It’s midday on Saturday and Chas, formerly of Chas and Dave, is  currently being interviewed on Radio 2 about his latest gardening book.  We’d be interested to hear from anyone who has read Chas and His Rock ‘N’ Roll Allotment

Queen of the Herbs, Jekka McVicar, has taken her expert knowledge further to include recipes in her new book Jekka’s Herb Cookbook.  She has selected her 50 favourite herbs and devotes a chapter each, telling you how to grow, harvest and cook them.  The book has gorgeous illustrations by her daughter Hannah whose work is increasingly in demand.

The Royal Horticultural Society Allotment Handbook  is a welcome new guide from the ultimate authority on all matters horticultural.

Click to buy The RHS Allotment Handbook.

Christopher Lloyd: His Life at Great Dixter by Stephen Anderton.  Christopher Lloyd appointed Stephen Anderton as his authorised biographer before he died and, contrary to some reports that have been doing the rounds, Fergus Garrett and his team at Great Dixter are  quite happy with the book.  Christo was very much a man of his time, able to devote his entire life to his beloved garden without the need to earn a living elsewhere and Stephen Anderton’s book casts light on this life through his personal papers.  It is a fascinating insight into the life of one of our greatest gardeners who was as colourful as his garden.

Big Gardens in Small Spaces by Martyn Cox (Timber Press £18.99) is the ideal book for anyone whose horticultural ambitions are far larger than their garden.  Martyn has the same problem and has found ways to squeeze an improbably large number of plants into his small London garden.  It is an immensely practical book that will guide the reader through all the techniques and is full of clever ideas.  Home grown fruit and vegetables feature too in this book about his own urban pocket paradise.