The Ornamental Kitchen Garden

by Geoff Hamilton

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.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Horticulture

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Geoffrey Stephen Hamilton (15 August 1936 – 4 August 1996) was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World in the 1980s and 1990s.

Reviews

[Rose Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about Geoff Hamilton, and grew up with him being the face of Gardeners World. This has his no nonsense practical advice in his characteristic kindly paternal style...yes I'm nostalgic and biased probably. His ability to make stuff yourself cheaply always impressed me though, and here he makes an excellent cold frame, a victorian style cloche or a rose arbour etc. It is an old book, 1990, but stands up well, as he was ahead of his time really. If you had never seen a plant before you could get going with this book, it is affordable and domestic in scale and the advice is sound and relevant. I keep the book because it reminds me of Geoff.

[Lime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally got this book for one cent (plus shipping), and as such it was a great bargain. It is absolutely packed with information, and it's great for anyone who enjoyed the TV series of the same name, or for those interested in growing food and flowers together. Beautiful and informative sections on garden design, construction, fruits, veggies, and flowers are all here along with some technical chapters on propagation and pest control. It was written for the British garden and so some of the techniques are not applicable to North American gardeners, however. It gives plans with measurements for building garden structures such as cold frames and pergolas as well. I love this book!

[Kacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to refresh myself on Geoff's ideas before the big annual seed sort-out. I now have a plan for the 2026 allotment, and after reading The Bees (which I was kindly given for Christmas), it will involve a lot more flowers!