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which books did you learn to grow a vegetable garden.

war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 611
edited March 2022 in Fruit & veg
which books did you use as your reference material 
 when you  started your vegetable garden/allotment?

I seen lot people make slight reference to this or that book
 but never including the full titles and authors. 
«1

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,553
    None.
    I used real time , face to face , vocal interface.
    Or talking, as it used to be called.
    Devon.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,938
    Grow your own Veg by Carol Klein. 
    https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/growyourownveg-carol-klein

  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 193
    Going back quite a way I found the dg hessayon books really useful. They were great as I found them clear and concise and easy to follow.
    I think they are still about.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,249
    I use 'Grow Your Own Veg' and 'Grow Your Own Fruit' by Carol Klein (I think they've now been combined into 'Grow Your own Veg and Fruit Bible'). Also Veg in One Bed by Huw Richards has been really useful. I own, but have not used so much, 'Grow Your Own Vegetables' by Joy Larkcom, 'The Ornamental Kitchen Garden' by Geoff Hamilton and 'Fork to Fork' by Monty and Sarah Don. 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,394
    AnniD said:
    Grow your own Veg by Carol Klein. 
    https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/growyourownveg-carol-klein

    Me too 😀
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,933
    As a child I remember the 3 volumes of The Readers Digest Complete Library of the Garden that got me started.
    There was the Mr Digwell book you reminded me of the other day.
    I also recall an Adam the Gardener book on veg
    I've still got a few of the DG Hessayon books

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,088
    I learned by watching Percy Thrower on tv when I was a child, and helping my grandmother and my mother. Then later on I learned from the real experts … the allotment holders who’d been doing it for years and years. Then I had my own smallholding and learned from the smallholders’ clubs and magazines … also reading trade papers etc as well as watching and listening to every gardening programme there was. 
    Of particular interest have been the books written by Bob Flowerdew who lives not far from here.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,393
    I think it depends on what age you are and your background.  

    You could count on Percy Thrower and Geoff Hamilton for TV , Readers Digest "Food from your Garden " ( recipes included ) Alan Titchmarsh is a good basic gardener if you discount his numerous makeover jobs.  Monty Don can be interesting tho I wouldn't class him as a Gardener as such - just an interesting presenter.  Bob Flowerdew was a keen supporter of the more exotic fruit and veg.

    Every one will have their favourite Go To source. There are plenty of them that's for sure.

    As things progress, new gardeners come to the fore and you can make use of their expertise or otherwise.  When it comes down to it, it's usually the safest bet to do what works for you and you garden rather than religiously following the "experts" 
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 833
    AnniD said:
    Grow your own Veg by Carol Klein. 
    https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/growyourownveg-carol-klein

    +1 for this, by far the best book
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,439
    Showing my age here but it was John Seymore and Geoff Hamilton for me, two of the greats! 
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
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