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Vegetable heaven
Charlie Wilkins sings an ode to Joy on the publication of her most recent book, Just Vegetating
By Charlie Wilkins
The satisfaction of a well ordered vegetable garden, for me, outweighs the pleasures of a decorative one. I like formality so the anatomy of straight rows appeals to me, so too, the uniformity of a single crop and the skills of organic cultivation. For these reasons I have always held a deep admiration for people who grow their own food. It strikes me as a far nobler form of gardening. It carries gravity of purpose and old words like ‘husbandry’ and ‘conservation’ come to mind. Best of all, there is the implied appeal to taste. A head of fresh green lettuces has a lot of crunchiness and when you add a vine of ‘Gardener’s Delight’ or ‘Sweet 100’ tomatoes sliced gently into a dish with basil you have the basics for a wonderful meal. Mix these with ‘White Lisbon’ scallions (onions) and a few slices of sweetened beetroot and you’ll have a tea-time salad to remember. In Cork we add celery, hard-boiled egg, cucumber, slices of ham, fresh peas from the pod and a herb dressing, but even if these were never added, those rudimentary ingredients are a pleasure in themselvesFrom this you will gather that those of us who have merely flower gardens are well and truly eclipsed by those gardeners who grow fruit and vegetables. When our roses, princess alstromerias, and bearded iris have finished their dance in the spotlight, kitchen gardeners will still be harvesting salad crops and new potatoes for supper, and putting warm stewed plums or blackcurrants into bowls for pudding.
And yet, the move to vegetable growing is on the increase mostly aided and abetted by a writer whose accolades include the Garden Writer of the Year (three times); the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Garden Writer’s Guild; and the Royal Horticultural Society’s Veitch Memorial Medal for horticulture.
I refer to none other than vegetable expert Joy Larkcom. Her latest book Just Vegetating— a Memoir, is a must for beginner and enthusiast. From unusual cabbages to Chinese ways of growing garlic, truffle orchards to herb conferences, and tomato breeders and ‘slugduggery’, Joy’s writings reflect her wide-ranging interests and enthusiasm.
And whatever the subject they’re always engaging. Just Vegetating opens a window on the world she has inhabited all her life. She may be one obsessed with vegetables but she possesses the gift of being able to impart her enthusiasm on others and that has distinguished her life’s work.
This book contains a wealth of valuable tips and ideas for you and your way of life in the vegetable garden. For example, do you really know how to make the most of polytunnels, how to store root crops, apply green manures and correct soil compaction? Read why ‘oldies’ garden, how to discover the vagaries of seed sowing, and how to pickle.
All in all, Just Vegetating is a delightful informative read. She now lives in West Cork and gardens there as happily as in any of the many destinations she has visited. Published by Frances Lincoln Limited, it is priced at €25 approximately.
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