I see a lot of gardens in my job so it takes something special to lodge in the memory. The vegetable garden at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is somewhere that has long stood out as one of the best from the massive pumpkins to the delicate microveg. So, Grow Easy by the former Head Vegetable Gardener was always going to be of interest.
Anna Greenland fell in love with vegetable growing many years ago and, like all beginners, made mistakes when starting out: “Everything was planted too close together – I didn’t believe my tiny seedlings would demand so much space,” she tells us.
It’s those rookie errors that she hopes to help you avoid in Grow Easy with advice on everything from essential tools – I was pleased to see the hori hori in the list – to the best way to water and how to build a raised bed.
Unlike many gardening books, Grow Easy doesn’t assume you have plenty of space or an unlimited budget. There are sections on windowsill and container growing, including what to plant, ideas for DIY pots for seedlings, and seed-saving.
Photographs add clarity to step-by-step instructions on everything from how to build a compost bin to how to prick out a seedling.
A crop plan for two raised beds is clearly set out and a good starting point for a novice grower, while the calendar of jobs is a useful memory jogger for everyone.
The second half of the book is devoted to what Anna calls her “Top 30”. As well as being the things she couldn’t be without, they are all equally happy grown in pots as in a vegetable bed.
Each entry is comprehensive covering growing tips, when to sow and plant, spacings – she’s obviously learnt! – harvesting, and common problems. There are design tips – growing dark purple kale with orange nasturiums – recommended varieties and instructions for growing in a container.
As well as the usual vegetables, there’s information on herbs, edible flowers and fruit, while some sections have recipes, such as ‘Quick Pickled Radish’, ‘Winter Oxymel’ and ‘Rosemary Bath Salts’.
While seasoned gardeners may find much of the information familiar, no one knows everything and reading about someone else’s methods and recommendations is always informative – I didn’t know radish seedpods were edible.
For those just starting out on their gardening journey, it’s packed with useful tips. Not covering over seeds in a module until you’ve filled every hole especially if there are different varieties may be obvious but it’s a mistake that’s all so easy to make.
In the foreword, her former boss Raymond Blanc says that “local food is often the best, and what can be more local than your garden, balcony, window box or allotment?”
Jargon-free and clearly explained, Grow Easy would be a good place to start.
Grow Easy by Anna Greenland, photographs Jason Ingram, is published by Mitchell Beazley with an RRP of £20. You can buy it here for £13.99 (If you buy via this link, I get a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.)
You can read more of my gardening and garden-related book reviews here.
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