first

garden
6 Xi ^k ^ i n
book
Angela Wilkes
 LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH,
contents
MELBOURNE, and DELHI
gardening by pictures 4

For Rose

Design Mathewson Bull, Roger Priddy,

Neville Graham, Matthew Schofield
Editorial Helen Drew, Jane Yorke, garden gear 6
Sue Nicholson, Sarah Davis
Photography Dave King
Illustrations Brian Delf
Consultant David Gardner
Production Sean Daly

DK Delhi
Editorial Manager Glenda Fernandes
Editor Pankhoori Sinha seed search 8
Art Director Shefali Upadhyay
Designers Neerja Rawat,
Mitun Banerjee
DTP Designer Harish Aggarwal
First published in the United States as
My First Garden Book in 1992
This revised edition published in 2008 by
DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 planting seeds 10
Copyright © 1992, 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited
07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

All rights reserved under International and Pan-

American Copyright Conventions. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
copyright owner. Published in Great Britain by Dorling
Kindersley Limited. salad garden 1
A catalog record for this book is available from the
Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-0-7566-3504-6

Color reproduction by Colourscan, Singapore

Printed and bound by Leo Paper Products Ltd., China
Discover more at
www.dk.com


 bulbs 14 new plants from old 2
spring flowers 16 from cuttings to plants 4

hanging baskets 18 vegetables in pots 6

garden in a basket 20 vegetables galore 8

window garden 40
garden in bloom 42

desert garden 22
desert in miniature 24

herb feast 44
mini knot garden 46
strawberry feast 26
from flower to fruit 28

pit planting 0 bushy tops 48


 gardening by pictures
Growing things is easy and fun and you don’t even need a garden!
First Garden Activity Book shows you how to grow flowers, herbs, fruits,
and vegetables on windowsills, balconies, and patios. Step-by-step
photographs show you what to do, and there are pictures of the finished
projects. You’ll find decorative stickers and seed envelopes at the back of the
book. Before you get started read the helpful pointers on these two pages.

How to use this book

The things you need Gardener’s tools Step-by-step
The plants and things you These illustrated checklists Step-by-step photographs
need for each project are show you which pieces of and clear instructions
shown, to help you make equipment to have ready show you what to do at
sure you have everything. before you start a project. each stage of the project.

window garden what to do

With a window box you can look out
on lots of flowers without having to gardener’s tools
go outside. Choose flowers in one or
two colors, or go for a riot of bright Scissors

colors. Look for plants with Bellflower

interesting leaves and for trailing Plant
food
plants to go at the front Trowel
Watering can Spray bottle
of the window box. Here
you can see what to do. You will need 1. Fill the bottom of the window 2. Half fill the window box with
The final result is on the Small plants (two or three of each kind): box with a layer of clay pellets potting soil. If the soil is very
just over 1 in (3 cm) deep, to dry, water it before you start
next page. stop the soil from getting soggy. planting anything.

Busy Lizzie
Daisy

3. Keeping the plants in their 4. One at a time, take each

pots, arrange where to put them. plant out of its pot and gently
Tall plants should go at the back loosen its roots by pulling them
and trailing ones at the front. free from the potting soil.

Potting soil
Pansy
Clay pellets
or gravel

A window box with 5. Dig a small hole. Gently put 6. Plant the other plants. Fill
drainage holes in the the first plant in, making sure its in the gaps between them with
bottom and a drip tray roots have enough room. Press soil and press it firmly, leaving
the soil around the plant. space for watering.

40 41


Things to remember
• Read the instructions before • Cover your work table with
you start, to make sure you have newspaper before you start.
everything you need. • After planting, clean your garden
• Check when to plant different things tools and tidy up any mess.
and which growing conditions they • Water and check your seeds, pits,
like best. and plants regularly—and watch
• Put on an apron or old shirt them grow.
and roll up your sleeves before • Be patient. Do not give up if things
you start. do not start to grow right away.
The final results Aftercare Information
Pictures show you what Many of the projects have The finished projects often
the finished projects look step-by-step instructions have notes around them,
like, making it easy for you showing you how to care for telling you more about
to copy them. the things you have planted. particular plants.

garden Watering Dead-heading Feeding Pest control New plants

in bloom
And here is the finished
window box! You can
copy this one, or try your
own plant arrangements.
Ask an adult to help you
move the full window Water the window box enough to The plants in the window box Once every six weeks or so, The simplest way to get rid of If one plant in the window box
box since it is heavy and keep the soil slightly moist. It will will flower for longer if you ‘‘feed’’ the plants by adding a greenfly on the plants is to spray dies, carefully dig it up. Plant
must sit safely on a need to be watered every day in regularly pick or snip off any little liquid plant food to the them with an organic pest killer. another in its place, pressing the
warm weather. dead flower heads. water in your watering can. Ask an adult to help. soil firmly around it.
strong window ledge. If
the window ledge slopes PANsY
a little, wedge pieces of We used two apricot-colored pansies
wood under the front of and two purple ones. Keep pansies well-
watered and dead-head them regularly.
the box, to keep it level.

The finished window box

DAIsY
This is a small plant
that produces pretty
flowers throughout the
summer.

busY lIzzIe (Impatiens)

Easy to care for, these plants have
flat-faced, bright flowers. They will stay in
bloom for most of the summer. bellFlOWer (Campanula)
This trailing variety of bellflower can also
be grown as an indoor plant. It blooms
from late summer to early winter.

42 43


 garden gear
Here are some of the tools and
other things that you will need
to start gardening. You can use
the stickers at the back of the Potting soil. This is light soil Gravel (or clay
book to decorate your pots, trays, with plant food added to it. pellets), to stop
and gardening tools. Gather There are different types the holes in
everything together and you will of potting soil: some for seeds flowerpots from
be ready to start planting! and cuttings, and others for getting blocked
larger plants

Small
watering
can

Liquid plant
food, to replace
the minerals in
soil that plants
use up
Scissors

Seed trays with drainage holes

Spray
bottle

Drip trays


 Marker pen, for labeling things

Teaspoon, for
moving seedlings

Trowel

Small fork

Garden twine or string

Garden stakes,
for supporting
droopy plants

Ties, for holding plants to sticks

Plant labels

Envelopes, for collecting seeds.

You can find some seed
Flowerpots with drainage envelopes to make at the back Plastic bags, for covering
holes in the bottom of the book. flowerpots when planting seeds


 seed search
You can easily buy flower seeds, but it is far
more interesting to collect them yourself. HoneStY
Seeds come in a fascinating variety of shapes Honesty has flat,
and sizes, depending on how different round seed pods
that turn silver
plants scatter them. You can when the seeds are
gather flower seeds throughout ripe. Rub the pods
between your fingers
the summer and tree seeds in to release the seeds.
the fall. Here are some Collecting seeds
of the more interesting types Look for seeds once a flower’s
of seeds that you may find. petals have died and a seed head
has formed. The seeds are ripe
when they are brown. Cut off the
seed head and shake the seeds into
a paper bag. Put the seeds in a
small envelope, seal and label it,
and keep it in a cool, dark place.

poppY
Poppies have seed
pods like pepper
boxes. When the
wind blows, the fine Sweet pea
seeds are shaken out Collect the seed pods
of the seed heads. when they are turning
brown. Snap them
open to find the seeds.

love-in-a-miSt
This flower has puffed-up seed
pods. The seeds are ripe when
the pods turn brown.


Tree seeds
It is best to look for tree seeds early in the fall,
before the birds and animals have removed them.
Store tree seeds in a cool, dark place until the end
of winter, then plant them.
plane Tree
The seeds are encased
in unusual puffballs.

Maple acorns horse chesTnuTs

Each set of “wings” These are the seeds The shiny seeds are carried in
carries two seeds. of the oak tree. prickly cases.

hollyhock sunflower
Pick the seed heads The striped seeds
from the tall stems are packed together
once the flowers in unusual patterns
have died. on the massive
flowerheads.

Marigold
Marigolds have tight
clusters of crescent-
shaped seeds that turn
brown as they ripen.


 planting seeds
If you plant flower seeds indoors in
early spring they will be big enough
to plant outside once the weather is
warmer. You can grow most annuals
and biennials* from seed. Read the
backs of seed packets to find out Potting soil**
exactly when to plant different You will need
flowers, which growing
conditions they need, and
how often to water them.
Acorns

Ties for
plastic bags
Nasturtium
seeds

Sunflower
seeds

Plastic bags Plant labels

Poppy seeds
gardener’s tools what to do

Seed trays Flowerpots and

drip trays

Watering
can 1. Fill the flowerpots and seed 2. Planting big seeds. Push each
trays with potting soil to about one about half an inch (1 cm)
Pen (for labels) Trowel half an inch (1 cm) from the top deep in the soil. Label pots with
of the pot. Water the soil lightly. the name of the seed planted.

*Annuals live for one year. Biennials live for two years, **Special compost for young plants.
10 but usually only flower the second year.

3. Plant small seeds in seed trays.
Sprinkle the seeds on to the soil.
Cover them with a thin layer of
soil. Label the tray.
4. Tie plastic bags over the
flowerpots and seed trays and put
them in a warm, dark place†.
Check the seeds every day.
5. As soon as shoots appear, take
off the plastic bags and move
the seeds into the light. Water
the soil to keep it damp.
†
Such as a cupboard.
1.
From seed to plant
Some of the easiest flowers to
grow are nasturtiums. Here you
can see how a seedling develops.
This plant stayed in one pot,
but seedlings planted in seed
trays will need to be carefully
dug up and moved to separate
pots, or into the garden, once You can see the nasturtium’s
they are big enough. first two leaves.
2. 3.
The seedling grows fast. The first The stem shoots up between them
two leaves grow bigger. and more leaves appear. The
young plant needs a lot of light.
4.
Buds appear, then
the nasturtium starts
to flower. Since it is
a climbing plant,
you should tie it to
a garden stake as it
grows bigger. The
plant will twine
around the stake.
11
 salad garden
You don’t always need flowerpots and You will need
potting soil to grow things. You can Different seeds:
grow all kinds of tasty, crunchy things
to add to salads on just cotton soaked
in water. Try sprouting different
seeds, beans, and grains, and you can Wheat grains
harvest your own mini-crop of
vitamin-packed salad sprouts.
The seeds will sprout all year round
and you can grow them on a
windowsill or in any light
place indoors.

Alfalfa sprouts Mustard seeds

Cotton Mung beans Watercress seeds

gardener’s tools what to do

Shallow dishes
Ties

Plastic bags

Bowl
Strainer Jelly jars

1. Rinse beans and grains in a 2. Dip pieces of cotton in water,

strainer under a tap. Put each then gently squeeze most of the
Labels
Pen Spray bottle
sort in a jar of warm water to water out. Line the dishes with
soak for 12 hours, then rinse the damp cotton.
them.
12
3. Sprinkle a tablespoonful of 4. Tie plastic bags over the 5. As soon as the seeds sprout,
one type of bean or grain over the bowls, to keep the seeds moist. take off the plastic bags and
cotton in each bowl. Label each Put the bowls in a warm, dark move them to a light place. Spray
one to say what is in it. place. Check them every day. them with water every day.

The sprouting seeds mung beAnS ALfALfA

Most of the seeds, beans, and grains These are the classic This grows very quickly
will have started to sprout in two to Chinese bean sprouts. and looks like watercress
three days. They will be ready to pick Pick them when they with smaller leaves.
after five to seven days, when they are are still pale and have
still young and tender. Snip them off no leaves.
the cotton and sprinkle them on
salads or add them to sandwiches.

wheAT
This looks like young
grass. Snip it and
sprinkle it on salads or
add it to your pet’s food.

13
 bulbs Gravel or
Many of the prettiest spring flowers clay pellets
grow from bulbs and are easy to grow
indoors. Buy bulbs in the fall and
plant them right away, to flower the
next spring. Choose small varieties to
grow in small pots and grow only the
same plants in any one pot. To bloom
well, all bulbs have to be put in a
cool, dark place for a while. Turn
the page to see a stunning array
of flowers grown from bulbs.

You will need

Different bulbs:

gardener’s tools

Flowerpots

Watering can Trowel

Hyacinths Dwarf tulips Daffodils:
large trumpet
planting bulbs

1. Shovel a little gravel or some 2. Half fill the flowerpots with 3. Arrange big bulbs close
clay pellets into the bottom of potting soil. Instead of the together with their pointed ends
your flowerpots or containers, to potting soil you could use up. Add more soil. Let the bulbs
keep the soil from getting soggy. special bulb fiber if you like. poke out of the soil.

14
 Potting soil

What is a bulb?
Here the bulb of a hyacinth in
flower has been cut in half, so
that you can see what is inside it.

Food supply
A bulb is like an
onion inside. It is
a kind of under-
ground food store.
The plant rests for
most of the year,
then uses the food
in the bulb to grow.

Roots
Bulbs have
to grow strong
Narcissi: Grape Crocuses Miniature roots before they
can be brought
multiheaded hyacinths irises into the light.

4. Arrange small bulbs with the 5. Water the pots, then put
pointed ends up. Add soil to them in a cool, dark place for
cover them and fill the pot to 8–12 weeks. Check the soil
about 1 in (2 cm) below the rim. regularly, to ensure it is moist.

Turn the page to see what to do next. 15

 spring flowers
When the bulbs have shoots about 1 in dWarf daffodil
(2 cm) tall, move the flowerpots into the light, “Tête-à-tête” is a tiny golden
daffodil with swept-back
but keep them in a cool place. Most bulbs will petals. It is a member of the
flower four to five months after planting. narcissus family of bulbs.
They will flower best in a cool room.
When the flowers have died, cut off the dead
flower heads and let the leaves dry up,
then plant the bulbs outside if you can, chionodoxa
Commonly known as
since they will not flower indoors again. “Glory-of-the-snow.” It
The beautifully colored flowers shown has starry blue flowers
with white eyes.
here all bloom in early spring.

crocus
One of the first spring flowers,
it has funnel-shaped white,
purple, or yellow flowers. It
grows from a corm.*

scilla
This tiny plant has
small, bright blue,
bell-shaped flowers.

16 *A stem that grows under the surface of the soil.

puschkinia hyacinth
This tiny rock garden Hyacinths have heavy spikes of
plant has spikes of sweetly scented flowers, which may
star-shaped white or need to be supported by garden
pale blue flowers. stakes. Try growing hyacinths in
water in special bulb jars, so that
you can watch the roots grow.
waterlily tulip
A dwarf tulip that has
white flowers with red
and yellow centers. Like
other lily-flowered tulips,
the flowers open out flat
in the sun.
17
 hanging baskets
A hanging basket is one of the gardener’s tools
prettiest mini-gardens you can make
and you can hang it where you like.
We used spring flowers in blues and Scissors
yellows for our basket. For a summer
basket, look for fuchsias, geraniums,
Watering can
busy lizzies, and lobelia. Turn the Trowel Water spray
page for the finished basket.

You will need

Lightweight
potting soil
Pansies

Grape
hyacinths

Plastic trash
A wire basket with can liner
a chain handle Sphagnum
moss

18
 planting up
the basket

Primulas or
polyanthus

1. Line the inside of the wire

basket with a thick layer of
sphagnum moss. You should not
Drumstick be able to see any light through it.
primula

2. Cut a piece of trash can liner

big enough to line the inside of
the basket. Lay it over the moss
and trim the edges.

Trailing
variegated
ivy plants

3. Wrap each ivy plant in a small

piece of plastic shaped into a
cone. The narrow end of the cone
should be around the leaves.

19
 garden in a basket
Here is the finished basket, overflowing with spring
flowers. A hanging basket is very heavy when full,
so ask an adult to hang it up for you and check that
it is fastened securely. Hang it in a place where you
can see the plants well, and make sure that it is low
enough for you to water easily.

grAPe
HyAcinTHs
planting up These spring flowers
grow from bulbs,
the basket but you can buy
(continued) them as plants, too.

4. Make holes in the plastic liner.

Thread the cone-wrapped leaves
of the ivy plants through the
holes. Pull the plastic cones away.

5. Thread a few more plants

through the base of the basket in
the same way, then half fill the sPHAgnuM Moss
basket with potting soil.

20
 chAin

pRimulA
DRumsTick
pRimulA
There are many different
kinds of primula. They all
flower in early to mid spring.

6. Arrange and plant the rest of

the plants in the basket. Fill the
gaps between the plants with
soil and water them well.

Watering

Water and spray the basket

to keep the soil damp.
Baskets need watering once or
pAnsies twice a day in hot weather.
These are winter-
flowering pansies. They Dead-heading
will flower throughout
the winter and spring,
as long as you dead-
head them regularly.

vARiegATeD ivy
Trailing ivy plants are
useful for hanging baskets The plants in the basket will last
since they provide greenery longer if you regularly snip off
and trail prettily around any dead flower heads or leaves.
the bottom of the basket.
Replace any plants that die.

21
desert garden
Buy small succulents and create a mini
desert in your home. Succulents are plants
that can survive without much water as
they store it in their leaves or stems.
gardener’s tools
Small spoon
Try different arrangements with
non-prickly plants in contrasting
shapes and colors. Turn the page
to see a finished desert garden.
You will need
Small succulents:

Trowel
Watering
Scissors can

Gravel or coarse Wart plant

pebbles (Haworthia
attenuata)

Grit or
coarse
sand

Potting soil

Shallow container
or deep tray
 Sedum sieboldii what to do
“Mediovariegatum”

1. Put a thin layer of gravel in 2. Keeping the plants in their

Hen and the bottom of the container. pots, try out different
chickens Cover with potting soil until the arrangements to see where
(Echeveria) container is half full. you want to plant them.

Flaming Katy
(Kalanchoe
blossfeldiana)

3. Carefully remove the plants 4. Gently spoon grit or coarse

from their pots, and plant sand over the surface of the soil,
them. Fill in the gaps between then water lightly to settle the
them with more potting soil. soil and plants.
Sedum*

Elephant bush Jade plant

(Portulacaria afra) (Crassula ovata)
“Variegata”

Sedum*

* There are more

than 200 types of sedum. 23
 desert in miniature
Succulents like a lot of light, so put the finished
mini-desert in a brightly lit window. The plants
have a rest period in winter, so water the garden
less often then. It is a good idea to put the
desert garden outside in a sunny, sheltered spot
during the warm summer months, since this
helps the plants to grow stronger.

Watering SeDum

elephanT
buSh
Water the desert garden only (portulacaria afra)
“Variegata”
when the surface of the soil has
dried out. Desert plants like to
dry out and then be watered.

Trimming
WarT planT
(haworthia attenuata)

If any of the plants grow
“branches” that are long
and straggly cut them off with
a small pair of scissors.
flamIng kaTy
(kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
This plant’s bright flowers
last a long time. Replace
when it has stopped
flowering, since it will not
flower again.

24
 The finished garden
The miniature desert garden looks
surprisingly green and fresh. To add
interest to the garden, you could
arrange decorative pebbles or shells
around the plants.

jade planT
(crassula ovata)
This plant is also
sometimes known as
the money plant.

replacing
plants

hen and
chIckenS
(echeveria)
The name comes from
this plant family’s
habit of growing baby If a plant grows too big,
plants around the gently dig it up with a teaspoon
main plant. and replant it in a flowerpot or
container of its own.

Sedum
SIeboldII
“Mediovariegatum”

Replace the big plant with

a smaller one. Slide the new
plant out of its pot, plant it, and
firm the soil and sand around it.

25
strawberry feast
Gardening is not just about growing
flowers or indoor plants; you can grow
lots of different things to eat, too. Try
growing your own strawberry plant and
watching how the fruit actually Young strawberry
plant or plants.
develops. You do not need lots of You can buy these at
space—with a little care, you can grow garden centers from
scrumptious strawberries in a simple You will need late spring onward.
flowerpot. Here you can find out what
to do and on the next two pages you can
see how the flowers and fruit grow.

gardener’s tools

Trowel

Scissors Watering can

A flowerpot for
each plant

Loam or soil-based
potting soil Gravel or
clay pellets
 what to do

1. Put a layer of gravel about 2. Shovel a little potting

half an inch (1 cm) deep in the soil into the flowerpot,
bottom of the flowerpot, to stop leaving plenty of space for
the soil from becoming soggy. the strawberry plant’s roots.

3. If the strawberry plant’s roots 4. Lower the plant into the

Drip tray for are all curled up, gently untangle flowerpot so that its roots touch
each flowerpot them with your fingers and the potting soil and its crown is
shake them free of extra soil. just below the pot rim.

5. Fill the flowerpot almost to 6. Give the plant lots of water.

the top with soil, heaping it up Check the potting soil regularly
to the base of the plant’s leaves. and water it enough to keep it
Tap the soil down. moist.

27
 from flower to fruit Flowerbud
protected by
the green,
Strawberries are woodland fruits cup-shaped calyx.
and they grow well in the shade,
but the fruit will grow and ripen
better either indoors or outside, if
the plants are kept in a sunny place.
Water the soil often enough
to keep it moist. Then sit back,
wait, and watch carefully as the
flowers are transformed into
perfect, delicious strawberries.

The growing plant If the plant grows any runners,

1. At first, the plant just grows cut them off at the base. This helps
more and bigger leaves. Then the plant to grow better fruit.
a stem grows and flowerbuds
appear at the end of it.
Swelling center
of flower
From bud to flower
2. The buds open out into white
flowers with yellowish-green Bud
centers. When the flower petals
die and fall off, the centers of
the flowers start to swell. Flower

28
 Green strawberry

Green strawberries
3. The plant is still flowering.
The centers of the first flowers
now look like small, hard,
green strawberries. Keep
the plant well-watered
while the fruit is forming.

Flower The leaves are

still growing

The ripening fruit

4. The strawberries grow larger and
heavier. As they ripen, they turn a
creamy color, then become tinged
with pink. Finally they turn red. Unripe, green
strawberry Ripe strawberry
Dying flower

Picking
Pick the strawberries
when they are red,
keeping the little
green caps on.

29
pit planting
Every time you eat fruit, you throw away the
seeds or pits in the middle, but have you ever
thought of planting them instead? If you give the
seeds the right conditions and are patient, you
will be surprised at what will grow: many produce
handsome plants. The best time of year to plant Grape seeds
seeds is in the spring. Here you can find out what
to do and see how an avocado pit grows.
Peach pit
gardener’s tools You will need
Different seeds and pits:

Flowerpots

Plant labels Plastic bags Orange or

lemon seeds
Bowl Trowel

Potting soil

Apple seeds

Avocado pit
what to do

1. Soak big pits in water for 2. Plant avocado pits pointed 3. Label each pot to say what is
24 hours. Put some soil in a end up, sticking out of the soil. in it. Put each pot in a plastic
bowl and water it. Stir it, then Plant pits about half an inch bag and tie the bag, then put
fill small pots with the soil. (1 cm) down in pots of soil. the pots in a warm, dark place.

The growing plant

Check the flowerpots every day. The first leaves soon
As soon as you see a shoot in one of grow quite large.
them, move it to a light place and
take off the plastic bag. Water the
young plant regularly, just enough
to keep the soil moist, and watch
it grow. Here you can see the
first stages in the
development of an 3.
avocado plant.
New, young
leaves

2.
From pit to plant
Avocado pits take If the plant seems to
six to seven weeks The stem grows be growing too tall,
to sprout. The pit quickly and the pinch out the growing
splits, a root grows first leaves begin shoot at the top. This When the plant
down into the to open out. encourages the plant shows signs of
soil, and a shoot to grow bushier. growing too big for
emerges at the top. its pot, move it to a
Young side shoots fresh pot of soil the
next size up.
1.

31
 new plants
from old
Take cuttings from your houseplants in the
spring and you can grow lots of new plants.
A cutting is part of a plant that you cut off and
plant so that it grows roots of its own. It may
be a leaf, stem, or plantlets. Here you can see
how to take three types of cutting.

You will need

Painted leaf begonia
These begonias have striking,
colored, heart-shaped leaves and
are ideal for leaf cuttings. You can
also take leaf cuttings from African
violets (Saintpaulia).

Seed and cuttings

soil

32
 Taking leaf cuttings

Tradescantia
It is easiest to take 1. Cut a healthy-looking leaf and 2. Water the soil to make it
stem cuttings from
tradescantia. Other its stalk off a begonia or African moist. Tie a plastic bag over the
good plants to take violet. Plant the stalk in a leaf and flowerpot, and put it in
stem cuttings from flowerpot of potting soil. a warm place out of the sun.
are geraniums,
mint, and coleus. Taking stem cuttings

Spider plant
These trailing plants grow
long runners with baby
plantlets at the end,
which you can pot to
make new plants.
1. Cut a strong shoot about 3 in 2. Plant the cutting in a
(6 cm) long off the tradescantia or flowerpot of potting soil. Or
other plant, just below a leaf. Trim stand it in a glass of water, to
gardener’s tools the bottom leaves off the stem. watch it grow roots*.

Plantlets
Trowel

Ties
Glass
Spray bottle

Scissors Flowerpots
Watering
can

1. The plantlets from a spider 2. Trim the lower leaves off the
plant’s runners have roots. When plantlets, then plant them in
Plastic bags the roots are half an inch (1 cm) pots of moist soil, making sure
long, cut plantlets off the runners. the roots are covered.

*Once the cutting has grown roots, you should plant it in soil. 33
 from cuttings to plants
Checking for growth Watering Spraying

After a few weeks, take the bags Keep an eye on the cuttings. Gently spray the cuttings with
off the pots and tug the cuttings Water them when the soil has water from time to time. This
gently. If they are rooted firmly in dried out. Put water in the drip cleans the leaves and stems and
the soil, leave the bags off. trays, not on the soil. keeps them from drying out.

Here are some young PAInTed leAf SPIder PlAnT

plants growing from beGonIA This plant was grown
different types of from a plantlet. You
cutting. The can pot plantlets from
African violet strawberry gerani-
and begonia ums (Saxifraga
started as stolonifera) in the
leaf same way.
cuttings.
AfrICAn
vIoleT

34
Encouraging growth
If a baby plant is growing too
tall and straggly, pick off the
growing tips of the shoots. This
makes the plant grow bushier.
TRadEscanTIa
This cutting has rooted in
a glass of water. When the
roots are 1–2 in (2–4 cm)
long, the cutting should
be planted in a pot of soil.
Repotting
1. If roots are showing at the
bottom of a plant’s pot, you
should repot the plant. Gently
tip the plant out into your hand.
aEonIum
Some succulents grow
small plants around their
stems. Break these off and
plant them in separate
pots of soil.
2. Plant it in a new and larger
pot, filled with fresh new soil.
Water the plant and put it in a
shady place for about a week.
PIlEa
This plant was grown from a
stem cutting taken in the spring.
35
 vegetables in pots
You don’t need a garden to grow
vegetables. You can grow small or
dwarf varieties very successfully in
flowerpots and other containers on You will need
a balcony, strong window ledge, or Different types of seed:
Potting soil
patio. Here you can see how to
plant vegetables. Look at the backs
of seed packets to find out when
and where to plant them. Turn the
page to see some vegetables growing!
Lettuce Dwarf pea
gardener’s tools

Trowel

Seed trays
Flowerpots
Dwarf bean Radish

Watering
can Plant food

Pen (for labels)

Spray bottle

Beets Zucchini
what to do

1. Fill the seed trays and 2. Plant big seeds in flowerpots. 3. Plant small seeds in seed trays.
flowerpots with soil and water Push each about half an inch (1 Sprinkle them over the soil, then
the soil a little, so that it is moist cm) deep into the soil. Use the cover them with a thin layer of
but not soaking wet. labels provided to name each pot. soil. Label them.

36
 Ties

Plastic bags
Clay pellets or gravel

Ties
Labels

Garden stakes

4. Spray the seed trays and 5. As soon as shoots appear, take 6. When the seedlings grow too
flowerpots with water. Tie the plastic bags off the seeds and big for their pots or trays, dig
plastic bags over them and put move them into the light. Spray them up very carefully and plant
them in a warm, dark place. the soil with water. them in separate flowerpots.

37
 vegetables galore
Follow the instructions on the seed packets and remember
to water your vegetables often to keep the soil moist.
Then watch them grow! Here you can follow the
progress of a lettuce and a dwarf green bean plant.

2.
leTTuce 1.

3.

Pick the
lettuce before
its leaves open
Tiny seedlings appear in the One of the small lettuces has out too far.
seed tray. The first true leaves been moved to its own pot.
are beginning to show.

dwarF green bean planT 3.

1. The stem grows
quickly and the
Remains plant’s first real
of seed leaves begin to
First
open from between
the two halves of
2. The leaves ...and
leaves the old seed. grow bigger... bigger.

38
 5.

Young bean
forming

Flowers

As the plant grows,

twist the stem around
a garden stake and tie
it in place, to give it
support. Spray the
flowers with water. This
helps the beans to grow.

Tie

harvesting
The beans are
tastiest when they
are small. Pick
The plant is
4. them when they
are about 4 in (10
now growing cm) long and snap Garden
very fast and stake
young leaves easily when bent.
are sprouting
everywhere.

39
 window garden
With a window box you can look out
on lots of flowers without having to gardener’s tools
go outside. Choose flowers in one or
two colors, or go for a riot of bright Scissors

colors. Look for plants with

interesting leaves and for trailing Plant
food
plants to go at the front of the Trowel
Watering can Spray bottle
window box. Here you
can see what to do. You will need
The final result is on Small plants (two or three of each kind):
the next page.

Daisy

Potting soil
Clay pellets
or gravel

40
 what to do

Bellflower

1. Fill the bottom of the window 2. Half fill the window box with
box with a layer of clay pellets potting soil. If the soil is very
just over 1 in (3 cm) deep, to dry, water it before you start
stop the soil from getting soggy. planting anything.

Busy Lizzie

3. Keeping the plants in their 4. One at a time, take each

pots, arrange where to put them. plant out of its pot and gently
Tall plants should go at the back loosen its roots by pulling them
and trailing ones at the front. free from the potting soil.

Pansy

A window box with 5. Dig a small hole. Gently put 6. Plant the other plants. Fill
drainage holes in the the first plant in, making sure its in the gaps between them with
bottom and a drip tray roots have enough room. Press soil and press it firmly, leaving
the soil around the plant. space for watering.

41
 garden Watering Dead-heading

in bloom
And here is the finished
window box! You can
copy this one, or try your
own plant arrangements.
Ask an adult to help you
move the full window Water the window box enough to The plants in the window box
box since it is heavy and keep the soil slightly moist. It will will flower for longer if you
must sit safely on a need to be watered every day in regularly pick or snip off any
warm weather. dead flower heads.
strong window ledge. If
the window ledge slopes
a little, wedge pieces of
wood under the front of
the box, to keep it level.

The finished window box

DAIsY
This is a small plant
that produces pretty
flowers throughout
the summer.

busY lIzzIe (Impatiens)

Easy to care for, these plants have
flat-faced, bright flowers. They will stay in
bloom for most of the summer.

42
Feeding Pest control New plants

Once every six weeks or so, The simplest way to get rid of If one plant in the window box
‘‘feed’’ the plants by adding a greenfly on the plants is to spray dies, carefully dig it up. Plant
little liquid plant food to the them with an organic pest killer. another in its place, pressing the
water in your watering can. Ask an adult to help. soil firmly around it.

PANsy
We used two apricot-colored pansies
and two purple ones. Keep pansies well-
watered and dead-head them regularly.

bellFlOwer (Campanula)
This trailing variety of bellflower can also
be grown as an indoor plant. It blooms
from late summer to early winter.

43
herb feast You will need
Small herb
For centuries people have plants:
grown herbs to flavor food, to
make medicines, and even to
keep evil spirits away. Here
and on the next three pages
you can see how to recreate a
traditional ornamental herb
Pot marjoram
garden in a large container,
full of useful kitchen herbs.

gardener’s tools

French or flat-leaved
Trowel
parsley (you need
eight small plants) Lemon thyme

String
Watering can

Scissors

Gravel or
clay pellets
Potting soil
planting the container

1. Fill the bottom of the 2. Add soil to the container 3. Plant the feverfew in the
container with a layer of gravel or until it is about three-quarters center of the pot. Plant the
clay pellets 1 in (3 cm) deep. This full. This leaves plenty of space parsley in two diagonal lines
keeps the soil from getting soggy. for planting the herbs. crossing over the feverfew.

4. Plant the sage, rosemary, 5. Press the potting soil down

marjoram, and thyme in the firmly all around the plants.
triangular spaces between the Add more soil if needed. Water
lines of parsley. the herbs well.

Rosemary Purple-leaved sage Feverfew

Large, square
container

45
 mini knot garden
Traditional knot gardens were divided
into patterns by small hedge plants.
In this knot garden, parsley is used to
make a simple cross pattern and the
other herbs give contrasting colors
and textures. Here you can find out
more about the herbs used.

parSley
Parsley is one of the most useful kitchen herbs. It
likes some shade and a lot of water. It only lasts
for one summer, so you will need to replace it if
you keep the knot garden for longer.

roSemary
An aromatic, evergreen shrub with small
blue flowers in spring. Rosemary grows
best in a sunny sheltered place. It grows
tall, so keep it well trimmed.

golden feverfew
A medicinal herb with aromatic
golden-green leaves and pretty daisylike
flowers. Prefers a sunny position.

Trimming the herbs

Snip or pick the herbs often,

especially the parsley, to help them
grow bushy and to keep the shape
of the knot garden.

46
purple sage
One of many types of sage. A strongly
scented evergreen plant with small,
purplish flowers. Likes a sunny place.

leMon thyMe
One of many types of thyme. Dark green
leaves with a lemon scent and tiny pink
flowers in summer. Likes sun. Much loved
by bees and butterflies.

bouquet
garni
This is a small
bunch or ‘‘bouquet’’
of fresh herbs used
to add flavor to
stews and casseroles.

Making a bouquet garni

Cut short sprigs of different

herbs and tie them together in
a small bunch with a piece of
string, as shown.

pot MarjoraM
Strongly flavored herb with pink
or white flowers that attract bees.
Likes sun. Perennial that needs to
be cut back before winter.

47
 bushy tops
When you buy vegetables at the grocery, you think
of them as something to eat and may never see
what they look like when they are growing in the
ground. Vegetables and fruits do not die when they
are picked, and with a little patience you
can grow surprisingly attractive plants from
kitchen leftovers. Here you Vermiculite or soil-less compost
can find out how to grow (you can buy this from
bushy green plants a garden center)
from carrot and
parsnip tops.

You will need

gardener’s tools

Flowerpots Carrots
Parsnips
Knife
Spray bottle

what to do
Fill the flowerpots with
vermiculite. Cut off the top of
each vegetable. Plant the tops on
the vermiculite. Spray with water.
Put the flowerpots in a warm,
dark place. Check them every
day to make sure the vermiculite
stays moist.
neW PlantS
At the first sign of growth,
put the flowerpots in a light
place. Spray them with water,
to keep the vermiculite moist,
and they will soon grow into
strong, bushy plants. You can
move them to larger pots of
potting soil as they grow
bigger, but they will not grow
new carrots or parsnips.

48