Archive.org has a host of old gardening books (from mid-19th to mid-20th Century) available in many formats and on a host of topics. I happened across a few in my Pinterest feed and gone completely down the rabbit hole in this treasure trove of information. Sure some ideas might be out of date, but you never know what you might find when you explore these books. I’ll be sharing more books as I find them in the coming weeks. –Douglas

Historical Garden Books: Every man his own gardener : The complete gardener, or, Gardener’s calendar of work to be done in the kitchen, fruit, flower, forcing garden &c. for every month in the year (1843) – 13 in a Series

Historical Garden Books: Every man his own gardener : The complete gardener, or, Gardener's calendar of work to be done in the kitchen, fruit, flower, forcing garden &c. for every month in the year (1843) - 13 in a SeriesHistorical Garden Books: Every man his own gardener : The complete gardener, or, Gardener's calendar of work to be done in the kitchen, fruit, flower, forcing garden &c. for every month in the year (1843) - 13 in a Series

Download in Text, PDF, Single Page JPG, TORRENT from Archive.org

JANUARY.

WORK TO BE DONE IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN. PREPARATIONS FOR EARLY CROPS.

As early productions of several sorts of kitchen garden vegetables are in particular request, this is now the principal season to begin to make preparations in forwarding that business, whereby to raise the respective sorts required in early perfection, both by means of hotbeds, and by culture in the natural ground.

But as some particular sorts of the more tender species are to be obtained only by aid of hotbeds, such as cucumbers and melons ; and others of more hardy nature, when in request in the earliest season, require also the assistance of hotbeds, such as sallading, radishes, asparagus, kidneybeans, peas, &c. ; that where it is required to have any of these productions as early as possible, should now proceed in forwarding, in preparation, the necessary supplies of hot dung, rich earth, and other requisites proper in their cultivation, by hotbeds accordingly, as explained for each under its respective head.

And for several early natural crops in the full ground, should now prepare warm borders, and other similar compartments, in proper time for their reception, by manuring, where necessary; with proper dung, and giving a general good digging, ready for early peas, beans, radishes, spinach, &c. ; and for the particulars of which, see each sort under its respective head, as observed above in the hotbed articles.

More information on this book:

Publication date 1843
Usage Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
Topics Gardening, Gardening, Fruit, Flower gardening, Vegetable gardening
Publisher London : Printed for Thomas Tegg
Contributor University of Southampton
Language English
 

Learn more about gardening history with these books

††

* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
† Available from the LA Public Library

Read more on this topic:

  1. Historical Garden Books: Garden planning and planting by H. H. (Harry Higgott) Thomas, (1910) – 6 in a Series
  2. Historical Garden Books: Gardening a la Mode: Vegetables by Mrs. De Salis – 1 in a series
  3. Historical Garden Books: Gardening for amateurs; a simple, complete, and practical guide for garden lovers by H. H. (Harry Higgott) Thomas, (1915) – 7 in a Series
  4. Historical Garden Books: Flower Gardens by Henry Sherman Adams (1913) – 2 in a series
  5. Historical Garden Books: Colour in the flower garden by Gertrude Jekyll (1908) – 8 in a Series