New gardening books

There are two new gardening books that are both pretty enough to be presents, but full of really useful and practical information.

We’re in the middle of that fleeting but beautiful time when lilacs blossom, which are reportedly the Queen’s favourite flower.

Every time I see them I think that I must get a lilac for the garden, so I was interested to see “Lilacs: Beautiful Varieties For Home And Garden” (Pavilion), the third book in the series by Naomi Slade and Georgianna Lane.

It covers the history and care of lilacs, with lists and photographs of the best lilac varieties to grow. Lilacs are surprisingly hardy considering their beauty and can survive very cold winters.

Naomi’s previous two books are equally gorgeous: “Dahlias” and “Hydrangeas”, which are both plants that have a big flowering presence in the garden.

Head gardener and author Jane Moore also has a third book in a series out. “The Little Book Of Crops In Small Spots” (Quadrille) is a small, attractive hardback covering growing food in pots, containers, vertical gardens and raised beds, aimed specifically at those with only a balcony, small patio or window-sill.

It covers the basic equipment you’ll need, then picks the best crops for small-space growing. It identifies which plants are best for window growing, a small garden and crops in pots.

Crops in pots include tomatoes, beans and small fruit trees, and I was interested to see that she says that root vegetables, such as carrots and beetroot, are particularly good in pots.

Each crop has a neat little chart on the side, showing how long it takes from planting to harvest, how much feeding and watering it will need and how big it will grow.

And there are also some unusual varieties, plus a good gardener’s dictionary of terms. Jane’s previous books are “Planting For Wildlife” and “Planting For Butterflies”.