Comprehensive Vegetable and Herb Book

[theamatteurgardener]

Good evening all.  :D

Hopefully I'll get myself on the waiting list for a proper allotment in Newcastle tomorrow, but until i get one I'm after a really good comprehensive vegetable and herb book to absorb. The bookshops stock hundreds, how am i meant to know which is good?

I'm sure a few of you have your own little gardening bibles, I'm just wondering if anyone would care to divulge theirs. What i really want is something with most vegetables in, a guide when and how to plant them, how to harvest, how to care for etc etc, maybe even some decent pictures! - basically to give me a good knowledge base in addition to this forum and various blogs!

[theamatteurgardener]

[quizzical1]

IMHO, none better than "The VEGETABLE & HERB EXPERT" by D.G.Hessayon.

[asbean]

I agree with quizzical1 - my copy is falling to bits.  I saw another book at a garden centre which looked comprehensive, but forgot to make a note of the title so I could chcek it out on Amazon.  I'm going back there at the weekend so will have a look again and let you know.

[Georgie]

I like this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Book-Vegetables-Herbs-Fruit/dp/1856266710

G x

[katynewbie]

Grow your own vegetables: Joy Larkcom.

That's all you need to know! Big, fat paperback and full of sensible, down to earth descriptions of what to do, when and how.

I am a big fan...can you tell?!

;)

[powerspade]

go to your local library and read before u buy thats what I did . I picked joy larkcom grow your own veg -very good value and a good read and refferece book

[SueSteve]

I agree with quizzical1 and asbean. Its good for pics, easy to understand and flick though, good pic on pests and diseases.
I have the older edition, but reluctant to buy the most recent edition, although that itself is quiet old now. I would love to see a new rewrite of this book including something on organic growing, maybe it will come in the next few years.

[Susiebelle]

I grow organically, so without a shadow of a doubt my Bible is "Successful Organic Gardening" by the late great Geoff Hamilton I know it's getting on a bit but it is still in print and hopefully you could pick up a second hand copy. I also find the following good reading for the darker months "Organic Kitchen Garden" Juliet Roberts and  "The Greath Vegetable plot" by my current favourite celeb gardener Sarah Raven, not least because she is also a great fan of GH. SR also writes for the Sunday Times and some of her down to earth advice has been invaluble for me, but I would agree "The Vegetable & Herb Expert" by Dr.D.G.Hessayon is good value the second book I purchased and still referred to frequently!.
I would agree with Powerspade "try before your buy" whether it be at the library or any good book shop, just to ensure you like the style of the author. Happy hunting :-\ :-\

[raisedbedted]

I'm not a great fan of the Dr Hessayon books despite now having 3 copies of the vegetable book (!) 

I really like the old 'Food from your garden' book produced by Readers Digest many years ago, it covers growing and storing and is really clearly laid out.  Its been out of print for a ong time but amazon marketplace / ebay always have copies.

[flowerlady]

My bible is ... " Grow your own Vegetables " :: Joy Larkcom (couldn't agree more Katie)

And if it's herbs you want then it HAS to be something from Jekka McVicar ...

... combine the lot and you can have "The Complete Book of Vegetables, Herbs, & Fruit"  by Jekka McVicar, Bob Flowerdew & Matthew Biggs

[gordonsveg]

Have a good look around your local library and see what they are selling off.
    I have got some real bargains from ours.

[cambourne7]

who needs a book when you have this site?

[asbean]

who needs a book when you have this site?

Exactly.

[quizzical1]

But you can't take your 'puter to the allotment (or at least I can't) so it's good to have a couple of reference books.

[theamatteurgardener]

Haha! Or read it on the bus during your 1hour 20min, twice daily, commute :P

I've noted down the recommended books and i'll see if i can find them this weekend, and pick the one that best suits me. Thanks for so many recommendations everyone.

Good Evening.