Search results for ""author richard bird""

This book presents a directory of varieties and how to cultivate them successfully. It is an illustrated gardener's guide to the different varieties of shoots, peas and beans, their history and cooking uses. It includes step-by-step instructions for preparing the soil, sowing under glass, and harvesting and storing. It offers practical advice on cultivating asparagus, celery, celeriac, globe artichokes, rhubarb, seakale, peas, runner beans, French (green) beans and broad beans. It includes helpful hints on how to avoid pests and diseases, and what to do when problems occur. Shoots, peas and beans are some of the choicest and most delicious of the many vegetable crops available to the kitchen gardener. In this book, the main types are described and illustrated, with useful information about the varieties that can be grown, their history, cultivation requirements and cooking uses. There is key advice on improving your soil, making compost and preparing the vegetable bed. A section on practical cultivation explains how to grow and care for each type of vegetable, from sowing to harvest.A must for the novice grower, the book also provides information for the experienced gardener who wants to experiment with new varieties.

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(New edition) A clear and expert how-to guide to pruning and training ornamental and fruiting plants, with 970 informative photographs and illustrations, and a directory of plants and how to prune them. A helpful introduction, covering basic principles and techniques, is followed by chapters arranged by plant type. Each one includes practical advice, illustrated with step-by-step photographic sequences and artworks, on the initial training of the plant type in question, how to prune, and how to undertake renovation pruning. An invaluable A-Z directory of ornamental plants looks at the pruning requirements of a wide range of species on a plant-by-plant basis, explaining when and how to prune. All techniques and projects are shown in close-up step-by-step photography and diagrams, making this an essential book on the subject for any gardener.

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As the name suggests, root vegetables are vegetables whose roots form the edible parts. These vegetables are highly nutritious and they are particularly tasty if they are home-grown and eaten soon after harvesting. In this book, the main types of root vegetables are described, with useful information about the different varieties that can be grown, their history, cultivation requirements and cooking uses. There is key advice on preparing the soil for new crops, growing root vegetables from seed, and making compost. A must for the novice grower, the book also provides information for the experienced gardener who wants to experiment with new varieties.

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There is nothing quite like growing your own strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries and currants to provide a reliable crop of the finest taste and quality. In this informative kitchen garden handbook, all the most popular soft fruits are illustrated, with useful information on their origins, growing habits, nutritional content and culinary uses. A techniques section explains how to train and support fruit bushes, pruning, sheltering plants from the weather and harvesting and storing crops. Whether you have a large kitchen garden, a small garden plot with some space in the borders, or room for a few containers, this book is a must for all fruit growers.

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Orchard fruits can be some of the most enjoyable crops that come from the garden. Fruit trees can be decorative, grown either individually or trained as fans and espaliers. In this book, the main types of tree fruits are described and illustrated, and there is key advice on preparing the soil and making compost, choosing, planting and supporting fruit trees, and harvesting and storing the fruit. A section on practical cultivation details essential information on growing and caring for each type of tree fruit, including when and where to plant trees, and how to keep fruit in good condition. The book is perfect for all gardeners who would like to grow their own fruit.

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This is a step-by-step guide to kitchen and allotment gardening with 1400 photographs. It shows you how to design a kitchen garden, with plans for a range of gardens of all shapes and sizes, including potagers and large-scale vegetable plots. It includes directories of all the main vegetables, herbs and fruit, with expert advice on cultivation, crop rotation and the best varieties to choose from. It features step-by-step practical advice on the best tools to use, preparing the soil, sowing, transplanting, propagation, training, harvesting and storage, as well as on all aspects of cultivating vegetables and herbs, and planting, pruning and propagating fruit trees. Growing your own produce is highly rewarding, and this book gives you all the knowledge you require to plan and plant your own crops. There are detailed sections on how to design a variety of kitchen and herb gardens. Beautiful plans and clear planting lists provide the inspiration to create vegetable plots, potagers, fruit gardens and container gardens.The book explains how to choose vegetables, herbs and fruit to suit different locations, the best way to lay out a garden, and how to grow and maintain everything from broccoli and potatoes to lavender and raspberries. With over 1400 photographs, this is a reference manual for all allotment gardeners.

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This book features over 570 colour photographs, including stunning plant directories, inspirational plantings, and practical step-by-step techniques. Providing all the essential gardening know-how, it shows how to create a fabulous garden with lasting impact, year-round colour and delicious scent. It teaches how to use scented bulbs, annuals, shrubs and trees to create a welcoming and relaxing outdoor environment. Here, is the ultimate inspirational guide to planning, creating and maintaining bountiful borders of beautiful blooms all year round. This is a book for the enthusiastic and practical as well as the aspirational gardener. It shows how to make best use of a plant's features to create a particular style of garden, and how to keep your garden looking good all year round. Packed with essential information, hints and professional tips, this is the perfect planting guide and practical handbook.

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