In and amongst all the things that we do here at Hambledon Vineyard, our kitchen garden is an unsung hero- and possibly one of the things that brings the most joy to our team. From the early-sprouting rhubarb in the spring, to the garlic bulbs, the tomatoes and the late-ripening pumpkins and squash. Alongside the vines, this small part of our home at Hambledon guides us through the seasons as they pass and provides the best of what out terroir can give.
We spoke to our Head Gardener, Will, about his favourite part of the estate, and what is necessary to maintain and nurture our produce throughout the year, providing seasonal, organic produce for our Cellar Door Dining- and for many more projects to come.
Starting on a positive, what would you say your favourite thing to grow at Hambledon is?
Overall, I’d have to say dahlias; it’s nostalgic for me as it’s the first plant I ever grew from a seed. But aside from the sentimental value, there’s just such a huge variety of them, from colours to the shape itself- they can look like daisies or can have loads of small petals. They work well in a lot of places too, which means it’s an ideal ‘all-rounder’.
In the kitchen garden specifically though, you’ve got to love a tomato. You can use them for so much, and the bright colours and the smell of the vines really let you know that it’s summer. As well as that, I’m really happy with my herb garden- it not only smells beautiful all year round, but provides a sustainable patch of produce throughout the year.
Ultimately, I’m taking inspiration and trying to achieve a traditional cottage garden. I’m using companion planting to make sure everything in the garden works together; that means it might encourage pollinators or keep pests away. Regardless, it means the plants can thrive organically. It’s really a microcosm of how we planted things historically, it’s been done since medieval times- and in a time when soil regeneration and biodiversity are such big concerns- why not trust the tried and true?
And in contrast, what is your least favourite thing to grow?
Honestly, it’s a tough question because it depends on the annual climate. Last year [2023] was much better for veg growing- those working in agriculture and horticulture can likely agree that 2024 has been a battle with mildew, aphids and more, so we’ve had to be adaptive, and in some cases, we’ve had to re-sow.
At the end of the day, it’s all about adaptability now- with the impact of climate change, we need to look for potentially more drought tolerant plants, or nitrogen-fixing plants to convert the nitrogen in the atmosphere to nutrients for another plant- i.e. creating a natural fertiliser.
Luckily, we have great PH levels in our soil here, which makes everything a little easier. But regardless we must be regenerative and more progressive. I’ve tried implementing a hügelkultur raised bed system which has been hugely successful, using decaying wood and compostable plants, which holds water, creates nutrients for itself, reintroduces nitrogen to the soil and is excellent for adding mycelial fungi to the soil, encouraging worms.
If you could plant anything next year, what would it be?
An orchard, hands down. I’d love to plant a small orchard, full of a range of heritage variety apples, underplanted with interesting things that grow as companions. Aesthetically, it should give visitors a view into top-level horticulture, and what interesting and exciting things we can do in our English gardens.
What is your favourite part of the gardening year?
I love harvest time: coming in first thing, when there’s still mist between the vines and dew on the grass and picking the ripe produce for the day ahead. It’s where you see the fruits of your labour, when the vegetables are ripening and in tandem, the grapes are going through veraison and I spend long, sunny days mowing the grass, and tending to other jobs around the estate.
What is your dream garden?
My dream garden is without a doubt, the one that I’m in currently, when it’s performing at optimal level. It should be a garden that everyone can enjoy when they’re visiting Hambledon- that’s what gardens are for.
Mine takes inspiration from gardens I’ve spent time in: Hinton Ampner, Mottisfont, Chatsworth, and more. I hope that as the garden grows alongside Hambledon Vineyard, people can take the same inspiration from my work.
The kitchen garden is not only a beautiful part of our estate, but also this year, has provided seasonal, local produce for our Cellar Door Dining experience- and, we hope, is a project that will long continue on our estate.
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