With the schools closed and the nation on lockdown, the publication of Get Growing by Holly Farrell couldn’t have been better timed.
This RHS ‘family guide to gardening indoors and out’ aims to take the mystery out of growing while making it interesting – and educational – for youngsters.
It can, says Holly, be a great way of teaching everything from numeracy to reading and “when in muddy wellies, not shiny school shoes, the lessons tend to go unnoticed!”
I was given a free copy in return for a fair review.
Designed to appeal to children with lots of pictures, bold artwork and information given in small amounts, Get Growing covers everything you need to know to start gardening. There’s also a glossary to explain common terms, such as mulch and true leaves, and even an explanation of why botanical Latin is important.
There are sections on evaluating your growing space – where the sunniest spots are, what type of soil you have – through to what to grow be it fruit, vegetables or flowers, with ideas for a cut flower patch or how to grow a box of tea.
Many of the ‘tasks’, such as determining where there are rain shadows, are set out as experiments and some projects, including watching a seed grow, have results information at the back. Other things that can be done range from making a womery to growing a carrot top.
Mindful that not everyone has access to outside space, Holly also outlines how to care for houseplants with advice on what to choose for each spot in the house.
Scattered throughout Get Growing are interesting facts: cherry trees often grow alongside Roman roads because soldiers used to spit out stones as they marched; there is nearly always an even number of kernel rows in a sweetcorn cob; unlike most other fruits, raspberries do not carry on ripening once picked.
The book ends with a seasonal guide of things that can be done from sowing seeds in spring to protecting pots in winter. There are suggestions too of what to look out for in each season and ideas for ‘garden fun’, such as a sunflower-growing competition or making bird feeders.
Gardening as a family, we are told, is “a chance to reconnect, not just with nature but with each other”. Get Growing is a great guide to getting started.
RHS Get Growing by Holly Farrell is published by Frances Lincoln, RRP £14.99. (You can buy it here for £10.84. If you buy through this link, I get a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.)
Photos courtesy of Frances Lincoln.
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