'Wish list for a veg book'

[Headfry]

I have a good collection of veg books, but am finding it really hard find any good books to add to my collection.
My wish list for a book

friendly
a month by month guide through whole book
growing guides for different veg/fruit/herbs/nuts etc
more on germination- temps, pricking out, depth to re plant when potting on, temps req for active growing.
What the seeds look like, and the seedlings!
greenhouse,cold frame, growing
do'able organic growing that does not turn your plot/garden into a gypsy camp!
Storage of veg, freezing,jams, wines, drying, storing, etc
recipes, easy to follow and seasonal, what to do with gluts, using 'left-overs'
plus all the usual bits
........I could go on.....but, what would be your on your wish list?

[Farmer_Gyles]

i've read through several GYO books and they all seem a bit vague and seem to assume a higher level of experience and understanding than i had - and what i wanted most was something more basic and more specific to what i want to do

i learnt a lot more about growing simply by giving it a go
once you get used to the idea that it's fairly simple to grow stuff, you'll find it fairly simple to grow it
one of the best guides i've seen is the old WW2 Dig for Victory planting guide - see this thread
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ings_8659.html

i'm currently working out how much veg i can get from each type and therefore how much i'll need to grow, and from that working out a planting plan - when i've done this i'll know how much to sow right now (although i've started sowing in seed trays / small pots etc etc cos i don't want to leave it too late!)

and then i'll work on the successional sowing and replacing "early" varieties with "late" varieties to make sure i get the most from my veggie patch

and then work on what to sow or plant out for the winter (or for overwintering)

and got to try a couple of varieties of each to see which we prefer (and this can't be taught in a book)

and i've got to work all this out for myself (with help from others on this forum!)

i'll worry about storing and jam making etc when i've actually grown the stuff!

[Farmer_Gyles]

and i'd like a gorgeous blonde in a low cut top and shorts or short skirt to help out down the garden - don't care if she's digging or picking or just sunbathing - and wont get that from a book either!

[Seahorse]

What the seeds look like, and the seedlings!

This would be my main one! I really haven't grown enough yet to know what things should look like at different stages and most books only have pics of the fully grown item.

I think what I'd really like though are more specialist things. I've got Alan Roman's Potato Book and something like that for every type of veg would be brilliant

[Paul Wagland]

Wow, I'm taking notes from this thread!

I love the idea of ongoing pics from seed to mature plant. There's a real lack of decent images of 'plant problems' too - like what damping-off or botrytis looks like.

[muckdiva]

Hiya Headfry
Have you a copy of this? It's the one I constantly refer to, and covers most of your list too. It looks like it's out of print, but you should be able to pick up a secondhand copy somewhere. Highly recommended.

Amazon.co.uk: Food from Your Garden: Reader's Digest: Books

[muckdiva]

Oh..... look, it's being re-issued with a new title:
Food from your garden and allotment
Amazon.co.uk: Food from Your Garden and Allotment (Readers Digest): Books

[mapcr77]

Wow, I'm taking notes from this thread!

I love the idea of ongoing pics from seed to mature plant. There's a real lack of decent images of 'plant problems' too - like what damping-off or botrytis looks like.

I take it soon we may get a propper, comprehensive, and fully illustrated book on hands on allotment gardening authored by GYO's famous Paul Wagland? Where do I pre-order?

[mapcr77]

Another thing I'd add to the list is the approximate yield per plant, so that I know how many plants of each produce should I aim to have,
a small list on companion planting for each crop (either to deter pests or to maximise space)
what else is edible of the plant (i.e. I sow courgettes for both fruit and flowers, yummy!)
best ways to preserve each crop (pickling, jams, freezing, etc.)
what can be overwintered and how...
the list goes on really!

[Headfry]

The nearest I have to my 'dream' book is Monty Dons- Fork to Fork, it's a great book but only covers small amount of growing methods. I a lovely bedtime read or morning kick start.
I just need more in depth stuff, so that when things go wrong you stand a chance of working out why! So many books do not even state that garlic needs a cold snap! or if they do then they fail to explain why.

[nick the grief]

i've read through several GYO books and they all seem a bit vague and seem to assume a higher level of experience and understanding than i had - and what i wanted most was something more basic and more specific to what i want to do

i learnt a lot more about growing simply by giving it a go
once you get used to the idea that it's fairly simple to grow stuff, you'll find it fairly simple to grow it
one of the best guides i've seen is the old WW2 Dig for Victory planting guide - see this thread
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ings_8659.html

i'm currently working out how much veg i can get from each type and therefore how much i'll need to grow, and from that working out a planting plan - when i've done this i'll know how much to sow right now (although i've started sowing in seed trays / small pots etc etc cos i don't want to leave it too late!)

and then i'll work on the successional sowing and replacing "early" varieties with "late" varieties to make sure i get the most from my veggie patch

and then work on what to sow or plant out for the winter (or for overwintering)

and got to try a couple of varieties of each to see which we prefer (and this can't be taught in a book)

and i've got to work all this out for myself (with help from others on this forum!)

i'll worry about storing and jam making etc when i've actually grown the stuff!

You need to look here FG this will give you some idea of yeilds ...

[lainey lou]

Hiya Headfry
Have you a copy of this? It's the one I constantly refer to, and covers most of your list too. It looks like it's out of print, but you should be able to pick up a secondhand copy somewhere. Highly recommended.

Amazon.co.uk: Food from Your Garden: Reader's Digest: Books

I have that book too, it's an oldie but a goodie!

[Litha]

I could deffinatly do with a book with all that lot in, being a total beginner I didnt even know why my cabbage and lettuce looked strangly long and gangly until someone on here said it sounded like it was "leggy" due to lack of sun. id love to know what things are supposed to look like at different stages of growth.
iv also seen people saying "true leaves" again iv no idea what a true leaf looks like as apposed to the ones that sprout straight away

[mapcr77]

I agree with you Litha, also, a begginers glossary would be a good addition, explaining things like the 'leggy' seedlings, what's 'pinch out', 'chitting', 'bare roots', 'heeling', and even plain plant anatomy (definitions of rhiozomes, tubers, buds -difference between fruiting and flowering buds-), and all that sort of things.

Ah, and a comprehensive propagation and prunning guide as well... thinking about it, we don't need a book, we need a whole encyclopaedia!

[Headfry]

It's not just about the info for me, it's also the 'feel' of the book, like having your Grandpa teaching to you.... with Grandma giving you storing tips and recipes -does that make any sense?
am i just being fanciful?