Wind resisting wonder of walls

VEGETABLE plots have traditionally been enclosed and our gifted gardening ancestors, the Victorians, went to considerable expense enclosing their gardens for more than just climatic and pest reasons.

Ten-foot high walls were paramount to protecting the valuable produce within from theft by the often poor and hungry surrounding population.

Clearly, times have changed, but Victorian walled gardens still hold pride of place in the horticultural world. Stone and brick walls provide an idyllic backdrop to plants, give maximum rabbit, deer and other four-legged pest protection and also provide an inbuilt support for trained fruits and ornamentals. In addition, walls absorb the warmth of the sun by day and radiate it back out during the cool of the night, offering plants a personal storage heater, thus helping to extend the growing season. If you are one of the fortunate few to possess a garden enclosed by walls, follow the lead of these gardening gurus and maximise every inch of vertical and internal space.