Heligan Produce Gardens
A treasure of Victorian forcing pots grows tender blanched stalks and can warm the earth for earlier growths in winter.
There were 22 gardeners before the first World War. I only spotted this one that day, recognized by his trowel-in-hand and proper British Wellies. The walled enclosure is titled the 'Flower Garden' that terminates on the axis of a round 'Dipping Pool', partially visible in the foreground. All the buildings' rain gutters fed into this reservoir for tedious hand watering as Victorian gardeners believed rainwater was superior to all else.
Pruned branches stuck on end make for excellent seasonal frames for tendril climbers such as table peas and flowering sweet peas. Hence the British term 'pea sticks'.
Herbs, perennials and some of the grounds choice vegetables reside within the boxwood knot garden's frames, while luxurious rows and rows of annuals fill the cutting garden across the dipping pool. By midsummer the produce of this walled garden swells into a floral feast.
The larger 1.8 acre 'Vegetable Garden' is bisected by a restored fruit-covered arbor being tunnel-trained over the central path. Heirloom varieties from the mid-19th century are a focus, though some exceptions are made for the sake of improved flavors of more modern varieties, in keeping with a successful Head Gardener's duty. Another era-deviation includes more organic practices, forgoing the use of Victorian insecticides such as arsenic and nicotina in the name of sensibilities over period accuracy.
Heligan
Wild : A Year of Nature in the Lost Garden
by Colin Howlett