Guide to growing sicty-five key vegetables from scratch, whatever the space available. Advice on sowing, planting, feeding, thinning, harvesting and storing.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world famous centre for botanical and mycological knowledge. Over the past 250 years Kew has made innumerable contributions to increasing the understanding of plants and fungi with many benefits for humankind.
Contents
6 INTRODUCTION TO GROWING VEGETABLES
30 PLANTS
32 Okra
33 Leek
34 Onion
36 PROJECT 1: RAISED BEDS
38 Shallot
39 Spring onion
40 Garlic
42 American groundnut
43 Celery
44 Celeriac
45 Peanut
46 Asparagus
48 PROJECT 2: CREATING AN ASPARAGUS BED
50 Beetroot
51 Chard
52 Swede
53 Kale
55 Calabrese
56 PROJECT 3: USING VEGETABLES AS A DECORATIVE DISPLAY
58 Cauliflower
59 Cabbage
61 Brussels sprout
62 Kohl rabi
63 Sprouting broccoli
64 Turnip
65 Pak choi
66 Mizuna
67 Komatsuna
68 Pepper
69 Endive
70 Chicory
71 Miner’s lettuce
72 Seakale
73 Cucumber
74 PROJECT 4: CREATING A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY VEGETABLE GARDEN
76 Courgette and summer squash
77 Winter squash
78 Pumpkin
79 Globe artichoke
80 Carrot
82 PROJECT 5: BUILDING A ROOT CLAMP
84 Rocket
85 Florence fennel
87 Soya bean
88 Jerusalem artichoke
89 Sweet potato
90 PROJECT 6: SWEET POTATO SLIPS
92 Lettuce
94 Cucamelon
95 Watercress
96 PROJECT 7: ROOTING WATERCRESS
98 Oca
98 Parsnip
100 Parsnip root
101 Runner bean
102 French bean
103 Tomatillo
104 Pea
106 PROJECT 8: WINDOWSILL SALADS
108 Mangetout and sugar snap pea
109 Radish
110 Radish pod
111 Rhubarb
112 PROJECT 9: FORCED RHUBARB
114 Buckler leaf sorrel
115 Agretti
116 Yacon
117 Tomato
120 PROJECT 10: SAVING SEED
122 Aubergine
123 Potato
126 PROJECT 11: FESTIVE VEGETABLES
128 Spinach
129 Lamb’s lettuce
130 PROJECT 12: NATURAL SUPPORTS FOR BROAD BEANS
132 Broad bean
133 Sweetcorn
134 Troubleshooting
138 What to do when
142 Index
144 Acknowledgments