Amazon.co.uk Review
Author of
Garden Harvest, Steven Bradley, is among the most practical of garden writers. This is to say that his books are celebrations of detail and of work--often very hard but rewarding work. The excellent
Garden Harvest continues this strain, being a comprehensive and well-illustrated guide to growing flowers, fruit and vegetables through the year, from "Shoots of Spring" (as Bradley puts it) to "Autumn Shutdown", when the garden is put to bed. The approach is broadly but not fanatically organic, so much of the work described revolves round the highly rewarding cycles of composting, soil-feeding and crop-rotation upon which organic gardening is based. Between spring and autumn are packed as much gardening as the most dedicated gardener could want. Beginning with a working garden diary that summarises the whole year on two facing pages, Bradley is an unfailingly helpful guide to the basics of garden planning, propagation, pruning and maintenance, cultivation and the culminating harvest. Bradley is a teacher first and foremost and has developed a highly effective style that combines basic science (how and why plants grow) with intensive hands-on practical advice. 24 step-by-step projects illustrate in the clearest possible way the techniques and principles discussed: they include simple but vital tasks such as double digging, trench composting and exercises in the correct handling of vegetables. All in all, this is a fine companion to have in the garden, plain-spoken and tirelessly helpful. You'll know you're in safe hands. --
Robin Davidson
Product Description
Summer has the potential to be the most rewarding and demanding of seasons in the garden calendar. Changes in climate and longer lighting hours can see the growth rates for plants, flowers and fruits literally soar. This is the ideal time for both the keen amateur, or beginner, to build the ideal platform to develop produce for his table and colour pleasing to the eye. This book should explain and illustrate the basics of planning, developing new gardening techniques, cultivation methods, and maintenance, as well as special sections on particular subjects such as organic gardening and permaculture. All supported with photographs and a series of step-by-step projects for the reader to try out in their own garden. This title should be a useful reference work to dip into at any level, enabling the gardener to look back on a summer of excellence.
