Based on her hit Allotment Tales column for "The Scotsman and New Consumer Magazine", Antonia Swinson - the First Lady of the allotment - shares, not only her tips for gardening and allotment management, but also the effect of her time spent in the mud. Written with humour and vim You Are What You Grow is her extraordinary original vision of how the world ticks. Scything down the caricature of the allotmenteer, this is a social and political critique from an allotmenteer's point of view. Antonia explores issues such as the history of British land ownership, organic produce and self-sufficiency, community building and the psychological benefits to be found by allotmenteering. The work is divided by season with gardening tips, money saving ideas and promotion of healthy, and organic food.

Every garden presents problems of one kind or another. It is inevitably windy, lacking in privacy too shady, badly drained, too large, too small or hopelessly overgrown. "Garden Rescue" is written to help gardeners to develop, reclaim or maintain their gardens more successfully, not only be surmounting problems, but often by turning them to advantage. Originally published as "Your Problem Garden" and revised and updated, this classic book seeks to explain not just the 'how' of the gardening, but the 'why' as well. Rather than trotting out cliched solutions, Richard Bisgrove helps the reader to understand the unique challenges posed by their gardens in order to come up with a tailor-made rescue package. Climate, soil character, planning and maintenance are all discussed, and there is a useful chapter devoted to recovering a garden that is in a poor state of repair.

There is no shortage of books on how to look after houseplants but no one has shown us how and when and why these plants came to be in our homes. Catherine Horwood's combination of social history, plant history and the history of interior design explains why, as Flanders and Swann sung in the 1950s, 'the garden's full of furniture / and the house is full of plants.' In this fascinating book we learned how potted plants are as much subject to fashion as pieces of furniture. For the Victorians, it was the aspidistra in the front parlour, the Edwardians loved a palm, and, for today's millennials, no home is complete without the ubiquitous fiddle-leaf fig. This book show that there is little new when it comes to plants in the home. In the mid-18th century, Wedgwood created a market for special bulb pots and in the 1950s, some of Terence Conran's earliest designs were for houseplant containers. Across the ages, the choice of potted plants has been influenced by the layout of houses, the levels of dirt and pollution and the equipment to hand. Now, with so much choice, we seem happy to treat houseplants as disposables. This book gives a better understanding of the miracles that were once achieved with indoor plant displays, inspired by Sir Hugh Platt's 1608 vision of a garden 'within doores'. This new edition has been revised with new material added to bring the history of the houseplant and its massive explosion in popularity right up to date.

Get the most out of every bit of balcony space to easily grow your own sustainable, organic, and tasty food.

Do you love having a balcony but aren't sure how you can use it as a space to grow? Do you feel that being a few stories up in a building stops you from growing delicious crops? If the answer is "yes," then it's time you read this book.

Instagram sensation Patrick Vernuccio AKA @TheFrenchieGardener is a small-space grower with a big message. Building on his inspirational content, Tomatoes and Basil on the 5th Floor showcases easy and informative ways to grow fresh produce in containers and on a balcony, proving that anyone can enjoy tasty, organic food all year round.

From dividing store-bought basil plants, to harvesting vegetables at the best time of year, to letting plants set seed for the benefit of wildlife, Patrick takes his readers through myriad ways to get crops and produce out of very limited space. Working with the seasons and with good-quality seed and compost, he explains all you need to know to ensure every inch of your balcony can give you tasty and beautiful crops to harvest.

With the increased interest in and demands for compost from commercial horticultural industries, composting is on the verge of becoming an economically feasible option for waste management. While horticultural producers can create some of the compost to meet their own needs, demand has grown beyond what they can supply for themselves and others. Compost Utilization in Horticultural Cropping Systems gives you the tools to meet the needs of this growing industry.
Consider these statistics:
o Americans generate about 200 million megagrams of municipal solid waste per year
o The agricultural market for compost could reach over 680 million m3 per year
o Two horticultural areas together account for over 50% of compost use: landscaping (31%) and food crop production (25%)
Now consider this:
o Proven benefits of compost use, including plant disease suppression, better moisture retention, supplying plant nutrients, and building soil organic matter
o Increased pressure on peat supplies and wider availability of compost products
o Creation of composting enterprises by the horticultural industry in response to its own needs, rising disposal fees for organic waste, and consumer demand for compost at retail centers
The first book to establish a composite of the existing scientific knowledge on the use of compost in commercial horticultural enterprises, Compost Utilization in Horticultural Cropping Systems gives you a comprehensive review of the production, use, and economics of compost. It covers production methods, compost quality and the parameters associated with its measurement, and the biological, chemical, and physical processes that occur during composting. Rather than searching for information in various places, now you can find all the information you need in one convenient source.

'Essential guide . . . an invitation to a year of happy visiting' Robin Lane Fox, Financial Times The Garden Visitor's Handbook is the famous yellow 'bible' for anyone interested in gardens and the 2021 edition is now available. Its 744 pages contain descriptions of the 3,700 gardens opening to visitors throughout England and Wales this year, and offers people unique access to the most beautiful gardens in the country. Most are privately owned and never otherwise accessible, so the book offers a magical entre to these wonderful domains. Funds raised at the gardens on their open days come from admissions, teas and plant sales and are donated to the National Garden Scheme which in turn donates the net proceeds every year to a group of nursing and health charities. Currently these donations total 3 million annually and, since its foundation in 1927, the National Garden Scheme has given away a whopping 60 million. The main beneficiaries include some of Britain's best-loved charities including Macmillan, Marie Curie, the Queen's Nursing Institute, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, Parkinson's UK and Horatio's Garden.

Alan Titchmarsh has had a passion for gardening for as long as he can remember. Aged 8, he announced to friends that he was going to be the next Percy Thrower, although he thought it was no more than a dream. With the magic touch of a best-selling writer, Alan tells his own story from Ilkley Moor to Pebble Mill and to the final realising of his dream of becoming TV's favourite gardener. Along the way, the cast of characters includes everyone from Auntie Ethel to Nelson Mandela and the Queen. With great charm, humour and passion, this is probably the best story Alan Titchmarsh has ever told.

Tending our gardens is a lifelong pleasure. As we age, our energy and physical abilities become more limited. But gardens are magical, evolving places, with the potential to keep us young at heart, physically fit, out in the fresh air and full to the brim with joy and expectation. This ground-breaking book shows how easy it is for older people to carry on gardening. The different kinds of garden set-up are considered first, along with planning decisions and how best to keep safe and comfortable. An informative chapter looks at the main gardening activities and appropriate equipment, especially those that answer physical limitations. Different styles of garden are then presented: flower, vegetable, fruit, raised, herb, patio, vertical and indoor gardens, each one including projects and techniques, from building a raised bed to growing potatoes in containers. The final chapter is a directory that profiles the many planting choices available. Packed with projects, garden plans and step-by-step sequences designed for older gardeners who may not be able to exert themselves in the same way as they once could, this will appeal to active gardeners in their early retirement through to seniors with more limited abilities, and show how gardening can be a lifelong pleasure.

* Kirsty Athens and her husband Michael always had visions to escape the city and get farming - and that's exactly what they did 'Get Your Pitchfork On ' is an amusing and informative guide to country life that draws upon real-life experience.

Bees are vital for the future of the planet, for without their dedicated pollinating skills many crops would eventually fail. This delightfully illustrated book is a homage to bees, revealing many facets of their lives, including homes, flight patterns and defence. It also describes how to attract bees to your garden and, essentially, the art of talking to them! The lives of bees are interwoven with our own, but how much do you know about them? Which scents do bees prefer? How do bees transport pollen? How far can bees fly? Do specific colours attract bees? Do bees prefer native flowers? Then there is honey - a near-miraculous elixir that in earlier generations was an integral part of life as a sweetener and food preserver. It can be fermented with water and yeast to create mead, a drink that has been enjoyed for thousands of years. This book is dedicated to bees and to ensuring that they continue to live in harmony with humans in bee-friendly gardens. Click on the image to look inside:

Have a small patch of soil? Or just a window box? Not a problem. Garden Anywhere shows how anyone can create an oasis in the smallest of spaces. We're not talking just a simple pot of marigolds, here. Garden Anywhere outlines everything an aspiring gardener needs to know to sow a bounteous, thriving garden. Alys Fowler, trained at the New York Botanical Garden, guides readers through the process from the ground up--from planning the garden to composting, pruning, harvesting, and propagating. Stylish photos illustrate the how-tos while Alys shares tips on creating gorgeous container gardens, herb gardens, kitchen gardens and more, without spending a fortune.

Learn how to de-stress, relax and connect with the wildness you can find on your doorstep even in urban and suburban settings Increasing workload, nervous tension, trouble sleeping? Wondering whether there is more to life? You're not having a mid-life crisis. Like so many others, you are feeling the call of the wild. Today's urban living makes it easy for us to feel divorced from nature. This practical book is filled with 52 varied and inspiring activities illustrated with beautiful colour photographs that will get you out and about whatever the weather. Featuring a combination of creative, culinary, herbal and mindful projects, all with nature at their heart, you'll be surprised how much wildness you can find on your doorstep when you know where to look. Organised by month, Urban Wild's simple, seasonal, step-by-step activities open the door to nature in urban and suburban landscapes to help you increase your potential for health and wellbeing and take your first steps on a journey of discovery towards a lifelong connection with the natural world.

This volume considers ornamental bulbs, including the related storage organs of corms and tubers. An immense amount of research literature has been distilled, such that general principles are stressed throughout, but common examples are considered in some detail.

We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life: supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and pepper drove the Age of Discovery, coffee beans fueled the Enlightenment and cottonseed sparked the Industrial Revolution. Seeds are fundamental objects of beauty, evolutionary wonders, and simple fascinations. Yet, despite their importance, seeds are often seen as commonplace, their extraordinary natural and human histories overlooked. Thanks to this stunning new book, they can be overlooked no more. This is a book of knowledge, adventure, and wonder, spun by an award-winning writer with both the charm of a fireside story-teller and the hard-won expertise of a field biologist. A fascinating scientific adventure, it is essential reading for anyone who loves to see a plant grow.

This title provides everything you need to know to create and maintain a stunning garden throughout the year, with 10 inspirational and practical books. Planning and maintaining a successful garden - one that meets the needs and aspirations of the owner - is an enjoyable and creative process. The skills required can be mastered by everyone and are clearly explained in this beautiful set of books. The tasks involved in creating and improving a garden are divided into manageable units, to help you maximize the potential of your site. So if you dream of borders of colourful and scented blooms, a healthy green lawn, a patio in which to relax, or even low-maintenance ideas to lessen the workload, here are the skills to guarantee success. These handy books also make it easy to devise planting schemes that incorporate year-round colour, architectural shapes and different plant textures into the garden. There are plenty of schemes for colourful, fragrant, and even edible, hanging baskets and window boxes, as well as ideas for filling space with annuals, and incorporating perennials and shrubs into your garden design.With over 1200 colour photographs and accessible and informative text by respected horticultural experts, this comprehensive set of gardening guides will give inspiration and practical suggestions to improve any garden situation.