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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Gardening version of Nigel Slaters Christmas chronicles?

21 replies

FoodSchmood · 14/01/2023 12:45

Each winter I like to read Nigel Slater's "the Christmas chronicles", which (if you don't know) is a kind of diary and recipe book combined where he talks about winter/Christmas customs, traditions, history and food and shares recipes of the food he cooks. Sitting reading each days entry is a lovely little quiet time I take each day and I wondered if anyone knew of any gardening based books that do a similar thing across the gardening year?

Not a book listing planting/garden jobs to do month but month (got that already), but one that talks about what is happening in the garden/nature/allotment in a diary based format and shares interesting information about gardening/growing plants in the same way Nigel Slater does about food/winter customs in the Christmas chronicles. A diary of a gardener type thing? I'm particularly interested in one relating to growing food rather flowers/ornamental gardens.

Does anyone have any suggestions of any books that might fit the bill please?

OP posts:
creamedcustard · 14/01/2023 13:09

Following as would also like to know! The closest I've got is the gardeners world almanac.

Pigeonnoir · 14/01/2023 13:20

Seasonal almanac by lia leendertz (sp?) Iv not read the booked but listen to the monthly podcasts which are lovely if the book is the same I think it may be what you're looking for .

FoodSchmood · 14/01/2023 13:39

Thanks for the suggestion, the descriptions/photos of the almanac online look like it's rather heavy on astrology and the like, which is very much not for me I'm afraid (I'm not at all woo). Appreciate you taking the time to share the suggestion though! If I'm in a bookshop I will check it out in case the information online/selected pages to view on Amazon are misleading!

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Greatly · 14/01/2023 13:42

All year round garden by Margery Fish?

FoodSchmood · 14/01/2023 13:42

I've found this allotment diary, which I've ordered a copy of, that looks it might be kind of what I'm after. I was hoping to find a nice hard back book with beautiful photography like the Christmas chronicles though and I don't think this is that...

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stargirl1701 · 14/01/2023 13:43

@Pigeonnoir

Do you have a link to the podcast? Thanks.

FoodSchmood · 14/01/2023 13:50

Greatly · 14/01/2023 13:42

All year round garden by Margery Fish?

I think this is more ornamental gardening then veg, but it sounds lovely so I will pick up a copy anyway, thank you!

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Greatly · 14/01/2023 13:51

FoodSchmood · 14/01/2023 13:50

I think this is more ornamental gardening then veg, but it sounds lovely so I will pick up a copy anyway, thank you!

Sorry - yes it is! It's lovely though

Hedjwitch · 14/01/2023 13:52

Ooh theres one by Monty Don which is lovely,more of a month by month look at nature generally,not just gardening though. Cant recall the name but its a very relaxing read

coffeeginandkindness · 14/01/2023 13:55

There must be a sarah raven version?

FoodSchmood · 14/01/2023 14:01

Hedjwitch · 14/01/2023 13:52

Ooh theres one by Monty Don which is lovely,more of a month by month look at nature generally,not just gardening though. Cant recall the name but its a very relaxing read

Monty Don: my garden world? Looks like it could be good, thank you!

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stargirl1701 · 14/01/2023 14:06

Thank you @Pigeonnoir 🥰

Saunaandsteam · 14/01/2023 18:50

I agree with a pp about the Monty Don book. I have it and it is a lovely read. This book attached may also be worth a look?

Gardening version of Nigel Slaters Christmas chronicles?
IrmaBunt · 14/01/2023 19:07

Gardener's Nightcap (Muriel Stuart) is exactly on these lines: persephonebooks.co.uk/products/gardener-s-nightcap?_pos=1&_sid=16a4d19bd&_ss=r

Also, not really gardening more a miscellany, but including lots of lovely things: One Woman's Year (Stella Martin Currey) persephonebooks.co.uk/collections/grey-books-house-and-garden/products/one-womans-year

CCSS15 · 14/01/2023 19:15

Have a look at nigel slaters other books - its more of a focus on growing food and then cooking it rather than just growing - try tender vol 1 but there are others

BooCrew · 14/01/2023 19:18

Not a gardening book, but a lovely relaxing, seasonal read is The Magic Apple Tree by Susan Hill.

larchforest · 14/01/2023 20:05

Not gardening as such, more wildlife/countryside and absolutely beautifully illustrated - The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, by Edith Holden.

Decorhate · 20/01/2023 22:03

How about Plot 29 by Allan Jenkins? I haven’t actually read it but I enjoy his column in The Guardian. It’s not just about growing things though (I think he had a tough childhood) so might not be quite what you want

BestIsWest · 21/01/2023 22:51

I’ve got the Gardeners World one and I can’t see an about Astrology. Just flipping through January it has:
Weather Watch
Star Plants
Jobs to do this month - lots of detail here. Including
what to prune
what to harvest
What to sow
Recipe of the month
Wildlife notes
Troubleshooting guide

NoSquirrels · 29/01/2023 21:00

There’s a lovely book called Diary of a Modern Country Gardener - it’s in paperback as well as hardback, which is illustrated with photos and so on. I’ve given as well received present so might hit the spot?

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