Author Topic: what Garden Magazine? (Read 3421 times)

botchituk · « **on:** January 11, 2005, 12:52:46 »

Hi Everyone,
I've recently acquired 2 allotments and am really keen to grow fruit and veg. on them, but being a novice I am not sure of the best way to plan out my plots or what varieties of seeds/plants to buy, so therefore I would like to subscribe to a magazine & not having endless amounts of cash I need to get my choice right. Can anyone reccomend one I can get, bearing in mind I'm not into landscaping or patios etc. just fruit, veg & greenhouses. Any recommendations would be really appreciated.

Cheers

Wayne.

sandersj89 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2005, 12:57:32 »

The Best Choice would be Kitchen Garden I imagine, directed at home growers. Cheaper via subscription than buying in the shops.

Also use the boards here for a wealth of advice, and welcome!

Jerry

Kerry · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:01:06 »

i usually get kitchen garden magazine each month-although i don't have a subscription (yet!)
it is full of advice and has a section on 'what to do' each month that includes fruit, veg and growing under cover. i really like the guide that tells you if you sow xx veg now, you'll harvest in xxx months.
it has interesting and inspirational articles on other peoples allotments and gardens. no patios in sight! oh, it does free seeds too! (should i be on commission?)
i also buy organic gardening, which is exactly as it sounds-fruit and veg organically. it includes some articles wildlife gardeing and bringing in beneficial insects, veg garedng and allotment plotting, and looks at the soil science aspect too.

i used to get GW on subscription when i started gardening but found it too basic and repetative, and included stuff i wasn't into-like patios, containers and makeovers.

interested to hear what others read.......

philcooper · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:11:00 »

Garden News is weekly and has a good first section on what needs doing plus specialist in flowers (dahlia, fuchsia, chrysanths, geraniums)fortnightly There is always a fair amount on veg (including the strange world of exhibition veg - strange in that none of the veg appear to be grown in a garden!!)

Kitchen Garden is good on veg but is monthly and so doesn't have the quantity of information in GN

Once you've had a year's subscription of GN you can stop as it tends to become repetitive

Phil

aquilegia · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:13:10 »

I don't tend to buy any gardening magazines as I find them to be too basic (even for me!) and very repetitive. ALthough I can sometimes be tempted by a free packet of seeds. I've never read Kitchen Garden - is it a bit more advanced than the others? Maybe I'll have to give it a try.

tim · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:15:27 »

Or use our own homespun advice like http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/ or http://www.keirg.freeserve.co.uk/diary/default.html = Tim

aquilegia · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:18:41 »

Whatever happened to The Big G? I haven't seen him around for ages.

tim · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:28:09 »

I did ask - without reply. = Tim

Drive-by abuser · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2005, 13:28:51 »

Hi
Got to say GN, but you will only have to buy it for the first year unless you like repeats. ;)

markyb23 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2005, 20:12:41 »

Hi Botichuk,
my advice would be,get a good book.I dont know if it's still available,but W.H.Smith were selling "Oganic Gardening" at the weekend.It's a great book and was going for £4.99p.Less than the cost of a couple of mags and should last you a lot longer.
Best of luck with your allotments.
Marky.

Tulipa · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2005, 20:38:34 »

Hi

I just bought Joy Larkcom's 'Grow your own Vegetables' (rrp£9.99) for £3.99 from 'The Book People', it's really full of info, can't imagine I shall ever manage to read it all! I have only just joined this forum but am amazed what I have learnt already, can't wait to get growing my veggies. Thank you everyone for your wonderful inspiration.

Tulip

ina · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2005, 22:10:45 »

Kitchen Garden Magazine! I really enjoy the articles and pictures, even when it's about things I don't grow myself.
A nice magazine doesn't take the place of good gardening books but you can still pick things up from the magazines and I find them very enjoyable just sit and read.
I use my books for reference and the magazine for enjoyment.

oubykh · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2005, 23:05:05 »

My vote is for Kitchen Gardener first of all, the others magazines as said above can be repetative and TV orientated. I scan them every now and again for any interesting articles. For cheap books check out charity shops, you'll find a wealth of gardening books there.

plot51A · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2005, 06:45:02 »

I agree with most other people - Kitchen garden is my magazine of choice. I also recommend Joy Larkcom's book Grow your own Vegetables, which is absolutely packed with information including a monthly guide as to what to sow, plant and essential "jobs", suggested crop rotation plans, basic techniques and loads of information on the veggies themselves.
My thanks also to all the people on this site - have learnt loads and loads since reading it, and picked up some great online bargains too!

SpeedyMango · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2005, 09:01:48 »

Kitchen Garden magazine for me too - I took out a subscription last autumn, and it's a good read. Lots of useful information for a beginner as well as interesting articles on more 'advanced' crops (pineapples and bananas!). They have quite a few tempting offers as well, for seeds/plants/equipment, and some freebie seeds every now and again. The 'what do do this month' section is a good reminder, and as you get it around a month early on subscription it's handy for short-term planning of those precious free weekends!

Amongst my growing collection of gardening books is the 'Allotment Handbook' by Caroline Foley. Good for beginners, and better than a magazine for long-term planning as it has month by month sections telling you what to do when, and also crop-specific information.

I've also go the 'RHS Fruit and Vegetable Gardening' book (published by DK). Quit expensive (mine was a pressie) but contains detailed information on just about any fruit or vegetable you might wish to grow.

A handy little book I picked up in a garden centre is 'How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key to Self-Sufficiency' by Piers Warren. Loads of information for the beginner on storing any surplus crops you may end up with (with luck) - from root vegetable clamps to freezing, drying, bottling, jam making etc. etc.

Good luck with it all, Botchituk!

Lillypad · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2005, 09:54:51 »

I wouldn't want to be without my monthly 'fix' of the Kitchen Garden - it's full of info. and encourages me to try new things. I've also got a huge range of books about gardening. I'm not sure which is my greater addiction - gardening or reading!

A new monthly magazine starts in March 2005, called 'Grow your own'. Google under 'gardening magazine' for subscription offers (and no, I'm not connected in anyway with this publication!)

Lillypad

botchituk · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2005, 18:08:15 »

Hello everyone,
Firstly, thanks very much for the advice on the mags. I called in to my local W.H. Smith and found they had a couple of copies of organic gardening left, so I bought one of those. I also bought a copy of the kitchen garden and this looks to be the very dab for me, I may even send off for the free seeds.
Thank you all once again, now I'm off to 'chit' my newly purchased seed potatoes ( I think I got that term correct!!)

Bannerdown · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2005, 19:32:31 »

Kitchen Garden. Cheers, Tony.

Mrs Ava · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2005, 23:16:40 »

Kitchen Garden mag for me. Does exactly what it says on the tin! ;D

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Author Topic: what Garden Magazine? (Read 3421 times)