Help wanted!

[Tee Gee]

Hi guys!

I am after a bit of information and wondered if you would be interested in helping  me out!

To explain; I am thinking of turning my website into a series of pocket books and/or e-books and this is where I need your help.

I know that some of you use the site quite a lot, some now and again, and others not all!

What I want to know is how you seek out the information you requre when you enter the site i.e.

1) Do you use the grid and click on go?

2) If so what section do you use the most? Propagation/Ornamental/Vegetable/Fruit/Greenhouse/Miscellaneous?

3) Or do you use the 'alphabetical index' and look up something specific?

4) Or do you use the 'Planners'?

Once I see what people tend to look for I will attempt to construct the book content to suit the majority.

My thinking at the moment is  to make individual booklets on the headings shown in Q2 above for a full year.

Another alternative is to form a monthly booklet covering  all six headings.

The disadvantage I see with the latter is; the reader would need twelve booklets whereas the other way the reader might only want 1-3 booklets e.g. Propagation/Vegetables/Greenhouse or any one of these.

What do you think guys?

[Tee Gee]

[small]

Hi TeeGee, your site is on my favourites list, I've used it loads. I generally find what I'm looking for via one of the 'planners' tabs, but I'd look at it whatever the format. I use 'vegetables' most but have browsed everything since I found it!

[caroline7758]

I use your site a lot, Tee Gee, mainly the grid because I know the timings should be right for me as I'm in the same neckof the woods, but I also use the A-Z index if I want to check about a particular plant. Don't think I've ever used anything else apart from those two.

[grannyjanny]

Brilliant idea. I personally would want everything to do with fruit & veg in a form that they could be taken to the plot. I am thick when it comes to computers so quite often someone asks a question & you put up a link to your site & that is how I find the info. Your slide shows are so informative.

[lushy86]

Tee Gee I use it as small, but I would also use it however you organise it. Thank you

Lushy x

[Dadnlad]

Got your site saved in me favourites, and refer to it often :-*

Tend to need info on a specific question, so search the 'alphabetical index'  most of the time

[Kea]

i'm sorry Tee Gee...I sort of bumble about until I finally come across what I'm looking for.....probably mainly alphabetical but I seem to be always trying to locate your frost zone adjustment as I can never remember what it is then i can never seem to find it easily.

I do love your site though.

[tomatoada]

Love your site too.  I just browse and like Kea bumble about.  Good word that.  I don't understand a word of what your planning but look forward to hearing/seeing more.

[Tee Gee]

I seem to be always trying to locate your frost zone adjustment as I can never remember what it is then i can never seem to find it easily.

Just for you Kea;...............

Frost Zone starts with the letter 'F' so go to this letter on the alphabetical index bar.

This will take you everything starting with the letter 'F' including 'Frost Zones'

Simple as that really!  ;)

[cornykev]

Hi TG, I use the A-Z, but is it me or is there no celeriac.  ??? :-\    :'(       ;D ;D ;D

[Digeroo]

I really like the site.  I quite like the fact it tells you for each week what you should be doing. 

My biggest issue is with the colour combinations.  Sorry I find them a bit of a turn off.

I also think  you need to put in more sowing for succession.  For example I sowed one lot of runner and french beans at the end of june, and I am eating them now.   I sowed carrots at the end of July ready fairly soon and also spinach which I am eating now.  I sowed my sweetcorn in three batches so I had a crop ready for weeks.

I would like to see a stripe on your planner sheets for the approximate time of your last frost so people can easily see how your list.  I start planting broad beans in Feb or at least the beginning of march.

I would also like some kind of stripe down the page for the end of each month because lower down the page you get confused as to which week is which.

I plant most of my broad beans in situ.  It must be a good deal colder where you are because I started sowing carrots in march and was eating the first ones at the end of June.

I think that the harvesting lines should be longer, I am still eating courgettes.  I started harvesting broccoli in june and have been eating it ever since, from three sowings.

Also could do with a cloche symbol./colour tab

I also think your spacing is too generous.  I put my rows of carrots about 15cm apart.  Why leave room for the weeds.

Having taken a very good look at it I think I will actually use it more.  Keep up the good work.

[Ninnyscrops.]

I think I've had a nosey around all bits at one time or another Tee Gee and find it an invaluable source of information.

What I'd love to see, but it might be a hefty ask, is a regionalised kind of link (I get impatient with the +/- bit  :'( ). We all look at what people are sowing through the threads here, but I try and find out whereabouts in the country they are.

Ninny

[Tee Gee]

but is it me or is there no celeriac.

The reason is quite simple: Its something I have never grown so I won't discuss it.

My general ruling is; If I have never grown or done something it doesn't go into the website!

Yes I can research items such as celeriac but I wouldn't know if I was relating fact or fiction so I choose not discuss such things at all.

Sorry but thats my approach to such matters. I am quite sure that people have read about things in the past and tried the method/s suggested and failed (myself included) so I like to bite the bullet first before telling other people what to do!

OK on these forums I will sometimes give an opinion on things that I may have never grown/done before but I generally qualify this!

Thanks for all the comments I will study what has been said and hopefully take some of your suggestions on board!

Thanks very much! just keep them coming!.Tg

[Kea]

I seem to be always trying to locate your frost zone adjustment as I can never remember what it is then i can never seem to find it easily.

Just for you Kea;...............

Frost Zone starts with the letter 'F' so go to this letter on the alphabetical index bar.

This will take you everything starting with the letter 'F' including 'Frost Zones'

Simple as that really!  ;)

That's fine Tee Gee but my real problem is remembering what you've called it......I have to remember it's frost first before i can look under 'F'....and that remembering bit can be the problem!

noting you can do to help I'm afraid ???

[flowerlady]

I have your site bookmarked too  ;D ... just love it !!  You make me do a whole raft of things that I might not have remembered to do without your prompts !! 

So thank you ...  :-*

The only crit I have is perhaps finding the flowers and veg combined in the A-Z ... but that is just me! :-[

Was wondering if you were able to build in a pop-up survey to help you?  To ask any visitor to your pages ... " please tell me what you find most useful"  ... type of thing ???  I often come across them when I am researching.

[Tee Gee]

Been meaning to get back to this thread for a bit so please accept my apologies for not doing!

I have read all your comments and thank you for them all (incl the warts! :) )

I have published the first part of my website i.e. the bit you see when you click on 'Go' on my home page, i.e the weekly tasks.

Would you believe there are over a hundred pages in that part of my website alone!

I have published this part in paper back and as a downloadable e-book.

Haven't quite figured out how to do the A-Z part, thats my job over the winter months.

Forgot the link; http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-gardeners-almanac/5641971

[caroline7758]

Just in time for Christmas!Good luck with it, TeeGee (we know what your real name is now! Unless it's a nom de plume, of course!)

[Tee Gee]

Thought I would get back to you on this one, and let you know that I have added another book to my 'library' and made a start on the third yesterday.

The one entitled 'From the beginning' is 105 pages long takes you from starting a new plot through to planting time.

It covers such things as planning the plot,improving and or testing  the soil, and the tools you may require.

I am now on with a book on 'vegetable growing'

They are here; ]http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/from-the-beginning/8066251]

[emmy1978]

TeeGee-I just love the Gardeners Almanac-I like the planner and the alphabetical index.
I find it so useful and easy to find the info I'm looking for. I also like just looking at the slideshows and reading through it-bumbling as it's been referred to. I've put the book on my xmas list! Em x 8)