Author Topic: Basic but thorough book on organic gardening basics? (Read 3293 times)

BarbaraGood · « **on:** February 24, 2007, 19:43:07 »

Good evening !

My title says it all really, I wonder if such a book exists. I have managed to reap a mine of information from reading these forums, rather timidly not posting though!

My allotment is all ready to go, I am brand new to anything but tomato plants in grobags and mixed lettuce, wild rocket and spring onions in a tiny bed in our garden last year!

I am not keen on using chemicals to keep beasties at bay, so looking to go as organic as possible, but not unrealistically!

Many thanks in anticipation of any help
Barb.
x

Mrs T · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2007, 20:22:39 »

Allotment Gardening:An Organic Guide For Beginners by Susan Berger.
I bought 5 books and I keep going back to this one.
Mrs T

gtm41658 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2007, 20:32:26 »

Hi Barbara
I have a book by Geoff Hamilton titled Organic Gardening, ideal for flowers veg & fruit £16.99

Gerry

manicscousers · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2007, 22:11:50 »

bob flowerdews organic bible..brilliant, with lots of recycling ideas ;D

Leonnie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2007, 22:14:45 »

Quote from: gtm41658 on February 24, 2007, 20:32:26

Hi Barbara
I have a book by Geoff Hamilton titled Organic Gardening, ideal for flowers veg & fruit £16.99

Gerry

I have the same book and would recommend it too :)

dandelion · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2007, 22:19:44 »

I have Bob Flowerdew's book the Organic Gardener, wchich covers ornamentals as well as edibles.

manicscousers · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2007, 22:22:53 »

the vegetable gardeners bible by edward c smith..I seem to have something about bibles ? ::)

Barnowl · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2007, 11:32:20 »

Hi Barbara, welcome to the forum. we were where you are at this time last year (except I use troughs and pots for my tomatoes).

I think you can buy just about any decent gardening book and then use common sense to maintain an organic approach.

I've found out more from the internet and especially this forum than from books. For instance, even the organic books I've seen don't cover companion planting very well, which I think is one of the most effective ways to maintain a natural approach.

BarbaraGood · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2007, 11:37:31 »

Ah yes companion planting is the way I want to go, so do any of these cover this well I wonder? I am pretty clueless other than a whisper I heard that onions keep away carrot fly (keep away *WHAT* was my response!).

I will have a browse of those mentioned :) Thanks!
Barb

Mouseski · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2007, 11:46:47 »

Quote from: Mrs T on February 24, 2007, 20:22:39

Allotment Gardening:An Organic Guide For Beginners by Susan Berger.
I bought 5 books and I keep going back to this one.
Mrs T

Have to agree with Mrs T. We have quite a number of books (security blanket for the newbie gardener) and Susan's our favourite. No nosense clear layout easy to follow.

Good Luck :)

manicscousers · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2007, 14:34:46 »

Quote from: BarbaraGood on February 25, 2007, 11:37:31

Ah yes companion planting is the way I want to go, so do any of these cover this well I wonder? I am pretty clueless other than a whisper I heard that onions keep away carrot fly (keep away *WHAT* was my response!).

I will have a browse of those mentioned :) Thanks!
Barb

bob flowerdew covers companion planting to a certain degree :)

robkb · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2007, 09:44:18 »

Hi BarbaraGood,

I bought this a while ago and can thoroughly recommend it:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDRA-Encyclopedia-Gardening-Doubleday-Research/dp/1405308915/sr=1-1/qid=1172483667/ref=sr_1_1/026-5864858-6884467?ie=UTF8&s=books

Cheers,
Rob ;)

Barnowl · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2007, 11:21:52 »

If you do buy it, don't forget to do so through the A4A shop!

ThomsonAS · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2007, 21:39:43 »

I have a fondness for Bob Flowerdew's "The No Work Garden - getting the most out of your garden for the least amount of work" (Kyle Cathie Ltd, 2002). Pricey at £19.99 new but secondhand copies will be cheaper.

Cheers

Alastair

sazhig · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2007, 23:14:51 »

I have the Geoff Hamilton book already mentioned & find it very good...also well worth the money is HDRA (aka Garden Organic) membership - loads of info in their members section & you get free entry to their gardens...we arent far from their place at Ryton & I go there quite often for inspiration & ideas.

Saz

Tee Gee · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2007, 10:25:52 »

I have a very old book that has been my bible over the years (not used so much now what with the internet)

It was first published in 1941 and I have a reprinted edition (1992)

It allows you the freedom of choice to be organic or inorganic it is called

Amateur Gardening
Pocket Guide (and it does fit in a pocket)

It was written by AGL Hellyer

ISBN 1 85051 492 5

IanMcL · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2007, 14:02:31 »

Hello Everyone!

I'm a year behind Barbara! I used to have an allotment about 20 years ago but lost it and now, living in a flat, am trying to get another!

I too am organically minded and my tiny kitchen is at the mo full of growing madness - my 11yr old son calls it my bio-dome!

Its lovely to find this site and the support it offers and please forgive my stupid questions in the forthcoming months!

;)

kitten · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2007, 17:23:24 »

Hi Barbara, i'll third Susan Bergers book, as previously said we've got about half a dozen books and I always go back to this one. It's written in a simple style, easy to follow and includes all the info you need to get started. Good luck!

manicscousers · « **Reply #18 on:** March 18, 2007, 17:27:26 »

welcome, IanMcL
welcome to the mad house, don't worry about daft questions, always someone on here willing to help us out ;D

sutton girl · « **Reply #19 on:** March 18, 2007, 17:31:06 »

Hi Barbara i also want to go organic and i am trying a solution called savona a liqid soap to keep away all sorts of beasties

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Author Topic: Basic but thorough book on organic gardening basics? (Read 3293 times)