RHS Get Growing

March 16, 2020
Brimming with colorful photos and illustrations, this vibrant gardening primer, produced by the U.K.’s Royal Horticultural Society, covers the basics as well as up-to-date innovations. Gardener Farrell (The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing Herbs) instructs with a charming can-do attitude (“The basic, fundamental act of growing plants is something that can be done anywhere and on any scale”) and begins with a breakdown of how “plants work.” She suggests ideas for growing plants in raised beds, containers, indoors, or the ground; provides tips on tools, soil, sowing, and watering (with an emphasis on reusing water, such as by collecting rainfall); and makes specific recommendations for growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers. Kid-friendly experiments (tracking shadows to see how much sun an area gets, making “soil sausages” to determine soil type) and art projects (constructing an herbal flower crown and clay pots and coasters), along with a list of seasonal chores and activities, round out the program. Throughout, the emphasis is on promoting stewardship and the idea that “growing plants is the best way to reconnect with nature and the wild world around us.” Farrell’s fun guide will have young gardeners and their parents eager to get outside.