In the 1940s, Adam the Gardener was a national treasure. Each week in the Sunday Express, he advised gardeners exactly what to plant and how - from carrots in the last week of May (but 'do this after sunset, when there is less chance of trouble from the carrot fly') to lily-of-the-valley in the final week of November.Accompanied by wonderful illustrations, Adam's charm and expertise won over thousands. Here, the weekly world of Adam the Gardener has been brought back to life for today's gardener, who will be just as readily captivated by his quiet reliability and encyclopaedic knowledge.As well as techniques - pruning and potting, forcing and grafting - and planting instructions for an impressive range of flowers, fruits and vegetables, also learn how to plan a new garden, what gadgets you will need (including an earwig trap) and all about colour harmony in the garden. This is a period gem that will delight and inform gardening enthusiasts of every stripe.

Author Biography

Adam the Gardener was drawn by Cyril Cowell, a much loved illustrator of the 1940s and 1950s who specialised in drawing animals and the natural world, especially for children's books (including Enid Blyton). It was written by Morley Adams, a journalist who was also credited with popularising the crossword in Britain. Alys Fowler has presented Gardeners' World and her own series, The Edible Garden. She has written several books and writes a weekly column on gardening for the Guardian Weekend magazine.