The Ornamental Kitchen Garden

The ornamental kitchen represents a return to traditional methods once found in gardens in many parts of the world, from medieval monasteries to Victorian kitchen-gardens, in which fruit, flowers and vegetables were planted in the same beds in an attractive and productive mix. This method is also kind to the environment and in tune with nature, and is suited to all sizes of garden. It attracts wildlife, thus helping to keep pests under control, and the different species growing side by side make the most of the soil. In this book Geoff Hamilton describes how to create a kitchen garden from scratch or to transform an existing garden. Using drawings and step-by-step photographs, he shows how to plan a garden with paths, beds, patio and pool, and how to incorporate components such as brick and scree paths, arbours and pergolas, cold frames, cloches and compost bins, and lawns. Detailed descriptions are included of various kinds of plants which are suitable for a kitchen garden, together with guidance on their cultivation, and the final chapter explains how to deal with pests, diseases and weeds without recourse to chemicals, and how to increase the productivity of the soil by using natural fertilizers.