A TV Gardening Treat

[British Red]

I noticed yesterday that one of my favourite TV series is now available on Youtube. I thought it might interest "Tommy the Cat" and others who, like me, enjoy growing their own food.

The series is "The Victorian Kitchen Garden" and looks at the running of a walled garden for a great house. It was explained by a man who I have come to respect - Harry Dodson - one of the last proper "head gardeners". One half hour episode was filmed for each month making a total of 12 covering the activities and techniques needed to keep a steady supply of fruit and veg.

The clothing and fliming reflects that this was filmed in the 80s - and is better for it

[video=youtube;sOF49wIxDrA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOF49wIxDrA[/video]

Enjoy if you are a member of the dirty fingernail club

 

[Coldfeet]

Really interesting video - so unpretentious compared to the garbage we get these days.

 

[British Red]

There are 11 more - one for each month - you can find them here

http://www.youtube.com/user/sanrt2/videos

Its a great series - all about the content not "personalities"

 

[slowworm]

We've got the Kitchen Garden and other related series on DVD. A nice walled garden is one of the many future projects on my list.

 

[British Red]

Me too (actually I think someone here suggested them to me!) BB wants a walled garden too - I'm certainly coming around to the idea - I want their glass houses and hot frames very badly

 

[shaggystu]

Thanks for that

 

[tommy the cat]

Ooooh gonna have a look at BR thanks.... Not been on here too much but my good Friend Falcon said you had mentioned something that might be of interest..
In a gardening note I've got sweet peas still flowering, you're beans germinated, morrisons lettuces in the greenhouse doing really well and just a fee weeks ago I cooked my first home grown beetroot!! They warred lovely got a few jars picked as I like them but H likes them fresh so not gone overboard. Still makes me smile going out to greenhouse with a head torch in the dark to cut lettuce for me veggie burger!!
D

 

[British Red]

Sounds great Dave - hope you enjoy it

I've been manuring up my beds this week - just leave it on top and the rain and frost will break it up over Winter - especially important on the Rhubarb

Take care - shout if you need more beans

 

[tommy the cat]

Thanks BR.
Beans I kept my own seed thanks 😄
Your parsnip seeds went to Italy last week... my friend has a little place there and he took it for a few friends to grow out there... They don't do parsnips in Italy??
Need to muck up myself as well as divide up the rhubarb!!!
Problem is finding a time when the grounds not got anything in it!!
Atb for the festive season buddy.

 

[British Red]

Its a busy old time for sure - I was hoeing around the fruit trees and fertilising with fish blood and bone today.

If I recall you had an overgrown fruit tree you wanted to prune back to life? Now is the time bud

Hope you and yours have a great time too!

 

[Brewers Whoop]

Great - loved this series when it was first shown. Thanks for the heads-up BR

 

[rik_uk3]

A great series but the original had 13 episodes.

 

[uncleboob]

Fantastic series, really enjoyed it. Having watched it it's got me thinking about the books that the (Victorian walled) gardener would have consulted at the time-any ideas?

Many thanks, joab

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

 

[tommy the cat]

Its a busy old time for sure - I was hoeing around the fruit trees and fertilising with fish blood and bone today.

If I recall you had an overgrown fruit tree you wanted to prune back to life? Now is the time bud

Hope you and yours have a great time too!

Yep the pear I'm gonna leave as I reckon it's too far gone. The apple a buddy of mine is gonna come and show me what to do...I've watched a couple of episodes of the series and really enjoyed it.
I think I'm going to look at prepping more beds as I dont seem to have enough room to grow all that I want!!

 

[Freelander]

Thanks for the link, great series. I noticed that Geoff Hamilton's cottage garden series from the 90's is on DVD now, I enjoyed that series too.

 

[Bob]

In the last year I've been able to pick up virtually all the VKG and Geoff Hamilton's 'Cottage Gardens' and 'Ornamental Kitchen Garden' books from charity shops for just a couple of pounds each - it's well worth keeping a eye out for them.

Harry Dodson also bought out a book which covered growing produce more than the one which accompanied the series, called 'Harry Dodson's Practical Kitchen Garden - A personal guide to growing vegetables and fruit'. A fantastic book which also gives you more info on the man himself - a great bloke.

Jennifer Davies authored several BBC books on VKG and subsequent series - the 'Wartime Kitchen and Garden' in particular is excellent!

And for any budding growers who have just made a New Year's Resolution to start growing their own this year - a copy of GH's book called 'Gardener's World Practical Gardening Course' will start you off on the right foot.

Like a few others on here I run an allotment and there is nothing like growing your own to supplement your foraging! I've also decided to take a more 'Tudor' approach to my weeds this year!!

All the best to all - wishing you all a prolific 2014!

Bob