'Idiots Guide' book??

[Curvy Vixen]

I've done a search on here for books and although there are some good threads I haven't found an answer to exactly what I'm looking for so need help (again!!!!) please??

Can you recommend an 'Idiots Guide to Gardening'? I need a book, or a couple of books, that say things like 'this is a cabbage and this is how you plant it and look after it!!' or words to that effect.

In my perfect world it would have information about flowers, vegetables and fruit but I may be looking for a little too much

Does anyone have anything they can recommend? I already have a small selction of garden design and pest type books but don't know where to start with this and fear I will spend a gazillion quid on a hundred books!

Oh, and the obvious fab result from answering this thread will be that I might stop asking such stupid questions here every day!!

[terrier]

Dr.D.G.Hessayon's 'Expert' books are the usual ones people use. Published by PBI Publications. They seem to be widely available. Full of info for beginners despite the expert title. They are illustrated with photos, drawings and diagrams to help you along.
At the moment I have in front of me the House Plant Expert and The Vegetable and Herb Expert. Used in conjunction with any other source of info,e.g. The Vine, you should be up and running in no time.

[shirlthegirl43]

I second Terrier there. I use Dr Hessayons Veg and Herb expert. Brill book with loads of pictures and easy to follow advice.

[carlseawolf]

yes i agree the expert books are great for explaning it in plain language, my first year and manage to grow most things . look on e-bay at this time of year there cheaper.
p.s i personally would not bother with the greenhouse one as you can get most of your answers on here . BUT THE FRUIT ONE IS WORTH IT

[seasprout]

Ah ha....

Saw the question and immediately though the Hessayon books. Then found everybody else thought so too.

[Curvy Vixen]

Thanks a lot folks ~ I actually bought the Rose one and the Pests one a few weeks ago from recommendations on here. I'll go off and have a nose at the others..

[yoanbob]

i concur, i have the veg one and the fruit one they are great.

[Headfry]

yeep I go with the others! the 'Expert' books are great and you don't have to be a gardener of 20years to understand them.....fantastic, you can't go wrong with his books.
good luck in your quest, please let us know what book you get and what you think of it!

[Flummery]

Just don't frighten yourself to death with the 'pests and diseases' page - it's like a medical dictionary - you think you've got everything!

[moggssue]

Sorry to come to this a little late, but I also use a book called Food From Your Garden which is quite idiot proof and also has a couple of recipes and tips for preserving/freezing and so on.

[Jardiniere]

But the Hessayon Books aren't organic or am i wrong - i often am - i bought the garden expert for someone as a gift and thought it looked good but all the pests and diseases answers seemed to be spray it with this or dose it with that...tell me i'm wrong and i'll order the fruit expert straight away cos i need some advice......

[carlseawolf]

your not wrong most pests he just says spray them , but there is other useful info in the book aswell.

[Curvy Vixen]

Please don't flame me but I'm not organic so that's fine. I may well become one but at the moment I'm so new to all this that I'm using anything I can to keep monsters and diseases at bay! I did read on here the other day that the birds could die after eating blue pellet filled slugs though and that made me think...

[Alison]

your not wrong most pests he just says spray them , but there is other useful info in the book aswell.

You're right there, somebody bought me the pest book and whilst it's quite good for identifying the pest I'm not always keen on the solution but at least I can google / ask here knowing what the problem is so it's still useful.

[coffee time]

there's a book called allotment gardening which gives advice on getting started plus has an a-z of veg,fruit,herbs & flowers which may be of some help