Victorian Kitchen Garden

[Churchyard Yew]

Spent the evenings this weekend watching the Victorian Kitchen Garden DVD's (now an astonishing £50 on Amazon - I paid £12.99 a few years ago). It was a lovely initiative by Pete Thoday and made Harry Dodson a household name. For those who saw and remember the series, here is a link to the walled garden at Chiltern Foliat as it is today. what a shame....

Martin

Google Maps

[alex-adam]

Yes, the original TV series in about 1987 (I think) was marvelous, have the accompanying book, which has become somewhat dog-eared through continual reference - so sad about the garden, but dear Harry is keeping busy in the big walled garden in the sky now.

a-a

[The Reverend]

I have to say, that is my all time favourite series. And wasn't Harry a true Gentleman.

[Thelma Sanders]

I have the book as well, and seem to watch every time it repeats on Sky - the look and sound of it is so reassuring somehow, unlike modern programmes.
I'm just getting old and sentimental I suppose

[legume]

I absolutely love that series! I recorded it off Sky a year or so ago, and have watched it over and over. As you say, there is something incredibly reassuring and comforting about it.

And it was Harry who taught me how to prepare a bed for seed sowing (tread it then rake lightly).

Who wouldn't love to try making one of those lily of the valley cones Harry did for the drawing room at Christmas? *sighs wistfully*

[legume]

Did you know the owners let Harry's garden fall into complete disrepair after the series ended? Harry tried to save it by turning it into a market garden but couldn't manage the overheads. Now all the beds are turfed over, the glass is all gone from the glasshouses, the lights were removed from the hotbeds, and the potting shed, gardener's office and furnace shed etc have crumbled. And someone even stole the lead off the roof of Harry's cottage after his death. Unbelievably sad.

Wish I could buy it to restore it to how it was. Of course, I would need everyone on this forum to come down and help with THAT big a plot!

[veggiechicken]

I have the book and the Wartime Kitchen garden. Somehow, Harry's advice was so much more acceptable and relevant than the fancy presenters of today. RIP Harry.

[Mikey]

Harry taught me about clamping, I didn't know anything about it prior to that series. It was set at a wonderful pace, slow enough that the knowledge gained stayed there.

[northepaul]

I've never seen or heard of it, but will look it up, thanks for the tips.

[Prince of Durham]

Amazing series. I remember my dad watching it and I would complain "this is boring, can I have the cartoons on"... Then years later I bought the DVD and read the books and now have had allotments for nearly a decade. Odd how things influence us. Leonard Cohan did the same....

I dream of owning a walled garden one day...