Veggie growers dream! (The Kitchen Garden)

Name: sunflower.76

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Product:	The Kitchen Garden
Date:	27/05/02 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: etensive articles, inexpensive, special offers

Disadvantages: not enough copies per year

I first got the August 2001 magazine by replying to an advert for a free copy, in the NASALG magazine, and ever since I've bought it religiously!
It is a monthly publication, priced at £2.90 which consists of around 65-70 pages, which are dedicated to life on the plot, whether you have a small veggie garden or a full blown allotment.

Each month it has regular features such as:
First Pickings - A round up of the months news and views.
Letters and Readers exchange - A valuable resource for sharing ideas, disasters and advice.
Competitions - Usually two or three with one being a large prize worth around £100.
Recipes - Something a little different to cook with your harvests.
Reader Offers - Bargain prices for plants, tools or accesories for your plot.
Pestwatch - A guide to the nasties that eat your crops before you do! And how to deter them.
On your plot - A guide to what to sow, tend and harvest at this time of the year.

There is a monthly feature on one type of fruit or vegetable which is very in depth and is usually a few pages long. This covers varieties, what to do when, pruning (if applicable), how to sow, grow etc. It also includes step by step pictures and photographs and is written by experts such as Andrew Tokely, Joy Larkcom, Peter Surridge et al.
Two of the writers have allotment plots, Edwin Oxlade and Phil McCann and they do a monthly report on their 'lottie' escapades from different viewpoints.
Each month Bob Flowerdew offers his opinions on a certain subject, his recent topics being greenhouses v. polytunnels, and watering sytems.
There are also reports on various gardens around the country which are open to the public, detailing their growing methods, and practices.
Chickens are another regular feature with Sue Hammon offering advise on keeping birds.
Lots of angles are approached, from hydroponics to bio-dynamics in an unbiased way, and wildlife and the environment are
taken seriously without making you feel guilty for using a little weedkiller!
More practical subjects are also investigated, such as composting, building raised beds, digging a well etc, and these subjects are tackled well with step by step instructions for the beginners without being patronising to the more advanced gardener.

As well as the competitions there are regular opportunities to try out new seed varieties, where seed companies such as Thompson and Morgan send you free packets on the proviso that you let them know how well they did by filling in a trial form with information such as sowing date, harvesting date, taste, yield etc.
Three or four times a year they also give away free seeds as a thankyou for buying the magazine. This year I had carrots, lettuce and tomatoes from Thompson and Morgan, so no skimping on the brands either!

They also have a website with forums of questions and answers posted daily by readers, which is an invaluable source of information and tips.

This is a great magazine on an otherwise ignored subject as it is difficult to find vegetable and fruit advice in any of the main gardening mags.

Summary: