I'm going to sound so think but...

[Wicked.Witch.Of.Westbury.]

I have bought a few books but am reading them quite slowly, because I am getting information overload lol.

Thank you for all the information and help

H x

[Eco-Chic]

If you read enough books, magazines and forums, watch enough TV programmes and DVDs you won't have much time for the lottie

I don't have a lottie BUT...just because there may be 2,000 seeds in a packet doesn't mean you need to sow them in one go. How many carrots, cabbage, lettuce etc does one family need.

Good luck

[bluemoon]

I'd agree with the book buying too. Get the Hessayon one it is very good, but is slightly old fashioned. He does tend to suggest that you nuke all your pests rather than using organic controls, but it does have PICTURES of the pests, which is invaluable. So, identify your pests using Hessayon then read how to control them more gently in something a little more up-to-date. The Allotment Book, by Andi Cleverly is my favourite, loads of lovely photos of abundant, sunny lotties. A quick leaf through that on a January afternoon makes you remember why you're doing it.
Most of all though remember that a packet of seeds is relatively cheap (only about the same as a cup of coffee when you think about it) so if you're not sure chuck a few in and see what happens, the worst is that they don't grow and you can try a different technique next time. There is no right way or wrong way, much of it depends upon where you are in the country, your soil type and the variety of the plant, much of it is trial and error and most of us are still trying and erring even when we've been doing it for years. So if something doesn't work, don't become too anxious, it probably just means that the variety you tried were wrong for your soil type, or you were too far North to sow as early as you did, or.......... something else (usually involving slugs). Whatever, it means you have learned for next time. It's fun though (honest!) and even if you have loads of failures you'll almost certainly have many successes too, enough to make it all worthwhile.