Like many gardeners your love of gardening came from spending time with a family member. Can you tell us more about that.
As a boy, I spent most weekends standing in the 'hut' belonging to my grandfather (affectionately known as 'Jacky'), peering on tiptoes at the old-fashioned tools and gardening projects spread across his wellworn work bench. Jacky was a character to say the least and I cherished those days spent pottering around the garden, learning his traditional gardening methods. Just after Jacky passed away, I found a battered old notebook of his tucked away in a drawer in the hut (which now takes pride of place in my garden) that contained over 20 years of hand drawings of his allotment, planting schemes and detailed dated lists of all his sowings, croppings, failures and successes. I try to follow those tried and tested tips whenever I can.
Inspired by your early love of gardening you decided to take up a career in horticulture. Can you describe your journey to becoming a lecturer and gardening writer?
I enrolled at Northumberland College to study horticulture and it was the best decision I could have made. I remember sitting in our first lesson as our lecturer informed us that by the end of the course we would know the scientific names of hundreds of plants and thinking he must be mad! After qualifying I landed the role of first gardener at the Alnwick Garden and eventually held roles as outdoor education leader at a primary school and very happily returned to my old college as a lecturer of horticulture. I love absorbing gardening literature because if one thing is certain, you never stop learning about gardening and no matter how experienced you are, you can never have all the answers. I have always had a passion for writing about gardening and passing on my knowledge to others through garden writing.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2024 من Kitchen Garden.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2024 من Kitchen Garden.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
PICK STRAWBERRIES - FOR HOME-GROWN FLAVOUR
When it comes to getting value for money and the best flavour, strawberries are hard to beat, says fruit expert David Patch
A GARDEN FOR EVERYONE!
This month Hannah Reid shares her experience of redesigning a garden for those with a range of disabilities and how it has benefited them
ROOM TO GROW
We meet Rhiannon Alcock from Devon, whose plot provides a place to relax and learn. It also inspired a wonderful community project growing produce for local food banks
Just how much food?
Top organic gardening influencer Huw Richards explains how to maximise the pickings from growing spaces big and small
PREDATORS ON YOUR PLOT
Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld explores the range of beneficial predators that you can encourage into your garden, keeping pests at bay
GIVE THEM A HELPING HAND
Some of our most popular crops come from much warmer climes and need a little extra TLC before being exposed to the UK's changeable conditions. Editor Steve Ott offers some top tips to help get them off to a great start
Digging for tomorrow
Encouragement to grow your own is being passed on to the next generation, as Sally Clifford discovered when she visited a former Dig for Victory site in the historic city of York
MAKE YOUR OWN GIN GARDEN
Become a gin genius by growing your own key ingredients. Becky Searle shows you how
KNOW YOUR ROOTS
Maincrop roots are a staple of autumn and, with care, should last well into winter too. Don't miss your opportunity to start them! Benedict Vanheems shares his tips to keep the larder stocked with nourishing, home-grown roots
SOMETHING FOR THE WINTER
This month 'squashbuckler' Rob Smith takes a look at winter squash varieties - old, new, coming soon and something different with advice on sowing, growing, harvesting and storing