Veg Books.

[Frana]

Any recommendations on veg growing books that are worth a look.

I am constantly referring back to 'Vegetable Growing Month by Month' by John Harrison. Clearly written and easy to understand with some valuable knowledge that really works.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated as I am always browsing.

(No book will ever be as good as this forum of course!!)

[toastie]

Must admit I am a collector of books no matter what the subject. With regard to allotment/veg growing books could recommend - "Food from your garden and allotment" which is a Reader's Digest book and cost £14.99. Would also recommend "Grow your own veg" bt Carol Klein on BBC books and although its down as £16.99, Asda used to sell it for about £8 and WH Smiths sold it for about £6. You could always pop into a decent bookshop e.g. Smiths/Waterstones and have a read before you buy (as I usually do - might meet you in there as I also come from the West Midlands although I appreciate its a big place).

[Gwyndy]

I have loads of gardening books but the one that I always come back to for veg advice is 'The Vegetable & Herb Expert' by Dr. D.G. Hessayon. Its simple and straightforward and gives all the basic details that you need.

By the way, don't tell friends and relatives that you enjoy gardening otherwise you'll get gardening books for birthdays and Christmas from now until the day you die!!

[Jay Bee]

Book people are usually worth a quick look too.

They have cook your own veg and grow your own fruit listed at £4.99 each - free p&p over a certain amount.

https://www.thebookpeople.co.uk

hth

[Sweepster]

I'm using Alan Titchmarsh's The Kitchen Gardener as my guide this year, and so far it's being very helpful! Still tempted to put Carol Klein's Grow Your Own Veg on my birthday list though... you can never have too many books

[Creemteez]

Saint Alan of Titchmarsh has brought out his "How To Be A Gardener" book in a series of "mini" books on various subjects. I bought the "Vegetables and Herbs" one today (£4.99), and it is really very good. Clear, non-jargony and simple to follow. Ideal size for tucking away in the shed on the plot for reference too!

[sewer rat]

This is the best one I've come across. Possibly too much info for some on various issues, but the veg by veg section at the end of the book is excellent and very comprehensive.
Grow Your Own Vegetables: Joy Larkcom: Amazon.co.uk: Books

[rana]

I agree with Sewer Rat. Joy Larkcom's bible on veg growing is all the better because she has written the book from her own experience, rather than trotting out the regular gardening lore that everyone else has written about.

I find 'Grow your own Vegetables' difficult to put down - for a gardening book it is a good read....

[Hans Mum]

lots of people recommend the Dr Hessayon book, theres some here for £3.75 inc P&P
Green Metropolis

[Tori]

It all depends whether you are a beginner or not and whether you like books with pictures! Best books I have are:- 'Carol Kleins Grow your own veg', and the New out 'Haynes manual vegetables grow your own' (I think that what its called). Both are very informative and full of pictures!
I have Vegetable growing month by month, and itis informative but not as easy to dip into as the above 2 books. In my opinion anyway!

[fran]

Hi there! I LOVE Joy Larcom's Creative Vegetable Gardening - a feast for the eyes, and Organic Gardening the Natural No-Dig Way by Charles Dowding, tho I've got TONS of digging to do before I can really get started on that. Something to aim for tho, and his is very interesting on how and when to sow and plant to best avoid bolting and pests etc. I've just bought Monty's The Complete Gardener. Great.
Must say tho I was inspired to really get going last year by Hugh Fearnley and Jamie's grow and cookbooks!

Franx

[Maximillian]

I love jane perrone's allotment keepers handbook and allotment gardening by susan Berger. But actually I have far too many allotment books, or can you have too many...!

[poly]

Although its quite an old book (1975) I still really like Your Kitchen Garden by George Seddon. Sections cover the basics of growing, pests, calendar, yields, how to grow different fruit and veggies etc. The book is split into two halves the second describes using/cooking your produce (recipies, preserving, jam, bottling, wine, freezing etc as well)

[Snadger]

Geff Hamilton's Ornamental kitchen Garden is my bedtime reading at present!

[sweetiepea]

The Playground Potting Shed - Dominic Murphy (a foolproof guide to gardening with children) and Veg Patch - Mark Diacono (River Cottage handbook 4) are currently my bibles. Both hardback and neat enough to fit in my bag - so they go everywhere with me. My son thinks I'm veg book and veg mag mad.