Jon Gardener

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Jon Gardener

fl. 1400s

English gardener who wrote The Feate of Gardening (1440-50), the earliest account of principles of gardening written in English. The Feate lists over 100 plants and gives instructions for sowing and planting as well as tree grafting. It also provides advice on herb cultivation, useful particularly for apothecary gardens. While nothing is known of Gardener (whose name is also spelled Gardener, Gardiner, and Gardner), his document is a singular and practical text that provides a scientific base, rather than the usual folkloric one, for gardeners to build upon.