books

[olicat]

Can anyone recommended a good book about growing veg/allotments for a brand new allotment holder and gardener??  I am a complete novice but very keen to learn .

Thanks!

[olicat]

[daileg]

i use the allotment book by John Lewis £12.99 and also would like to say welcome

it has a step for step program for beginers from soil prep to design and what to and when to grow

[OllieC]

You have to go a long way to get more succinct, practical advice than DG Hessayon's books - his herb & vegetable one is the main one for allotments. He does oversimplify, and he's very much "his way is the only way" - but you won't go wrong if you follow his advice, and when there's so much to learn it's very helpful.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

Hi olicat,

I bet most people here have "The Veg and Herb Expert" by (Dr) DG Hessayon. It's basic and a bit unexciting, but good. You can pick old ones up in Charity Shops etc I expect, though the older it is the more out-dated the varieties are, and the chemicals may not be used (allowed) now. Mine's from 1982 (new)

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

Snap!

[OllieC]

Ha! Great minds, RT!

[STEVEB]

Ditto to that !!Its the bible(no offense)

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

actually mine's from 1990. How did i cope?  ???

[twinkletoes]

I too think Dr. DG Hessayon's book is very very good but my favourite is The Complete Vegetable Gardener: A Practical Guide to Growing Fresh and Delicious Vegetables (Readers Digest) (Paperback) on Amazon - £9.73. 
twinkletoes

[posie]

Yep Hessayon fan here as well - I found it invaluable  :)

[adeymoo]

Dr. DG Hessayon's book is great as is Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom which covers more about site preparation, polytunnels etc. The RHS books are also good - Growing Vegetables, Growing Fruit.

[floraldi]

Can anyone recommended a good book about growing veg/allotments for a brand new allotment holder and gardener??  I am a complete novice but very keen to learn .

Thanks!

I don't think you will find Hessayon's books here but check The Book People's web site as they quite a few gardening books at greatly reduced prices.

[caroline7758]

Another vote for Dr Hessayon here- if you want to be organic just ignore his use of chemicals!I've got two copies now, onrfor the plot and one at home.

If you get Nectar points, they've got it for 1850 points.

http://www.nectar.com/rewards/whitelabelBooksSearch.nectar?partner_wl_path=/BOOKS/nectarmain.aspx&Cat=0015

[olicat]

Thanks everyone, will start looking for Dr Hessayon's book as it seems the most popular so far.

Think this site is great and becoming a bit of an addict!!!!

[good7saint]

Yes I'm finding the Dr Hessayon's book useful as well.
Mine is very up to date 2007 edition.
Only got it a month ago

[caroline7758]

I've got an older and a newer edition but can't say I noticed much difference. Thought his bit on garlic might have been updated in the 2007 edition but he still says , after describing how to use it "very sparingly" to start with, "If by then you have lost a little of your garlic fear, you can try using crushed (not chopped) garlic in meat, etc. as the Continentals do". ;D

[STEVEB]

olicat check out carboots and charity shops normally see them there.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

my copy says about chillis - "Don't eat them raw, don't even try a small piece unless they are part of your heritage"  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's not part of my heritage but you soon get acclimatised! If you combine Hessayon with Flowerdew's 'No-Work Garden', you've got the basics.

[olicat]

Got some good recommendations....ordered Dr. DG Hessayon's book as got a bargain on Amazon! Will start with him and see how i get on...

Off to see my new plot at 5pm tomorrow!  No idea what it looks like! But don't care, just can't wait to get started sorting it out.