Joy Larkcom explains how to mix colour, texture, and form to plant a superb vegetable garden that will rival any conventional arrangement, no matter how small the plot. Organized in thematic chapters, this book offers sound, practical advice as well as inspiration from around the world. All aspects of creating an ornamental kitchen garden are covered from design ideas for attractive paths, edges and beds, to focal points and features. Step-by-step artworks and an extensive plant directory detailing vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers by type provides an exhaustive listing for all creative garden planners.

Table of Contents

The magic in vegetable gardening: starting at home; what is a potager?; the thread of inspiration; contemporary approaches; the home of the edible land scape. Elements of design: getting started; plans of potagers; patterns and bed shapes; boundaries; paths; edges; focal points and features. Dramatic effects: planting for effect; architectural and dramatic plants; drama from seedheads and flowering vegetables; climbers; living edges; ground cover; textured effects; colourful touches; intercropping; seedling patches. Fruit as a decorative feature: using fruit creatively; fruit as a framework; using for ornamental highlights. Potager management: soil fertility; raising good quality plants; keeping order; controlling pests and diseases; plant protection; planning for succession. A-Z directory.

Reviews

It's no longer sufficient to have vegetables marching in tidy military rows through plots reserved for only edibles. British garden writer Larkcom suggests ways to enliven vegetable gardens by adding flowers, arches, arbors or free-standing decorative items. Beginning with a brief overview of the potager, the centuries-old concept of vegetable gardening in France, she moves from vast elegantly designed gardens to the practical, with photos of British gardens she knows. Elements of design and siting are explained and beautifully illustrated in sufficient detail for even novice gardeners who want to embellish their vegetable patches with colorful unexpected elements. Taking on all details, from myriad variations on fencing, edging and garden paths to the multiple color and texture diversity of various lettuces, spinaches and other greens, Larkcom also offers a comprehensive alphabetical directory of vegetables (including little-known varieties). While Larkcom's prose is enthusiastic and exact, the book's appeal is limited to gardening zones with climates similar to England's. Gardeners in other regions may find that recommended plants don't thrive as hoped or that the companion plantings will not combine as expected. (June)

"There really are very few gardening books that have such authority."