1
of
1
Hot Beds
How to grow early crops using an age-old technique: Second edition
Brief Description
A practical guide to cultivating out-of-season vegetables in small spaces, using the age-old technique of growing in hot beds. The ancient method of hot-bed gardening, once favoured by both the Romans and the Victorians, uses the natural heat generated by decomposing organic matter to grow out-of-season...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3899
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
Hot Beds
$3899
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
Meet Trevell and Pieces & Peace: New Brands at Book Hero!
Meet French brands Trevell and Pieces & Peace, with beautiful illustrated artwork, cosy and bookish...
New Releases to add to your TBR this week (26th August)
This week we have the perfect new release for Father's Day (it's coming up soon!)...
The Book Briefing - August 25th
This week we've got amazing local authors being celebrated, exciting announcements and reveals, and a...
Dolly Parton: The Book Lady Who Gave Away 325 Million Books
On Wednesday, Alex and I woke to the news of Dolly Parton’s passing. Alex was...
Marnie’s Beginner’s Guide to Butterflies, Moths and Metamorphosis
Marnie has been exploring the fascinating world of butterflies and moths, from how to tell...
See moreA practical guide to cultivating out-of-season vegetables in small spaces, using the age-old technique of growing in hot beds.
A practical guide to cultivating out-of-season vegetables in small spaces, using the age-old technique of growing in hot beds.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
A practical guide to cultivating out-of-season vegetables in small spaces, using the age-old technique of growing in hot beds.
The ancient method of hot-bed gardening, once favoured by both the Romans and the Victorians, uses the natural heat generated by decomposing organic matter to grow out-of-season vegetables in small spaces.
In this practical guide, hot-bed pioneer Jack First shows how to adapt and modernise this age-old method to suit today’s gardens. With just stable manure (or eco-friendly alternatives), a simple wooden frame and a modest space, you could be harvesting crisp salads in March and new potatoes in early April.
Featuring hundreds of photographs, this accessible book gives you everything you need to build and maintain your own hot bed. With clear step-by-step instructions, a detailed calendar year and helpful diagrams, it’s a must-have for anyone looking to extend their growing season in a sustainable, budget-friendly way.
Hot Beds is an essential resource for making the most of your garden space and ensuring year-round produce.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781399419635
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 11 December 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Edition: 2nd edition
Illustration: Colour photos throughout
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 14.0mm
Width: 134.0mm
Height: 188.0mm
Weight: 320g
Pages: 208
Collections
About the Author
Jack First is an experienced horticulturalist who has pioneered, developed and fully tested the methods covered in his book Hot Beds. His beds have been featured on BBC's Gardeners’ World, and he works with volunteers on a large plot in Keighley. Jack is the sole supplier to his local wholefood shop of out-of-season greens, new potatoes and salads.
More from Home & Garden
View all-
The Edible Backyard
The Edible Backyard by Kath Irvine is an essential companion for anyone looking to transform their garden into a flourishing, organic paradise. This comprehensive guide takes you through every step needed to grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs in your own garden, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh produce all year round. Gardening expert Kath Irvine shares insights...Paperback$4000Elsewhere:$5000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
20% offA Thousand Feasts
THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy. 'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAY For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned...Paperback$2400Usually:$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Clean Magic
With Nancy Birtwhistle, it IS easy being green. From the Great British Bake Off winner and Sunday Times bestselling author, Clean Magic is a complete guide with practical and down-to-earth advice on how to integrate Nancy’s tried and tested household tips into your daily life.From sorting stubborn stains to Basic Magic, Pure Magic Gel and big, themed clean-ups, Nancy helps...Hardback$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
How to Keep House While Drowning
A gentle guide to cleaning and organising when you're overwhelmed, from a licensed therapist and TikTok sensation PRE-ORDER KC'S NEXT BOOK—WHO DESERVES YOUR LOVE Simple tools to make home care easy when life is hard. When you are neurodivergent, have undiagnosed ADHD, or are struggling with your mental or physical health, keeping on top of the laundry pile and tackling...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Grow Your Groceries
Plant-growing ideas and tricks from a leading gardening TikToker. Hacks on how to grow plants from your supermarket shop. Have you ever wondered if you could grow plants from the food you buy? Could you do something with those leftover apple pips? What about growing your own kiwi plant? And what if you could make more plants from the herb...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
17% offEdible Weeds Handbook
Discover the rich world of New Zealand's wild edible plants with this comprehensive guide. In this comprehensive companion to the best-selling A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand, Andrew Crowe explores the rich culinary world of Aotearoa's non-native plants - the so-called 'weeds'. From miner's lettuce to watercress, taro to acorns, this go-to, illustrated handbook offers...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Quiet Home
'House hushing' is a new interiors trend that's making (the right kind of) noise in these troubling times. Guardian A beautiful, authoritative guide to the concept of house hushing, The Quiet Home incorporates design principles and strategies for dialling down the visual noise in your home, and creating serene interiors that promote calm and wellbeing. It takes a pared-down, thoughtful...Hardback$5200Elsewhere:$6500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Abundant Garden
The Abundant Garden by Niva and Yotam Kay is a treasure trove of knowledge for both seasoned and novice gardeners alike. Located on the stunning Coromandel Peninsula of Aotearoa New Zealand, the authors draw from their extensive experience at Pakaraka Permaculture to bring you a comprehensive guide on creating and maintaining a productive, regenerative vegetable garden. The book delves deep...Paperback$4299Elsewhere:$4999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Self-Sufficiency Garden
Year-round growing plan to yield six portions of veg per person per day plus batching and preserving recipes. Eat homegrown food all year round and save money on your weekly shop by following a simple plan for self-sufficiency. The Self-Sufficiency Garden by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper reveals the results of their two-year journey planning and trialling their own self-sufficiency...Hardback$3800Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
12% offCompanion Planting in NZ
Companion Planting in NZ by Brenda Little is an essential guide for gardeners who want to cultivate a thriving and sustainable garden using natural methods. This comprehensive book explores the concept of companion planting - an age-old practice where various plants are strategically placed together to enhance growth, deter pests, and improve soil health. By aligning with nature's principles, this...Paperback$2200Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
20% offSeasons Where The River Bends
THE NEW FAMILY RECIPES AND STORIES COOKBOOK FROM JANE AND JIMMY BARNES Join Jane and Jimmy Barnes at their kitchen table in Seasons Where the River Bends, the eagerly awaited follow-up to their bestselling cookbook Where the River Bends. Inspired by the vibrant produce from their cherished Southern Highlands garden, this new volume features more than 60 recipes, sumptuous photography,...Hardback$4000Elsewhere:$6500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
My Hygge Home
The new beautiful book from the bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge about how to use space, light and Danish design to transform your home Our homes should be a place of comfort, a place to feel safe when we shut the door. Somewhere to be ourselves, to unwind and create special memories. Inspired by Danish design and...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
