I love looking around ‘kitchen gardens’, with the one at Hampton Court Palace being a rather nice on to have a look at. What I like about this garden is the fact that there are so many colourful plants growing in the borders too, showing that you can have the best of both worlds-flowers and food.

Back when the palace was lived in by characters like Henry VIII, fruit and vegetables needed by the royal household were grown in several gardens located across the estate. All produce was seasonal due to the limitations of climate and keeping things fresh for transport. Gardeners of the time had a melon ground and a vinery, something most gardeners still don’t have today!

Once William III was king, the kitchen gardens were all moved to where the Tudor tilt yard used to be, with six individual walled kitchen gardens on this six acre section of the palace grounds. These new gardens provided the usual veg and fruit trees, like peaches, pears, apples, cherries and figs were grown around the walls to make the most of the extra heat they provided.

Not long after Queen Victoria came to the throne, the palace was opened up so that the public could visit. It was decided that all fruit and veg production for the Royal household would be moved to Kew gardens and also to a new kitchen garden at Windsor Castle. Over time, a putting green and herbaceous borders were put in to provide extra attractions for visitors.

Eventually, due to the increased interest in cooking methods from history, and what was grown (and how) it was decided that the above mentioned herbaceous borders garden would be turned back into its original kitchen garden from the time of William III. To do this, archaeology and research of the documentary evidence were used to replant the garden as it originally was to the best of the available knowledge. The garden reopened in 2014.

Today, there is a Royal Kitchen Garden Keeper, a full time gardener and an apprentice to look after the kitchen gardens. In 1689, there were 20 gardeners employed to look after the kitchen gardens alone, never mind the rest of the gardens.

While I was visiting the garden, I saw several different crops growing. I saw several different types of apple growing around the kitchen gardens.

Brassicas galore in this area of the kitchen gardens alone. Underrated by many, I love cabbage, broccoli, sprouts and cauliflower so I like this area of the garden.

Potatoes were growing really well on my visit in June.

Beans, peas and kale were also growing great.

Grape vines were present too, loving the hot sunny weather.

I do also find kitchen/veg gardens ornamental in their own way. The shape of leaves, the colour of fruit, veg and flowers, and the heights of the various different plants all add interest-with the added bonus of being able to eat the end products too-the best bit in many ways!