A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available!

from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny.

Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.

She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.

This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.

If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence.

If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc.

It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports.

There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available!

from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny.

Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.

She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.

This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.

If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence.

If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc.

It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports.

There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.

A 250 YEAR CELEBRATION, 14 Nov 2008
Most people probably don't pick up a book after noting the publisher, but I invariably do if it's a Frances Lincoln book. Her titles are always beautifully done, enhanced with stunning photographs, full of information. Such is surely the case with The Gardens At Kew, a gorgeous celebration of Kew's 250 years.

In this beautiful volume the history of this remarkable place is traced, noting the development of what now comprises 300 acres of riverside land. While today we find it home to the Royal Botanic Gardens, it once held cottages, country house estates, and even poor pasture.

Among the royals who took a hand in the improvement of the grounds was Princess Caroline, the daughter-in-law of George I. She was an inveterate garden-maker who of course observed the fashion of her time - formal gardens. During her growing up years Europe was impressed by the work of gardener Andre Le Notre, largely responsible for the gardens at Versailles. She may well have felt his influence.

Eyes would have difficulty taking in all of the beauty at these Gardens today - there is The Lake, created by William Hooker in the late 1840s, amazing with four islands planted so that their autumn colors are reflected in the water. Another marvel is the Pagoda seen rising above the trees, and the Temples of Bellona and Aeolus designed by Sir William Chambers.

Some 304 pages hold not only 300 color illustrations but also archival photographs. Whether a weekend gardener or a serious student of landscape there is much to be enjoyed in The Gardens At Kew.

- Gail Cooke

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available!

from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny.

Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.

She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.

This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.

If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence.

If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc.

It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports.

There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.

A 250 YEAR CELEBRATION, 14 Nov 2008
Most people probably don't pick up a book after noting the publisher, but I invariably do if it's a Frances Lincoln book. Her titles are always beautifully done, enhanced with stunning photographs, full of information. Such is surely the case with The Gardens At Kew, a gorgeous celebration of Kew's 250 years.

In this beautiful volume the history of this remarkable place is traced, noting the development of what now comprises 300 acres of riverside land. While today we find it home to the Royal Botanic Gardens, it once held cottages, country house estates, and even poor pasture.

Among the royals who took a hand in the improvement of the grounds was Princess Caroline, the daughter-in-law of George I. She was an inveterate garden-maker who of course observed the fashion of her time - formal gardens. During her growing up years Europe was impressed by the work of gardener Andre Le Notre, largely responsible for the gardens at Versailles. She may well have felt his influence.

Eyes would have difficulty taking in all of the beauty at these Gardens today - there is The Lake, created by William Hooker in the late 1840s, amazing with four islands planted so that their autumn colors are reflected in the water. Another marvel is the Pagoda seen rising above the trees, and the Temples of Bellona and Aeolus designed by Sir William Chambers.

Some 304 pages hold not only 300 color illustrations but also archival photographs. Whether a weekend gardener or a serious student of landscape there is much to be enjoyed in The Gardens At Kew.

- Gail Cooke

Can we have an extended edition please?, 12 Aug 2008
I have just borrowed this from the library. I found it an interesting and easy-to-read book and the short 'chapters' on each garden are great for busy gardeners on a tea break, as it stops you reading too much at once! However, I found the lack of photos disappointing, especially as Don would sometimes explain at length how a particular planting scheme or garden area was so effective...but the only photo would be of something else! And like many other 'celebrity' books, an irritatingly large number of views were obscured by Monty in the foreground! I haven't seen the accompanying tv series, so it might perhaps be a more satisfying read if you have seen the gardens on screen. It's well worth reading, and I might possibly buy it in the future, but what I would really like to see is an expanded version with lots more photos...yes, it would be more expensive, but well worth the price. The current edition leaves me feeling a little short-changed (and what a hideous cover!)

A great ambassador for the gardening world, 09 Aug 2008
We had Percy Thrower, for those that can recall him, then along came Alan, almost a Percy Thrower. And now we have Monty ... a veritable Percy Thrower in the making. He gives a grat book here that makes no claims of sending the reader to gardening euphoria. What it does do is take a look at some great gardens and gives us what we want to know, anything more is a bonus, which this surely is. Worship him while you have him, lest Alan comes back.

Doesn't live up to the standards of the TV programme it is based on, 18 Jun 2008
I'm an admirer of Monty Don and I enjoyed the TV series this book is based on. But the book is far too sketchy to be satisfying; there's simply not enough material here, not enough photographs, too few insights.
If this is an Around the World trip, it's one of those lightning coach tours full of camera snapping tourists ("If it's Tuesday it must be Paris").
Worth a read, but not worth the asking price. As someone has commented before, just borrow it from the library; the publishers have let Monty down with this one.

Disappointing, 30 Apr 2008
I bought this book after being captivated by the images in the first programme in the TV series. But I was deeply disappointed to find that there are very few photographs of the stunning gardens, and most of these contain Monty! I'm a big fan of Monty but would have preferred to see the gardens without him. The writing is good, but as I bought it (unseen) for the photos I wish I had borrowed it from the library first.

Read it but don't buy it, 25 Apr 2008
I bought this a couple of months ago. It is very literate and clear, but contains so many spelling mistakes that I wonder if it was properly proof-read. The illustrations are very amateurish. Worth reading - not worth buying! In other words, GTTL (Go To The Library).

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available!

from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny.

Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.

She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.

This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.

If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence.

If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc.

It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports.

There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.

A 250 YEAR CELEBRATION, 14 Nov 2008
Most people probably don't pick up a book after noting the publisher, but I invariably do if it's a Frances Lincoln book. Her titles are always beautifully done, enhanced with stunning photographs, full of information. Such is surely the case with The Gardens At Kew, a gorgeous celebration of Kew's 250 years.

In this beautiful volume the history of this remarkable place is traced, noting the development of what now comprises 300 acres of riverside land. While today we find it home to the Royal Botanic Gardens, it once held cottages, country house estates, and even poor pasture.

Among the royals who took a hand in the improvement of the grounds was Princess Caroline, the daughter-in-law of George I. She was an inveterate garden-maker who of course observed the fashion of her time - formal gardens. During her growing up years Europe was impressed by the work of gardener Andre Le Notre, largely responsible for the gardens at Versailles. She may well have felt his influence.

Eyes would have difficulty taking in all of the beauty at these Gardens today - there is The Lake, created by William Hooker in the late 1840s, amazing with four islands planted so that their autumn colors are reflected in the water. Another marvel is the Pagoda seen rising above the trees, and the Temples of Bellona and Aeolus designed by Sir William Chambers.

Some 304 pages hold not only 300 color illustrations but also archival photographs. Whether a weekend gardener or a serious student of landscape there is much to be enjoyed in The Gardens At Kew.

- Gail Cooke

Can we have an extended edition please?, 12 Aug 2008
I have just borrowed this from the library. I found it an interesting and easy-to-read book and the short 'chapters' on each garden are great for busy gardeners on a tea break, as it stops you reading too much at once! However, I found the lack of photos disappointing, especially as Don would sometimes explain at length how a particular planting scheme or garden area was so effective...but the only photo would be of something else! And like many other 'celebrity' books, an irritatingly large number of views were obscured by Monty in the foreground! I haven't seen the accompanying tv series, so it might perhaps be a more satisfying read if you have seen the gardens on screen. It's well worth reading, and I might possibly buy it in the future, but what I would really like to see is an expanded version with lots more photos...yes, it would be more expensive, but well worth the price. The current edition leaves me feeling a little short-changed (and what a hideous cover!)

A great ambassador for the gardening world, 09 Aug 2008
We had Percy Thrower, for those that can recall him, then along came Alan, almost a Percy Thrower. And now we have Monty ... a veritable Percy Thrower in the making. He gives a grat book here that makes no claims of sending the reader to gardening euphoria. What it does do is take a look at some great gardens and gives us what we want to know, anything more is a bonus, which this surely is. Worship him while you have him, lest Alan comes back.

Doesn't live up to the standards of the TV programme it is based on, 18 Jun 2008
I'm an admirer of Monty Don and I enjoyed the TV series this book is based on. But the book is far too sketchy to be satisfying; there's simply not enough material here, not enough photographs, too few insights.
If this is an Around the World trip, it's one of those lightning coach tours full of camera snapping tourists ("If it's Tuesday it must be Paris").
Worth a read, but not worth the asking price. As someone has commented before, just borrow it from the library; the publishers have let Monty down with this one.

Disappointing, 30 Apr 2008
I bought this book after being captivated by the images in the first programme in the TV series. But I was deeply disappointed to find that there are very few photographs of the stunning gardens, and most of these contain Monty! I'm a big fan of Monty but would have preferred to see the gardens without him. The writing is good, but as I bought it (unseen) for the photos I wish I had borrowed it from the library first.

Read it but don't buy it, 25 Apr 2008
I bought this a couple of months ago. It is very literate and clear, but contains so many spelling mistakes that I wonder if it was properly proof-read. The illustrations are very amateurish. Worth reading - not worth buying! In other words, GTTL (Go To The Library).

Anyone can cram enough time into their week to grow vegetables!, 15 Sep 2008
So many people take an allotment plot on with great intentions - then realise the commitment and aren't able to keep it up. This book provides all the information that could be needed to manage your plot in minimum time. This means it's not necessarily for everyone - those who are able to spend long days on their plot may not feel that it's applicable to them. But I'd suggest that the book still contains plenty of hints, tips and advice on how to get the best from your plot.

Excellent advice for a busy first time allotmenters!, 12 Jul 2008
This book has been really helpful in getting us started and motivated. Lots of practical and sensible advice for a busy first time allotment family.

Time management for allotments, 10 Apr 2008
This is an excellent complimentary book to go alongside a "how to allotment" book. Most people taking a plot nowadays don't have as much time to devote to it as they would like. This gives some excellent ideas for managing the differences between aspirations and reality. Not an everyday reference book, but readable and useful all the same.

the best investment a new plotholder can make, 11 Mar 2008
We had an allotment previously for five years which we had to give up for various reasons - not least the amount of work involved. We now have a new plot and even with all our previous experience - or perhaps because of it- I have found this book an invaluable resource. I know we want to get it right from the start this time and I have a pretty good idea where we went wrong last time, but even so seeing it all explained so clearly and in such a well structured way as it is in this book has really given me a lot of confidence in the systems we're putting in place and the information I need to do it.

Yes, the bit about using plug plants is a bit controversial but eminently sensible arguments are given for doing so. If you don't want to follow every word of advice in the book of course you don't have to - but at least you're asked to think through the decisions you're making in terms of effort put in and what you'll get back. We've put gooseberries in which aren't recommended but we love them and are happy to put in a bit more effort for that particular crop.

Thank you! I cannot recommend this book highly enough to a new or returning plotholder.

The Half Hour Allotment, 04 Mar 2008
I couldn't get on with this book. Why take on a plot if you don't have time to enjoy it. Much of it was just pictures of common vegetables with obvious annotations. I'm glad I read it at the library as I certainly wouldn't buy it

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available!

from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny.

Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.

She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.

This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.

If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence.

If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc.

It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports.

There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.

A 250 YEAR CELEBRATION, 14 Nov 2008
Most people probably don't pick up a book after noting the publisher, but I invariably do if it's a Frances Lincoln book. Her titles are always beautifully done, enhanced with stunning photographs, full of information. Such is surely the case with The Gardens At Kew, a gorgeous celebration of Kew's 250 years.

In this beautiful volume the history of this remarkable place is traced, noting the development of what now comprises 300 acres of riverside land. While today we find it home to the Royal Botanic Gardens, it once held cottages, country house estates, and even poor pasture.

Among the royals who took a hand in the improvement of the grounds was Princess Caroline, the daughter-in-law of George I. She was an inveterate garden-maker who of course observed the fashion of her time - formal gardens. During her growing up years Europe was impressed by the work of gardener Andre Le Notre, largely responsible for the gardens at Versailles. She may well have felt his influence.

Eyes would have difficulty taking in all of the beauty at these Gardens today - there is The Lake, created by William Hooker in the late 1840s, amazing with four islands planted so that their autumn colors are reflected in the water. Another marvel is the Pagoda seen rising above the trees, and the Temples of Bellona and Aeolus designed by Sir William Chambers.

Some 304 pages hold not only 300 color illustrations but also archival photographs. Whether a weekend gardener or a serious student of landscape there is much to be enjoyed in The Gardens At Kew.

- Gail Cooke

Can we have an extended edition please?, 12 Aug 2008
I have just borrowed this from the library. I found it an interesting and easy-to-read book and the short 'chapters' on each garden are great for busy gardeners on a tea break, as it stops you reading too much at once! However, I found the lack of photos disappointing, especially as Don would sometimes explain at length how a particular planting scheme or garden area was so effective...but the only photo would be of something else! And like many other 'celebrity' books, an irritatingly large number of views were obscured by Monty in the foreground! I haven't seen the accompanying tv series, so it might perhaps be a more satisfying read if you have seen the gardens on screen. It's well worth reading, and I might possibly buy it in the future, but what I would really like to see is an expanded version with lots more photos...yes, it would be more expensive, but well worth the price. The current edition leaves me feeling a little short-changed (and what a hideous cover!)

A great ambassador for the gardening world, 09 Aug 2008
We had Percy Thrower, for those that can recall him, then along came Alan, almost a Percy Thrower. And now we have Monty ... a veritable Percy Thrower in the making. He gives a grat book here that makes no claims of sending the reader to gardening euphoria. What it does do is take a look at some great gardens and gives us what we want to know, anything more is a bonus, which this surely is. Worship him while you have him, lest Alan comes back.

Doesn't live up to the standards of the TV programme it is based on, 18 Jun 2008
I'm an admirer of Monty Don and I enjoyed the TV series this book is based on. But the book is far too sketchy to be satisfying; there's simply not enough material here, not enough photographs, too few insights.
If this is an Around the World trip, it's one of those lightning coach tours full of camera snapping tourists ("If it's Tuesday it must be Paris").
Worth a read, but not worth the asking price. As someone has commented before, just borrow it from the library; the publishers have let Monty down with this one.

Disappointing, 30 Apr 2008
I bought this book after being captivated by the images in the first programme in the TV series. But I was deeply disappointed to find that there are very few photographs of the stunning gardens, and most of these contain Monty! I'm a big fan of Monty but would have preferred to see the gardens without him. The writing is good, but as I bought it (unseen) for the photos I wish I had borrowed it from the library first.

Read it but don't buy it, 25 Apr 2008
I bought this a couple of months ago. It is very literate and clear, but contains so many spelling mistakes that I wonder if it was properly proof-read. The illustrations are very amateurish. Worth reading - not worth buying! In other words, GTTL (Go To The Library).

Anyone can cram enough time into their week to grow vegetables!, 15 Sep 2008
So many people take an allotment plot on with great intentions - then realise the commitment and aren't able to keep it up. This book provides all the information that could be needed to manage your plot in minimum time. This means it's not necessarily for everyone - those who are able to spend long days on their plot may not feel that it's applicable to them. But I'd suggest that the book still contains plenty of hints, tips and advice on how to get the best from your plot.

Excellent advice for a busy first time allotmenters!, 12 Jul 2008
This book has been really helpful in getting us started and motivated. Lots of practical and sensible advice for a busy first time allotment family.

Time management for allotments, 10 Apr 2008
This is an excellent complimentary book to go alongside a "how to allotment" book. Most people taking a plot nowadays don't have as much time to devote to it as they would like. This gives some excellent ideas for managing the differences between aspirations and reality. Not an everyday reference book, but readable and useful all the same.

the best investment a new plotholder can make, 11 Mar 2008
We had an allotment previously for five years which we had to give up for various reasons - not least the amount of work involved. We now have a new plot and even with all our previous experience - or perhaps because of it- I have found this book an invaluable resource. I know we want to get it right from the start this time and I have a pretty good idea where we went wrong last time, but even so seeing it all explained so clearly and in such a well structured way as it is in this book has really given me a lot of confidence in the systems we're putting in place and the information I need to do it.

Yes, the bit about using plug plants is a bit controversial but eminently sensible arguments are given for doing so. If you don't want to follow every word of advice in the book of course you don't have to - but at least you're asked to think through the decisions you're making in terms of effort put in and what you'll get back. We've put gooseberries in which aren't recommended but we love them and are happy to put in a bit more effort for that particular crop.

Thank you! I cannot recommend this book highly enough to a new or returning plotholder.

The Half Hour Allotment, 04 Mar 2008
I couldn't get on with this book. Why take on a plot if you don't have time to enjoy it. Much of it was just pictures of common vegetables with obvious annotations. I'm glad I read it at the library as I certainly wouldn't buy it

Fantastic easy to understand read, 09 Jun 2008
I bought this book as I'm a novice to greenhouse gardening. This book is a must for others like me. It is written in an easy to understand manner and is structured so that you can pick out the sections you want or need without having to wade through endless pages of the stuff you don't want - not that there are any pages in the book that are surplus to requirements! The illustrations and photographs are very helpful too. The author doesn't use jargon or techno speak beyond the understanding of beginners and manages to instill the belief that greenhouse gardening is quite achievable for anyone who wants to have a go. Full of tips on what you need and don't need to buy also. An excellent book overall.

A book to savour, 26 Sep 2008
This book is a delight (as is the garden in real life) The author is knowledgeable and paints the most vivid pictures. It is a book about the area of Shropshire she lives in, how it has evolved through the centuries, the house and garden and her sensitive reconstruction of it. She is a lady after my own heart with interests such as history, gardens, cats, flowers, geology, weather....it is so well written, I highly recommend it.

A perfect book, 26 Aug 2008
This book is about far more than 'the story of a garden'. For me, it is that rare thing, a book that I did not want to put down and will certainly read again. It is written in such elegant prose with no superfluity almost to the point of self-effacement. The author's knowledge of so many diverse things is a constant delight to encounter. It is about gardening; about astronomy; about the roots of words and language; about the history of Morville and its environs; about the author's place amongst all this and so much more. I read as slowly as I could, not only to savour the text fully but so as to be able to go on sharing Dr.Swift's life and times in rural Shropshire for as long as possible.

Evocative writing, 20 Jun 2008
I'm something of an armchair gardener - all the pleasure and none of the work - and this book satisfied my liking to read about beautiful gardens. Its chapters are titled according to the monastic hours, echoing the house's monastic past. The author created a dreamlike garden out of a field beside her Shropshire house. The book is a description of the genesis of that garden with digressions into history, herbalism, religion and the uses and growing habits of the plants she seeks to cultivate. The writing is brilliantly clear and the garden comes to life as you read. There are line drawings in the style of illustrations from a medieval book of hours, though no photographs, together with a plan of the layout of the garden This is a book to be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in gardening, history or the spirit of human endeavour. To create such a magnificent garden is truly a labour of love

Beautifully written, 18 Nov 2008
As a great collector of all things Vita Sackville-West, Harold Nicolson and Sissinghurst, I leapt on this book as it appeared. But did I really need it? Surely I have read everything printed about Sissinghurst, Vita and Harold, and visited the garden twice, what could it give me? Well for a start Adam Nicolson writes with more facility, imagination and poetry than either of his famous grand parents. A poetic grace, so beautifully expressed, that Vita would have killed to have had. Yes this is prose and not poetry, but Nicolson, like Virginia Woolf can make prose sound like poetry. In this book Nicolson re-examines Sissinghurst from its historic beginnings, to its "decline" to a tourist attraction. His dealings with the National Trust are fascinating, and believable. I found touching his writing of his father, Nigel, Harold and Vita's second son. Nigel, as a son of a most unconventional marriage, it is no wonder his world was really quite dysfunctional. I rather think the conservative Vita, Harold and Nigel would rather be alarmed at what most of Adam has written. For this reason the book is fascinating.

Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available!

from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny.

Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.

She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.

This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.

If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence.

If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough.

Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc.

It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports.

There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.

A 250 YEAR CELEBRATION, 14 Nov 2008
Most people probably don't pick up a book after noting the publisher, but I invariably do if it's a Frances Lincoln book. Her titles are always beautifully done, enhanced with stunning photographs, full of information. Such is surely the case with The Gardens At Kew, a gorgeous celebration of Kew's 250 years.

In this beautiful volume the history of this remarkable place is traced, noting the development of what now comprises 300 acres of riverside land. While today we find it home to the Royal Botanic Gardens, it once held cottages, country house estates, and even poor pasture.

Among the royals who took a hand in the improvement of the grounds was Princess Caroline, the daughter-in-law of George I. She was an inveterate garden-maker who of course observed the fashion of her time - formal gardens. During her growing up years Europe was impressed by the work of gardener Andre Le Notre, largely responsible for the gardens at Versailles. She may well have felt his influence.

Eyes would have difficulty taking in all of the beauty at these Gardens today - there is The Lake, created by William Hooker in the late 1840s, amazing with four islands planted so that their autumn colors are reflected in the water. Another marvel is the Pagoda seen rising above the trees, and the Temples of Bellona and Aeolus designed by Sir William Chambers.

Some 304 pages hold not only 300 color illustrations but also archival photographs. Whether a weekend gardener or a serious student of landscape there is much to be enjoyed in The Gardens At Kew.

- Gail Cooke

Can we have an extended edition please?, 12 Aug 2008
I have just borrowed this from the library. I found it an interesting and easy-to-read book and the short 'chapters' on each garden are great for busy gardeners on a tea break, as it stops you reading too much at once! However, I found the lack of photos disappointing, especially as Don would sometimes explain at length how a particular planting scheme or garden area was so effective...but the only photo would be of something else! And like many other 'celebrity' books, an irritatingly large number of views were obscured by Monty in the foreground! I haven't seen the accompanying tv series, so it might perhaps be a more satisfying read if you have seen the gardens on screen. It's well worth reading, and I might possibly buy it in the future, but what I would really like to see is an expanded version with lots more photos...yes, it would be more expensive, but well worth the price. The current edition leaves me feeling a little short-changed (and what a hideous cover!)

A great ambassador for the gardening world, 09 Aug 2008
We had Percy Thrower, for those that can recall him, then along came Alan, almost a Percy Thrower. And now we have Monty ... a veritable Percy Thrower in the making. He gives a grat book here that makes no claims of sending the reader to gardening euphoria. What it does do is take a look at some great gardens and gives us what we want to know, anything more is a bonus, which this surely is. Worship him while you have him, lest Alan