Penn State Great Valley to host acclaimed vegetable gardener on Jan. 22

MALVERN, Pa. — Aaron Bertelsen, vegetable gardener for the Great Dixter House and Gardens in the United Kingdom, will share his expert advice for growing fruit and vegetables in containers on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Penn State Great Valley.

Bertelsen has transformed Great Dixter’s kitchen courtyard into a productive produce garden since being appointed the vegetable gardener in 2007. After studying social anthropology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, Bertelsen began volunteering at Great Dixter in 1996. He went on to earn a diploma in horticulture at Kew Gardens and spent two years at Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Israel before returning to Great Dixter in 2005.

Bertelsen, who has spoken about gardening at events across the globe, will discuss how to grow your own produce in containers ranging from window boxes and terracotta pots to recycled and repurposed vessels. His first book, "The Great Dixter Cookbook," was published in March 2017 by Phaidon and has received international acclaim. Copies of his new book, "Growing Fruit and Vegetables in Pots," will be for available for sale and signing at the event.

“Grow Fruits and Vegetables in Pots with Aaron Bertelsen” will be held at 7 p.m. in the campus’ Conference Center Building. The event is free to attend, but advance registration is required. To register, visit greatvalley.psu.edu/community/events.