A Good Book Recommendation Wanted

[Alison]

How to Grow Vegetables by Joy Larkcom, and as already recommended The Vegetable Expert by D. G. Hessayon are both good books, in my (limited) experience

You see I don't think that's a specially good book, they're OK but they don't excite me like some books do.

[sowitgrowit]

You see I don't think that's a specially good book, they're OK but they don't excite me like some books do.

Haha fair enough; I'm not sure they "excite" me but they do have plenty of information in. Vegetable Expert is more a reference guide - if a beginner thinks "Ah, sweetcorn. I wonder how to grow those" then there are basic instructions on what to do, what pests of diseases you might encounter, clear pictures etc.

It isn't necessarily a good read, but it is good to have on hand to refer to I think. Like a good dictionary!

How To Grow Vegetables is a good overview also I think, a little dull in sections, but basic descriptions of techniques and terms (even down to what soil is, then moving on to how to improve drainage, etc), organic and non-organic methods of achieving good results, blah blah. It also has the reference section; though no pretty pictures.

[Lady Jana Muck]

"Your Garden Week by Week" Arthur Hellyer and my dads old gardening bible the Reader's Digest "The Gardening Year" Both very good books.

[cardiffsteve]

You see I don't think that's a specially good book, they're OK but they don't excite me like some books do.

Haha fair enough; I'm not sure they "excite" me but they do have plenty of information in.

Come on now kids, lets not fight.

Think Sis is looking for a book thats fairly straight forward, not like the RHS encyclopedia of gardening, which I gave her.

[mrbadexample]

'nother vote for Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom.

[veggiechicken]

Does your Sis want to grow veg in the garden, an allotment or in containers? You may be better narrowing down the choice to some thing appropriate to the size!. And, does she like pretty pictures?
I like Joy Larkcom's book but I also like photos!

[cardiffsteve]

Does your Sis want to grow veg in the garden, an allotment or in containers?

Its going to be garden and containers.
Dont know about pictures, didnt ask.

[Piggle]

It's a shame she's not round here as I would gratefully donate Allotment month by month or other such tomes... too many pics and not enough nitty gritty.

[Glutton4...]

I'm no use at all - I like ALL books! You can't have too many reference books, but I do prefer those with drawings and photos in.

[cardiffsteve]

I'm no use at all -

Enough said

[di]

Oh, please don't get one just yet. I bought a fantastically simple veg growing book a month or so ago....sadly, I had a tidy upi before Ash's Birthday so now can't find it. (I never have this problem when the house is a mess )

[SarzWix]

This: Food from Your Garden and Allotment: Amazon.co.uk: Reader's Digest: Books
Not only covers preparing the ground, but also growing guides for all the veg, and a section on how to cook and preserve it all. Brilliant book. (And it has pictures )

[veggiechicken]

And only £4.99 from this lot Food from Your Garden & Allotment (Hardback) - Reader's Digest - 9780276443367
They're also selling Alys Fowler's Forager book for £4.99 if anyone's interested! I buy lots of books from them.

[Peas'n'Kews]

I was just reading to the bottom of the thread so I could recommend the Reader's Digest book "Food From you Garden" - but have been pipped at the post (although my recco is just garden - don't know how different it would be to the "and allotment" one ...)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Garden-...4218825&sr=1-2

This is one of my "bible" gardening books, especially as it tells you how to use the veg (the horseradish sauce is fantastic!)