Chris Bird has over twenty-five years of horticultural teaching experience in guiding learners through the complete suite of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) qualifications, together with other horticultural qualifications including the BTEC National Diploma and City and Guilds Subsidiary, Diploma and Extended Diploma. He has co-ordinated Sparsholt College's Chelsea Flower Show educational gardens for the past fourteen years, winning fourteen RHS show medals, including five at gold level, and has written articles for a number of gardening magazines.

'It is fantastic to have one ultimate reference text that students can refer to at all levels and that covers both the science behind growing plants and the application of science in plant management, propagation and production. This is an up-to-date look at developments in the horticultural industry and growing techniques in harmony with traditional approaches to horticultural techniques and practices. Extremely thorough but easy to read, superbly illustrated and the revision questions at the end of each chapter are invaluable for those students who want to check their own learning and go further with their studies. The case studies are extremely useful and relevant to modern teaching and learning methods. I will definitely be recommending this as the new bible for my students at all levels.' Caroline Wright, Nottingham Trent University

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; Part I. The Foundations: 1. Plant diversity Mike Thomas-Buffin and Tim Upson; 2. Plant structure Kelvin Mason; 3. Light Daphne Vince-Prue; 4. Water and its importance for plants Daphne Vince-Prue; 5. Climate, weather and seasonal effects Daphne Vince-Prue; 6. Soils and plant nutrients Chris Bird; 7. Flowers, fruits, and seeds Kelvin Mason; Part II. The Adjustments: 8. Propagating plants vegetatively Daphne Vince-Prue and Rosie Yeomans; 9. Gardening for science Aaron Mills; 10. Shaping plants Daphne Vince-Prue and Chris Bird; 11. Protected cultivation Chris Allen; Part III. The Applications: 12. Gardening for food Chris Bird; 13. Designing gardens and landscapes Jenny Shukman; 14. Using plants in the garden Jenny Shukman and Rosie Yeomans; 15. Gardening for science Aaron Mills; 16. Commercial horticulture Chris Allen; 17. Integrated pest management Neil Helyer; 18. Conservation and sustainability Jenny Shukman; Appendixes; Glossary; Figure credits; Index.

Chris Bird has over twenty-five years of horticultural teaching experience in guiding learners through the complete suite of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) qualifications, together with other horticultural qualifications including the BTEC National Diploma and City and Guilds Subsidiary, Diploma and Extended Diploma. He has co-ordinated Sparsholt College's Chelsea Flower Show educational gardens for the past fourteen years, winning fourteen RHS show medals, including five at gold level, and has written articles for a number of gardening magazines.

'It is fantastic to have one ultimate reference text that students can refer to at all levels and that covers both the science behind growing plants and the application of science in plant management, propagation and production. This is an up-to-date look at developments in the horticultural industry and growing techniques in harmony with traditional approaches to horticultural techniques and practices. Extremely thorough but easy to read, superbly illustrated and the revision questions at the end of each chapter are invaluable for those students who want to check their own learning and go further with their studies. The case studies are extremely useful and relevant to modern teaching and learning methods. I will definitely be recommending this as the new bible for my students at all levels.' Caroline Wright, Nottingham Trent University

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; Part I. The Foundations: 1. Plant diversity Mike Thomas-Buffin and Tim Upson; 2. Plant structure Kelvin Mason; 3. Light Daphne Vince-Prue; 4. Water and its importance for plants Daphne Vince-Prue; 5. Climate, weather and seasonal effects Daphne Vince-Prue; 6. Soils and plant nutrients Chris Bird; 7. Flowers, fruits, and seeds Kelvin Mason; Part II. The Adjustments: 8. Propagating plants vegetatively Daphne Vince-Prue and Rosie Yeomans; 9. Gardening for science Aaron Mills; 10. Shaping plants Daphne Vince-Prue and Chris Bird; 11. Protected cultivation Chris Allen; Part III. The Applications: 12. Gardening for food Chris Bird; 13. Designing gardens and landscapes Jenny Shukman; 14. Using plants in the garden Jenny Shukman and Rosie Yeomans; 15. Gardening for science Aaron Mills; 16. Commercial horticulture Chris Allen; 17. Integrated pest management Neil Helyer; 18. Conservation and sustainability Jenny Shukman; Appendixes; Glossary; Figure credits; Index.

Chris Bird has over twenty-five years of horticultural teaching experience in guiding learners through the complete suite of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) qualifications, together with other horticultural qualifications including the BTEC National Diploma and City and Guilds Subsidiary, Diploma and Extended Diploma. He has co-ordinated Sparsholt College's Chelsea Flower Show educational gardens for the past fourteen years, winning fourteen RHS show medals, including five at gold level, and has written articles for a number of gardening magazines.

'It is fantastic to have one ultimate reference text that students can refer to at all levels and that covers both the science behind growing plants and the application of science in plant management, propagation and production. This is an up-to-date look at developments in the horticultural industry and growing techniques in harmony with traditional approaches to horticultural techniques and practices. Extremely thorough but easy to read, superbly illustrated and the revision questions at the end of each chapter are invaluable for those students who want to check their own learning and go further with their studies. The case studies are extremely useful and relevant to modern teaching and learning methods. I will definitely be recommending this as the new bible for my students at all levels.' Caroline Wright, Nottingham Trent University

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; Part I. The Foundations: 1. Plant diversity Mike Thomas-Buffin and Tim Upson; 2. Plant structure Kelvin Mason; 3. Light Daphne Vince-Prue; 4. Water and its importance for plants Daphne Vince-Prue; 5. Climate, weather and seasonal effects Daphne Vince-Prue; 6. Soils and plant nutrients Chris Bird; 7. Flowers, fruits, and seeds Kelvin Mason; Part II. The Adjustments: 8. Propagating plants vegetatively Daphne Vince-Prue and Rosie Yeomans; 9. Gardening for science Aaron Mills; 10. Shaping plants Daphne Vince-Prue and Chris Bird; 11. Protected cultivation Chris Allen; Part III. The Applications: 12. Gardening for food Chris Bird; 13. Designing gardens and landscapes Jenny Shukman; 14. Using plants in the garden Jenny Shukman and Rosie Yeomans; 15. Gardening for science Aaron Mills; 16. Commercial horticulture Chris Allen; 17. Integrated pest management Neil Helyer; 18. Conservation and sustainability Jenny Shukman; Appendixes; Glossary; Figure credits; Index.