing, harvesting, storing and preserving your produce. You can brew your own beer and learn how to bottle, cure, smoke and pickle your produce to make it last longer. The book features easy-to-follow instructions for DIY tools and equipment to save money, reduce energy consumption and cut back on waste. Learn how to plan your site, explore the best planting times and methods, discover how to grow a variety of vegetables, fruit and nuts, and how to deal with pests and diseases. As well as growing your own food, the book also covers the basics of keeping livestock - including chickens, ducks, goats and pigs - and how to harness alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. Putting your own food on the table and playing your part in creating a more sustainable future is hugely rewarding and also has health benefits - the physical exercise of planting and harvesting, the mental wellness that comes with spending time in nature, and the reduction in chemicals in the food you eat - there is so much in this activity that fosters greater wellbeing. Whether you're planning a move to full-blown self-sufficiency or are just curious about what's involved and want to take your first steps to growing your own food, this essential guide has everything you need to know.