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Interior Design & Decoration
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 Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that!
Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.)
A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered!
Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from.
A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help.
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Principles of Horticulture
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £15.99
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that!
Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.)
A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered!
Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from.
A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help.
Good improvements in this 4th edition of a popular text, 13 Oct 2005
This new edition of a core text for students of horticulture is welcomed. The addition of colour plates is helpful and the layout has generally improved. I think the book does a difficult job well as the subject is huge and it must be very difficult to decide what to leave out and how much depth to go to. I'm hoping it will help me with the RHS Advanced Cerificate exam.
Good companion guide to RHS General Certificate studies, 21 Dec 2003
I'm pretty happy with this book. Having decided to do Horticulture studies by correspondence in Switzerland, this book came up when searching for some pre-study material. It is also first book off the list of recommended reading from my school, which I'm pleased to see. It provides further in-depth reading to the course material provided, although my one whinge is that it could expand its chapter on pests and diseases as there are so many covered in the course. Happily websites like the RHS help out here. However, this book is fine foundation reading.
brillant, 23 Jan 2002
if you are intrested in any part of horticulture for a hobby or study, this is a must have every thing is explained in full in terms that any one would understand.And this is a up dated one.
brillant, 27 Nov 2001
I have read the 2nd edition but this one is much better they keep adding more information. if you are into gardening of any type this is the book to have. Very easy to read.
Highly recommended for students and professionals, 14 Nov 2000
This book provides a valuable introduction to horticulture. The information covered is wide ranging, explained clearly and is accompanied on many occasions by useful pictures and diagrams. This text was useful to me on the HNC/HND (Horticulture) course and also occasionally during my horticultural degree. The book would also be of interest to many horticuural professionals. There are not currently enough text books available specifically for horticultural students so this book is a valuable one.
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Vegetable and Herb Expert
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £2.99
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that!
Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.)
A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered!
Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from.
A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help.
Good improvements in this 4th edition of a popular text, 13 Oct 2005
This new edition of a core text for students of horticulture is welcomed. The addition of colour plates is helpful and the layout has generally improved. I think the book does a difficult job well as the subject is huge and it must be very difficult to decide what to leave out and how much depth to go to. I'm hoping it will help me with the RHS Advanced Cerificate exam.
Good companion guide to RHS General Certificate studies, 21 Dec 2003
I'm pretty happy with this book. Having decided to do Horticulture studies by correspondence in Switzerland, this book came up when searching for some pre-study material. It is also first book off the list of recommended reading from my school, which I'm pleased to see. It provides further in-depth reading to the course material provided, although my one whinge is that it could expand its chapter on pests and diseases as there are so many covered in the course. Happily websites like the RHS help out here. However, this book is fine foundation reading.
brillant, 23 Jan 2002
if you are intrested in any part of horticulture for a hobby or study, this is a must have every thing is explained in full in terms that any one would understand.And this is a up dated one.
brillant, 27 Nov 2001
I have read the 2nd edition but this one is much better they keep adding more information. if you are into gardening of any type this is the book to have. Very easy to read.
Highly recommended for students and professionals, 14 Nov 2000
This book provides a valuable introduction to horticulture. The information covered is wide ranging, explained clearly and is accompanied on many occasions by useful pictures and diagrams. This text was useful to me on the HNC/HND (Horticulture) course and also occasionally during my horticultural degree. The book would also be of interest to many horticuural professionals. There are not currently enough text books available specifically for horticultural students so this book is a valuable one.
Proper User Guide for a Veg Plot, 31 May 2008
Too many gardening authors take time out to wax lyrical about seasons and the joys of blackbirds and dew on your runner canes. Their books end up as a decent afternoon's read, but difficult to use when you're trying to work out what's going wrong with your kohlrabi.
This book is different. Veg are listed alphabetically with clear sections on selecting varieties, planting, looking after, harvesting and cooking, with a troubleshooting guide covering disease, pests, storage and the like.
No nonsense, everything you need and easy to find.
The bees knees..., 04 May 2008
Having just started with a vagetable patch in the garden, I was looking for, in effect an "idiot's guide" to vegetable growing (believe me, I needed it !) - this book is marvellous - helpful illustrations,easy to follow layout & packed with information on cultivation, preperation, eating, protecting from pests & diseases, the whole lot.
The herb section is by no means as comprehensive as the veg part of the book, but it has inspired me to grow my own selection of herbs (in one of those very attractive "ornamental" wooden wheelbarrows,my wife's aunty got us for Christmas - bless) & hopefully add something a bit different, interesting & above all, tasty to the garden.
I bought this at the same time as a far glossier, bigger (& more expensive !) book I got from the garden centre - this book beats the more expensive competition hands down. A really great investment, made me burst with horticultural enthusiasm & feel like Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's cousin.
Vegetable & Herb Expert by D.G.Hessayon review, 23 Apr 2007
I have always found the Expert Garden range of books to be my most valuable gardening books - clear, simple and easy to find what you want.
Sadly they have not updated to metric units so I can no longer buy them as presents for budding gardeners, since the modern generation only know metric and there is nothing more discouraging than to use a book you cannot understand. I hope they will rectify this before long so that I can continue using them.
Great help to a novice grower, 05 Nov 2006
I got this book when I decided to get my allotment, and I found and still do a great help.
Fantastic pictures are illustrated with the information that goes with them.
The book starts at the beginning which helps if you're a complete novice to vegetable growing.
"Getting started" covers digging and preparing your land, what is the best seeds to buy and how to sow them. This section also covers the importance of crop rotation.
Other section covers the growing of vegetables, covers greenhouse growing, border planting and cover pot and windowsill planting.
Looking after vegetables section covers the dreaded weeding. But it also covers feeding, mulching and watering of the plants; also a section is covered on spotting and dealing with pests.
The book has a section about unusual types of vegetables and how to grow them.
There is a good section on vegetable troubles, how to spot and treat before it starts to do damage to other crops.
Tips on how to preserve and ripen your vegetables and of course to eat them.
This is a great book and if you're thinking of growing your own vegetables like I have done this year, this books it a must
Growing into an expert, 31 Oct 2006
Just moved from London with a shady patio to a country acre, with greenhouse and allotment sized veg patch - and not had to buy a vegetable since March. I was worried gardening was one of those things you couldn't do by book-learning, but of the four tomes I picked up, this is the only one I would use. Brilliant, and inspiring confidence straight away - I'm buying the rest of the series!
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that!
Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.)
A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered!
Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from.
A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help.
Good improvements in this 4th edition of a popular text, 13 Oct 2005
This new edition of a core text for students of horticulture is welcomed. The addition of colour plates is helpful and the layout has generally improved. I think the book does a difficult job well as the subject is huge and it must be very difficult to decide what to leave out and how much depth to go to. I'm hoping it will help me with the RHS Advanced Cerificate exam.
Good companion guide to RHS General Certificate studies, 21 Dec 2003
I'm pretty happy with this book. Having decided to do Horticulture studies by correspondence in Switzerland, this book came up when searching for some pre-study material. It is also first book off the list of recommended reading from my school, which I'm pleased to see. It provides further in-depth reading to the course material provided, although my one whinge is that it could expand its chapter on pests and diseases as there are so many covered in the course. Happily websites like the RHS help out here. However, this book is fine foundation reading.
brillant, 23 Jan 2002
if you are intrested in any part of horticulture for a hobby or study, this is a must have every thing is explained in full in terms that any one would understand.And this is a up dated one.
brillant, 27 Nov 2001
I have read the 2nd edition but this one is much better they keep adding more information. if you are into gardening of any type this is the book to have. Very easy to read.
Highly recommended for students and professionals, 14 Nov 2000
This book provides a valuable introduction to horticulture. The information covered is wide ranging, explained clearly and is accompanied on many occasions by useful pictures and diagrams. This text was useful to me on the HNC/HND (Horticulture) course and also occasionally during my horticultural degree. The book would also be of interest to many horticuural professionals. There are not currently enough text books available specifically for horticultural students so this book is a valuable one.
Proper User Guide for a Veg Plot, 31 May 2008
Too many gardening authors take time out to wax lyrical about seasons and the joys of blackbirds and dew on your runner canes. Their books end up as a decent afternoon's read, but difficult to use when you're trying to work out what's going wrong with your kohlrabi.
This book is different. Veg are listed alphabetically with clear sections on selecting varieties, planting, looking after, harvesting and cooking, with a troubleshooting guide covering disease, pests, storage and the like.
No nonsense, everything you need and easy to find.
The bees knees..., 04 May 2008
Having just started with a vagetable patch in the garden, I was looking for, in effect an "idiot's guide" to vegetable growing (believe me, I needed it !) - this book is marvellous - helpful illustrations,easy to follow layout & packed with information on cultivation, preperation, eating, protecting from pests & diseases, the whole lot.
The herb section is by no means as comprehensive as the veg part of the book, but it has inspired me to grow my own selection of herbs (in one of those very attractive "ornamental" wooden wheelbarrows,my wife's aunty got us for Christmas - bless) & hopefully add something a bit different, interesting & above all, tasty to the garden.
I bought this at the same time as a far glossier, bigger (& more expensive !) book I got from the garden centre - this book beats the more expensive competition hands down. A really great investment, made me burst with horticultural enthusiasm & feel like Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's cousin.
Vegetable & Herb Expert by D.G.Hessayon review, 23 Apr 2007
I have always found the Expert Garden range of books to be my most valuable gardening books - clear, simple and easy to find what you want.
Sadly they have not updated to metric units so I can no longer buy them as presents for budding gardeners, since the modern generation only know metric and there is nothing more discouraging than to use a book you cannot understand. I hope they will rectify this before long so that I can continue using them.
Great help to a novice grower, 05 Nov 2006
I got this book when I decided to get my allotment, and I found and still do a great help.
Fantastic pictures are illustrated with the information that goes with them.
The book starts at the beginning which helps if you're a complete novice to vegetable growing.
"Getting started" covers digging and preparing your land, what is the best seeds to buy and how to sow them. This section also covers the importance of crop rotation.
Other section covers the growing of vegetables, covers greenhouse growing, border planting and cover pot and windowsill planting.
Looking after vegetables section covers the dreaded weeding. But it also covers feeding, mulching and watering of the plants; also a section is covered on spotting and dealing with pests.
The book has a section about unusual types of vegetables and how to grow them.
There is a good section on vegetable troubles, how to spot and treat before it starts to do damage to other crops.
Tips on how to preserve and ripen your vegetables and of course to eat them.
This is a great book and if you're thinking of growing your own vegetables like I have done this year, this books it a must
Growing into an expert, 31 Oct 2006
Just moved from London with a shady patio to a country acre, with greenhouse and allotment sized veg patch - and not had to buy a vegetable since March. I was worried gardening was one of those things you couldn't do by book-learning, but of the four tomes I picked up, this is the only one I would use. Brilliant, and inspiring confidence straight away - I'm buying the rest of the series!
..., 21 Sep 2008
Els projectes i les idees que presenta aquest llibre trobo que tenen molt poc joc per personalitzar-los, són idees massa concretes amb poc marge de maniobra...
La veritat és que m'ha decepcionat força... No se perquè la gent li ha posat una nota tan alta...
Best book bought for a long time...., 14 Sep 2008
The moment i received this book i could barely put it down for days, beautiful pictures and easy to follow, all the projects are items you would want to make! Have already tried two projects from the book and have not been disappointed with the result.
An inspirational delight, 31 Aug 2008
I was fortunate to be able to flick through this book before I ordered it from Amazon. This book is the favourite of both my son (12!) and my daughter, for it's dreamy, shabby-chic inspired theme. It is an ode to the home, and the room-by-room treatment of offerings is a perfect way to inspire the crafter to visualise a complete makeover! I love this book so much, that I ordered the Christmas version, which is just as lovely. However, since I can't see us adding the flying pigs to our Yule-time trimmings, this book remains our favourite to curl up to, with a cup of tea. I made the fabulous living room quilt as my first ever quilting project, and am delighted with the result, even if it is deliberately different to the original. There is not a single project in this book that I don't adore, including the daft little strawberry pin-cushion things. Even projects that I will never make, delight me at every turn of the page.
This book is a must for the armchair decorator, stitcher and crafter. Directions are better suited to those with some experience of following shop-bought, sewing pattern directions, or those who can grasp how to create three-dimentional items from two-dimentional fabric, but there are enough projects to suit complete beginners, too.
Everyone should own this book for the warm-fuzzy-feeling it imparts!
Wonderful projects, 19 Aug 2008
I cannot put this book down! All the projects are beautiful and even if you do not intend to sew anything, it is worth having for the lovely pictures and inspiration. The fabrics used are in gorgeous shades of pale green, blue and pink - some with small flowers, some stripes and some plain. The fabrics are available from a website detailed at the back of the book. I intend to make many of the projects such as the little 'duffle' style bag, make-up bag, wall holder for magazines, needlecase, quilted placemats, angels - there is even a pattern for slippers! The patterns include some embroidery and the applique 'houses' on the quilt can be used for many other projects. The instructions are not the 'step-by-step' picture type but are clear enough if you have some basic sewing experience. I am off to buy some of the other books in this range.
Gorgeous things to make!, 17 Aug 2008
Thought I'd just find one or two things to catch my interest as I am not really into pink, and the cover is pink, pink, pink! But what a gorgeous book, full of lovely things...I just want to make everything! I have already made the cafetiere cover and one of the makeup pouches (though in brighter colours, but they still look great!)
Super book. Lots of inspiration! Makes you want to paint all your furniture white and coordinate everything in your home!
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The Allotment Book
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £7.00
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that!
Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.)
A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered!
Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from.
A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help.
Good improvements in this 4th edition of a popular text, 13 Oct 2005
This new edition of a core text for students of horticulture is welcomed. The addition of colour plates is helpful and the layout has generally improved. I think the book does a difficult job well as the subject is huge and it must be very difficult to decide what to leave out and how much depth to go to. I'm hoping it will help me with the RHS Advanced Cerificate exam.
Good companion guide to RHS General Certificate studies, 21 Dec 2003
I'm pretty happy with this book. Having decided to do Horticulture studies by correspondence in Switzerland, this book came up when searching for some pre-study material. It is also first book off the list of recommended reading from my school, which I'm pleased to see. It provides further in-depth reading to the course material provided, although my one whinge is that it could expand its chapter on pests and diseases as there are so many covered in the course. Happily websites like the RHS help out here. However, this book is fine foundation reading.
brillant, 23 Jan 2002
if you are intrested in any part of horticulture for a hobby or study, this is a must have every thing is explained in full in terms that any one would understand.And this is a up dated one.
brillant, 27 Nov 2001
I have read the 2nd edition but this one is much better they keep adding more information. if you are into gardening of any type this is the book to have. Very easy to read.
Highly recommended for students and professionals, 14 Nov 2000
This book provides a valuable introduction to horticulture. The information covered is wide ranging, explained clearly and is accompanied on many occasions by useful pictures and diagrams. This text was useful to me on the HNC/HND (Horticulture) course and also occasionally during my horticultural degree. The book would also be of interest to many horticuural professionals. There are not currently enough text books available specifically for horticultural students so this book is a valuable one.
Proper User Guide for a Veg Plot, 31 May 2008
Too many gardening authors take time out to wax lyrical about seasons and the joys of blackbirds and dew on your runner canes. Their books end up as a decent afternoon's read, but difficult to use when you're trying to work out what's going wrong with your kohlrabi.
This book is different. Veg are listed alphabetically with clear sections on selecting varieties, planting, looking after, harvesting and cooking, with a troubleshooting guide covering disease, pests, storage and the like.
No nonsense, everything you need and easy to find.
The bees knees..., 04 May 2008
Having just started with a vagetable patch in the garden, I was looking for, in effect an "idiot's guide" to vegetable growing (believe me, I needed it !) - this book is marvellous - helpful illustrations,easy to follow layout & packed with information on cultivation, preperation, eating, protecting from pests & diseases, the whole lot.
The herb section is by no means as comprehensive as the veg part of the book, but it has inspired me to grow my own selection of herbs (in one of those very attractive "ornamental" wooden wheelbarrows,my wife's aunty got us for Christmas - bless) & hopefully add something a bit different, interesting & above all, tasty to the garden.
I bought this at the same time as a far glossier, bigger (& more expensive !) book I got from the garden centre - this book beats the more expensive competition hands down. A really great investment, made me burst with horticultural enthusiasm & feel like Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's cousin.
Vegetable & Herb Expert by D.G.Hessayon review, 23 Apr 2007
I have always found the Expert Garden range of books to be my most valuable gardening books - clear, simple and easy to find what you want.
Sadly they have not updated to metric units so I can no longer buy them as presents for budding gardeners, since the modern generation only know metric and there is nothing more discouraging than to use a book you cannot understand. I hope they will rectify this before long so that I can continue using them.
Great help to a novice grower, 05 Nov 2006
I got this book when I decided to get my allotment, and I found and still do a great help.
Fantastic pictures are illustrated with the information that goes with them.
The book starts at the beginning which helps if you're a complete novice to vegetable growing.
"Getting started" covers digging and preparing your land, what is the best seeds to buy and how to sow them. This section also covers the importance of crop rotation.
Other section covers the growing of vegetables, covers greenhouse growing, border planting and cover pot and windowsill planting.
Looking after vegetables section covers the dreaded weeding. But it also covers feeding, mulching and watering of the plants; also a section is covered on spotting and dealing with pests.
The book has a section about unusual types of vegetables and how to grow them.
There is a good section on vegetable troubles, how to spot and treat before it starts to do damage to other crops.
Tips on how to preserve and ripen your vegetables and of course to eat them.
This is a great book and if you're thinking of growing your own vegetables like I have done this year, this books it a must
Growing into an expert, 31 Oct 2006
Just moved from London with a shady patio to a country acre, with greenhouse and allotment sized veg patch - and not had to buy a vegetable since March. I was worried gardening was one of those things you couldn't do by book-learning, but of the four tomes I picked up, this is the only one I would use. Brilliant, and inspiring confidence straight away - I'm buying the rest of the series!
..., 21 Sep 2008
Els projectes i les idees que presenta aquest llibre trobo que tenen molt poc joc per personalitzar-los, són idees massa concretes amb poc marge de maniobra...
La veritat és que m'ha decepcionat força... No se perquè la gent li ha posat una nota tan alta...
Best book bought for a long time...., 14 Sep 2008
The moment i received this book i could barely put it down for days, beautiful pictures and easy to follow, all the projects are items you would want to make! Have already tried two projects from the book and have not been disappointed with the result.
An inspirational delight, 31 Aug 2008
I was fortunate to be able to flick through this book before I ordered it from Amazon. This book is the favourite of both my son (12!) and my daughter, for it's dreamy, shabby-chic inspired theme. It is an ode to the home, and the room-by-room treatment of offerings is a perfect way to inspire the crafter to visualise a complete makeover! I love this book so much, that I ordered the Christmas version, which is just as lovely. However, since I can't see us adding the flying pigs to our Yule-time trimmings, this book remains our favourite to curl up to, with a cup of tea. I made the fabulous living room quilt as my first ever quilting project, and am delighted with the result, even if it is deliberately different to the original. There is not a single project in this book that I don't adore, including the daft little strawberry pin-cushion things. Even projects that I will never make, delight me at every turn of the page.
This book is a must for the armchair decorator, stitcher and crafter. Directions are better suited to those with some experience of following shop-bought, sewing pattern directions, or those who can grasp how to create three-dimentional items from two-dimentional fabric, but there are enough projects to suit complete beginners, too.
Everyone should own this book for the warm-fuzzy-feeling it imparts!
Wonderful projects, 19 Aug 2008
I cannot put this book down! All the projects are beautiful and even if you do not intend to sew anything, it is worth having for the lovely pictures and inspiration. The fabrics used are in gorgeous shades of pale green, blue and pink - some with small flowers, some stripes and some plain. The fabrics are available from a website detailed at the back of the book. I intend to make many of the projects such as the little 'duffle' style bag, make-up bag, wall holder for magazines, needlecase, quilted placemats, angels - there is even a pattern for slippers! The patterns include some embroidery and the applique 'houses' on the quilt can be used for many other projects. The instructions are not the 'step-by-step' picture type but are clear enough if you have some basic sewing experience. I am off to buy some of the other books in this range.
Gorgeous things to make!, 17 Aug 2008
Thought I'd just find one or two things to catch my interest as I am not really into pink, and the cover is pink, pink, pink! But what a gorgeous book, full of lovely things...I just want to make everything! I have already made the cafetiere cover and one of the makeup pouches (though in brighter colours, but they still look great!)
Super book. Lots of inspiration! Makes you want to paint all your furniture white and coordinate everything in your home!
It's okay..., 26 Apr 2007
If, like me, you need an allotment book which assumes you know v little, but have already made the decision to work an allotment, don't necessarily put this book at the top of your list. i didn't need a chapter telling me why people have allotments. i didn't need recipes. i didn't need to know that someone has been labeled "the queen of herbs" by jamie oliver. i didn't need a page on bees. i need a book that allows me to look up raspberries, rhubarb, potatoes, courgettes, or whatever, and be directed to a page with everything i needed to know about those fruits/vegetables, plus a section that outlines everything i need to plan for each season. the latter section is here, and it is *almost* acceptable, but it assumes too much prior knowledge. if, like me, you didn't pick up a lifetime's worth of gardening tips from your ancient relatives, e.g. you don't know exactly how to "force" a vegetable, how to prune, etc., then this book isn't the one you need. fair play to the guy - it probably does have a large audience and it's good value for money - but it isn't being marketed at its real audience.
Great for new allotmenteers..., 13 Dec 2006
..I got myself a plot on an organic farm ealrier this year. Apart from growing the odd thing whilst I grew up, I was starting from scratch.
This book doesn't go into great detail about every plant, but it isn't an encyclopaedia of allotment plants so it isn't to be expected.
It does give excellent important notes for plants though and contains information about the whole allotment experience.
There are photographs galore to inpsire allotmenteers, the calendar section has been a godsend to newbies like me, and the recipes section is great too (my wife used his carrot cake recipe and it was gorgeous! Thanks Heather!).
He gives advise on companion planting, composting, storring your harvest, and many more essential matters.
I learn't a lot from reading his book, you can really feel his passion for growing fruit and veg, and this rubs off onto the reader.
Time to get your wellies on.., 01 Sep 2006
I have always wanted to grow my own, but I've never had the confidence to go for it.
This book gives you detailed tables of sowing and planting times, seasonal guides,advice on sellecting what to grow and even the odd recipe too. It is written in a clear and concise fashion, with lots of helpfull (and pretty) photographs.
I particularly like the seasonal guides as they have "Sow Now; Plant Now; In Season Now" in one quick reference column at the start of the "chapter".
It answers every question that a virgin allotment holder could ask. I would highly recommend it.
Complete idiots guide for the uninitiated, 10 Aug 2006
I have always wanted to have a go at growing my own veg but quite frankly did not know where to start. I needed a book that would spell out the basics, give me pictures and provide a detailed calendar showing when I should be doing what.
This book is perfect. It is well written, the directions are clear and the pictures informative. It is already well thumbed and next year I will be better! Congratulations to the author.
a great book for all gardeners, 12 Jul 2006
I've had an allotment for years and got this book as a present but I've never put it on the shelf since. Andi Clevely is a great read and the book is laid out so well I can dip into it so easily to find the right information. It has definitely inspired me to try some crops which I haven't grown before, like aubergine and chillies. The calendar section is partciularly useful for its 'last chance to sow' and 'planning ahead' features, and has some useful recipes. I would recommend this book for allotmenters new and old, as well as kitchen gardeners.
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer! A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot! A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that! Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.) A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered! Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from. A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help. Good improvements in this 4th edition of a popular text, 13 Oct 2005
This new edition of a core text for students of horticulture is welcomed. The addition of colour plates is helpful and the layout has generally improved. I think the book does a difficult job well as the subject is huge and it must be very difficult to decide what to leave out and how much depth to go to. I'm hoping it will help me with the RHS Advanced Cerificate exam. Good companion guide to RHS General Certificate studies, 21 Dec 2003
I'm pretty happy with this book. Having decided to do Horticulture studies by correspondence in Switzerland, this book came up when searching for some pre-study material. It is also first book off the list of recommended reading from my school, which I'm pleased to see. It provides further in-depth reading to the course material provided, although my one whinge is that it could expand its chapter on pests and diseases as there are so many covered in the course. Happily websites like the RHS help out here. However, this book is fine foundation reading. brillant, 23 Jan 2002
if you are intrested in any part of horticulture for a hobby or study, this is a must have every thing is explained in full in terms that any one would understand.And this is a up dated one. brillant, 27 Nov 2001
I have read the 2nd edition but this one is much better they keep adding more information. if you are into gardening of any type this is the book to have. Very easy to read. Highly recommended for students and professionals, 14 Nov 2000
This book provides a valuable introduction to horticulture. The information covered is wide ranging, explained clearly and is accompanied on many occasions by useful pictures and diagrams. This text was useful to me on the HNC/HND (Horticulture) course and also occasionally during my horticultural degree. The book would also be of interest to many horticuural professionals. There are not currently enough text books available specifically for horticultural students so this book is a valuable one. Proper User Guide for a Veg Plot, 31 May 2008
Too many gardening authors take time out to wax lyrical about seasons and the joys of blackbirds and dew on your runner canes. Their books end up as a decent afternoon's read, but difficult to use when you're trying to work out what's going wrong with your kohlrabi.
This book is different. Veg are listed alphabetically with clear sections on selecting varieties, planting, looking after, harvesting and cooking, with a troubleshooting guide covering disease, pests, storage and the like.
No nonsense, everything you need and easy to find. The bees knees..., 04 May 2008
Having just started with a vagetable patch in the garden, I was looking for, in effect an "idiot's guide" to vegetable growing (believe me, I needed it !) - this book is marvellous - helpful illustrations,easy to follow layout & packed with information on cultivation, preperation, eating, protecting from pests & diseases, the whole lot.
The herb section is by no means as comprehensive as the veg part of the book, but it has inspired me to grow my own selection of herbs (in one of those very attractive "ornamental" wooden wheelbarrows,my wife's aunty got us for Christmas - bless) & hopefully add something a bit different, interesting & above all, tasty to the garden.
I bought this at the same time as a far glossier, bigger (& more expensive !) book I got from the garden centre - this book beats the more expensive competition hands down. A really great investment, made me burst with horticultural enthusiasm & feel like Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's cousin.
Vegetable & Herb Expert by D.G.Hessayon review, 23 Apr 2007
I have always found the Expert Garden range of books to be my most valuable gardening books - clear, simple and easy to find what you want.
Sadly they have not updated to metric units so I can no longer buy them as presents for budding gardeners, since the modern generation only know metric and there is nothing more discouraging than to use a book you cannot understand. I hope they will rectify this before long so that I can continue using them. Great help to a novice grower, 05 Nov 2006
I got this book when I decided to get my allotment, and I found and still do a great help.
Fantastic pictures are illustrated with the information that goes with them.
The book starts at the beginning which helps if you're a complete novice to vegetable growing.
"Getting started" covers digging and preparing your land, what is the best seeds to buy and how to sow them. This section also covers the importance of crop rotation.
Other section covers the growing of vegetables, covers greenhouse growing, border planting and cover pot and windowsill planting.
Looking after vegetables section covers the dreaded weeding. But it also covers feeding, mulching and watering of the plants; also a section is covered on spotting and dealing with pests.
The book has a section about unusual types of vegetables and how to grow them.
There is a good section on vegetable troubles, how to spot and treat before it starts to do damage to other crops.
Tips on how to preserve and ripen your vegetables and of course to eat them.
This is a great book and if you're thinking of growing your own vegetables like I have done this year, this books it a must
Growing into an expert, 31 Oct 2006
Just moved from London with a shady patio to a country acre, with greenhouse and allotment sized veg patch - and not had to buy a vegetable since March. I was worried gardening was one of those things you couldn't do by book-learning, but of the four tomes I picked up, this is the only one I would use. Brilliant, and inspiring confidence straight away - I'm buying the rest of the series!
..., 21 Sep 2008
Els projectes i les idees que presenta aquest llibre trobo que tenen molt poc joc per personalitzar-los, són idees massa concretes amb poc marge de maniobra...
La veritat és que m'ha decepcionat força... No se perquè la gent li ha posat una nota tan alta... Best book bought for a long time...., 14 Sep 2008
The moment i received this book i could barely put it down for days, beautiful pictures and easy to follow, all the projects are items you would want to make! Have already tried two projects from the book and have not been disappointed with the result. An inspirational delight, 31 Aug 2008
I was fortunate to be able to flick through this book before I ordered it from Amazon. This book is the favourite of both my son (12!) and my daughter, for it's dreamy, shabby-chic inspired theme. It is an ode to the home, and the room-by-room treatment of offerings is a perfect way to inspire the crafter to visualise a complete makeover! I love this book so much, that I ordered the Christmas version, which is just as lovely. However, since I can't see us adding the flying pigs to our Yule-time trimmings, this book remains our favourite to curl up to, with a cup of tea. I made the fabulous living room quilt as my first ever quilting project, and am delighted with the result, even if it is deliberately different to the original. There is not a single project in this book that I don't adore, including the daft little strawberry pin-cushion things. Even projects that I will never make, delight me at every turn of the page.
This book is a must for the armchair decorator, stitcher and crafter. Directions are better suited to those with some experience of following shop-bought, sewing pattern directions, or those who can grasp how to create three-dimentional items from two-dimentional fabric, but there are enough projects to suit complete beginners, too.
Everyone should own this book for the warm-fuzzy-feeling it imparts! Wonderful projects, 19 Aug 2008
I cannot put this book down! All the projects are beautiful and even if you do not intend to sew anything, it is worth having for the lovely pictures and inspiration. The fabrics used are in gorgeous shades of pale green, blue and pink - some with small flowers, some stripes and some plain. The fabrics are available from a website detailed at the back of the book. I intend to make many of the projects such as the little 'duffle' style bag, make-up bag, wall holder for magazines, needlecase, quilted placemats, angels - there is even a pattern for slippers! The patterns include some embroidery and the applique 'houses' on the quilt can be used for many other projects. The instructions are not the 'step-by-step' picture type but are clear enough if you have some basic sewing experience. I am off to buy some of the other books in this range. Gorgeous things to make!, 17 Aug 2008
Thought I'd just find one or two things to catch my interest as I am not really into pink, and the cover is pink, pink, pink! But what a gorgeous book, full of lovely things...I just want to make everything! I have already made the cafetiere cover and one of the makeup pouches (though in brighter colours, but they still look great!)
Super book. Lots of inspiration! Makes you want to paint all your furniture white and coordinate everything in your home!
It's okay..., 26 Apr 2007
If, like me, you need an allotment book which assumes you know v little, but have already made the decision to work an allotment, don't necessarily put this book at the top of your list. i didn't need a chapter telling me why people have allotments. i didn't need recipes. i didn't need to know that someone has been labeled "the queen of herbs" by jamie oliver. i didn't need a page on bees. i need a book that allows me to look up raspberries, rhubarb, potatoes, courgettes, or whatever, and be directed to a page with everything i needed to know about those fruits/vegetables, plus a section that outlines everything i need to plan for each season. the latter section is here, and it is *almost* acceptable, but it assumes too much prior knowledge. if, like me, you didn't pick up a lifetime's worth of gardening tips from your ancient relatives, e.g. you don't know exactly how to "force" a vegetable, how to prune, etc., then this book isn't the one you need. fair play to the guy - it probably does have a large audience and it's good value for money - but it isn't being marketed at its real audience. Great for new allotmenteers..., 13 Dec 2006
..I got myself a plot on an organic farm ealrier this year. Apart from growing the odd thing whilst I grew up, I was starting from scratch.
This book doesn't go into great detail about every plant, but it isn't an encyclopaedia of allotment plants so it isn't to be expected.
It does give excellent important notes for plants though and contains information about the whole allotment experience.
There are photographs galore to inpsire allotmenteers, the calendar section has been a godsend to newbies like me, and the recipes section is great too (my wife used his carrot cake recipe and it was gorgeous! Thanks Heather!).
He gives advise on companion planting, composting, storring your harvest, and many more essential matters.
I learn't a lot from reading his book, you can really feel his passion for growing fruit and veg, and this rubs off onto the reader. Time to get your wellies on.., 01 Sep 2006
I have always wanted to grow my own, but I've never had the confidence to go for it.
This book gives you detailed tables of sowing and planting times, seasonal guides,advice on sellecting what to grow and even the odd recipe too. It is written in a clear and concise fashion, with lots of helpfull (and pretty) photographs.
I particularly like the seasonal guides as they have "Sow Now; Plant Now; In Season Now" in one quick reference column at the start of the "chapter".
It answers every question that a virgin allotment holder could ask. I would highly recommend it. Complete idiots guide for the uninitiated, 10 Aug 2006
I have always wanted to have a go at growing my own veg but quite frankly did not know where to start. I needed a book that would spell out the basics, give me pictures and provide a detailed calendar showing when I should be doing what.
This book is perfect. It is well written, the directions are clear and the pictures informative. It is already well thumbed and next year I will be better! Congratulations to the author. a great book for all gardeners, 12 Jul 2006
I've had an allotment for years and got this book as a present but I've never put it on the shelf since. Andi Clevely is a great read and the book is laid out so well I can dip into it so easily to find the right information. It has definitely inspired me to try some crops which I haven't grown before, like aubergine and chillies. The calendar section is partciularly useful for its 'last chance to sow' and 'planning ahead' features, and has some useful recipes. I would recommend this book for allotmenters new and old, as well as kitchen gardeners. Good start, 29 Jul 2008
Although this book has a lot of 5 star reviews I feel that it is slightly lacking for the modern gardener. This book did not tell me everything I wanted to know such as what to do with crops at the end of the season, and has no photographs, only sketches. Whilst a good book, I feel there are better available! from novice to experienced -worth it, 30 Mar 2008
Bought this book 2 plus yrs ago. Brilliant. I admit was initially sad by lack of colour pictures!! but as time has gone on and have now managed to dig most of my veg. plot (rather than stare at it in hope) and made time to plan, this book has been invaluable. There's loads of info. on the web (some a little confusing and a little conflicting) but Ms Larkcom's info. is steadfast and logical and is my first and sometimes, only, port of call. It's a valuable reference for both new and experienced allotment keepers. I've given away my glossy, pretty, fairly useless allotment books and kept to hand this superbly informative and helpful reference. Cheers Ms Larkcom, it was worth every penny. Beginners guide to reference in one volume., 16 Dec 2007
Ever wondered how to build a compost heap? a polytunnel? how to store leeks? when to sow Russian kale? Joy Larkcom's not so little volume will tell you. If Hugh and Monty have inspired you then Joy will deal with all the practicalities of turning that inspiration into real produce.
She neatly divides her subject into two parts. The first half of her book can be read as beginner's guide or a course on vegetable growing as she covers all the basics one would need to know such as what double digging is, the best way to build compost heaps, what tools you would need and so forth. The second half is a directory of vegetables with detailed sowing, cultivation and harvesting instructions and the occasional hints on using your produce. Throughout the book are a number of very useful tables and charts giving diaries of when to sow, transplant, harvest, etc, suggested garden layouts, green manures and other information which could usually take a long time to gather together.
This is not a coffee table gardening book with masses of pretty pictures. This is wall to wall information all packed into a single place which can make it heavy going and it is not a book to read starting at page one and working forward, it is primarily a reference work. The greatest virtue of her book though is that while it will teach you all you need to know it is usable as a reference work and she goes into enough detail that this is a book which you will still find yourself using when you have years of experience.
If you've been inspired to create your own vegetable garden then buy this book. It isn't pretty but it is astoundingly useful and comprehensive enough that you will still be using it years hence. If you buy one book about growing veg, buy this one, 20 Jun 2007
As a new vegetable gardener last year, I bought quite a few books to help me get started. Fortunately, this was one of them, and I now realise I need only have bought this one. Although low on colour pictures and other 'glossy' features, it is absolutely packed with useful information and I find I refer to it constantly. It covers a wider range of veg than many other books, too, and has several excellent features, including the value for space ratio mentioned in another review, and several excellent planting plans ('feed a family', etc). I just can't recommend it highly enough. Valuable but not complete, 25 Feb 2006
What I love about this book is the size, like a 'normal', paperback, novel type of book which makes it easier to carry than most other gardening books. It's got a lot of information on lots of subjects. The section on 'soil, manure and compost' alone has over 35 pages. The absence of pictures on every page means there's more information. There are charts on things such as green manures, which is very useful. Also a very useful section on growing Comfrey to use as manure and liquid fertilizer and lots of tips on making your own compost heap, cloches, polytunnels, etc. It's very, very good, and comes highly recommended... HOWEVER, I was surprised and disappointed not to have found any information whatsoever on companion planting. Something I'm very interested in, and for a book that advocates growing organically, I just can't understand why this hasn't had a mention. Perhaps companion planting to some gardeners is similar to how homeopathy stands with scientists, but leading gardeners such as Bob Flowerdew have devoted much of their writing to just this and it's becoming more and more popular (although it goes back to ancient times). At one point, Joy Larkcom suggests growing sunflowers, sweet peas and nasturtiums amongst beans, but merely cites the reason as being for 'decorative effect'. These plants are great to grow together, but for other benificial reasons. It wouldn't have taken much space to provide a chart.
There are also no tips on how to deal with pests if you'd rather not kill them, and not a mention within the composting pages on not to use processed foods in the heap, even though there's a 'do and don't' list. Perhaps the author eats so healthily that she has forgotten that many people do eat biscuits, crisps and other non-cooked 'junk', even those who want to grow their own.
I also would loved to have seen some information on how to grow hazel or bamboo on an allotment to provide a free supply of cane supports. There is detailed information on each vegetable, how to grow, how to look after the crop, the type of soil required, etc. Very useful, but if you find it easier to learn visually, to me there is no substitute for the clarity of the Dr. G. Hessayon 'Expert' series. One other point on clarity, the index is not the easiest to read.
That said, this book is very useful and has more information packed in than most other gardening books of this kind. Other than these points, it is hard to fault and impressive and I would recommend it, but don't think it's quite that 'ultimate' book that everyone else claims it to be. I shall use it, but alongside others.
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Customer Reviews
Essential Reading, 30 Jul 2008
An essential guide for everyone who is a gardener who wants to preserve their own produce.
Indispensable guide, 19 Jul 2008
How did I manage without this book? My colleagues at work regularly share our surplus produce from our gardens and allotments. This book has provided much needed inspiration for us. The plum chutney recipe is a real winner! The second edition is much improved with many more recipes.
I shall not be short of ideas this summer!
A useful reference book, 10 Jul 2008
This is a very useful reference book and whilst some of the advice might not be practical for some of us, it is nevertheless very interesting.
My copy is very well thumbed!
Even if you do not anticipate a glut of a particular vegetable at the moment, you never know what the next season's weather will bring. Maybe this WILL be a good year for beetroot!
A great book!, 05 Oct 2008
I was given this book as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur with other reviewers so won't waffle on about how good it is. Why only 4 stars? There's nothing on the importance of companion planting when using organic methods and without this, my veg patch wouldn't survive. This info can be researched elsewhere, so other than that, I would recommend this book, especially for a beginner. I'm just about to buy another copy for my best friend who is just that!
Good but slighly flawed, 05 Aug 2008
No one (apart from the late, great Geoff Hamilton) does gardening books for beginners like Alan Titchmarsh. Plenty of practical, common sense advice delivered in an encouraging but non-patronizing tone to reassure the total novice. Clear text together with a good 'directory' of fruit & veg make this ideal for the newcomer to the veg patch. This book could have been improved by fewer photos of Titchmarsh and more clearly captioned pictures of gardening tasks/pests & diseases/plant cultivars etc. I was also irritated by his statement that organic matter such as manure or compost is insufficient to maintain healthy soil without the addition of a general purpose fertilizer. This is total nonsense & an irresponsible statement from a celebrity gardener who claims to be organic. I was also disappointed by his advice to store rainwater for use 'during hosepipe bans'. Again, I would expect an 'organic' gardener to be encouraging the maximum use of rain & 'grey' water at all times. But apart from these minor quibbles, this book would be an ideal companion for the first time veg grower. (Those with more experience will probably prefer Joy Larkcom's Grow Your Own Veg book instead.)
A Fruit and Veg 'Bible', 01 Aug 2008
An absolute pleasure to browse through and a thorough 'how to' guide. Clearly laid out. Doubt it could be bettered!
Fantastic Book!, 11 Apr 2008
I'm not a gardener, I'm someone who has a bash at growing a few tomatoes, and would like to keep her blueberry bush alive. That's about it.
This book as absolutely wonderful! The information is practical,concise and very easy to follow. There's just the right about of information - not enough to overwhelm you, and not too little that just leaves you with unanswered questions (as with Carol Klein's book). There's also the obvious bonus that this book covers fruit as well as vegetables, whereas most 'grow your own' books are vegetables only.
Alan's book has inspired me to add to my little vegetable patch this year. My tomatoes will be joined by some new ideas, and I now know how to perk up that blueberry bush!
An absolute bargain of a book. A joy to read and a pleasure to work from.
A 'must have' reference, 30 Mar 2008
Being relatively new to gardening I am thrilled to have found this book. It is the perfect guide to modern gardening. I found this book refreshing and so practical. Some fantastic tips that really made gardening feel easy and enjoyable. I have got the bug now, and my 'cabbage patch' is close to being fully stocked with beautiful produce. I am very proud, but could not have succeded without Alan's help.
Good improvements in this 4th edition of a popular text, 13 Oct 2005
This new edition of a core text for students of horticulture is welcomed. The addition of colour plates is helpful and the layout has generally improved. I think the book does a difficult job well as the subject is huge and it must be very difficult to decide what to leave out and how much depth to go to. I'm hoping it will help me with the RHS Advanced Cerificate exam.
Good companion guide to RHS General Certificate studies, 21 Dec 2003
I'm pretty happy with this book. Having decided to do Horticulture studies by correspondence in Switzerland, this book came up when searching for some pre-study material. It is also first book off the list of recommended reading from my school, which I'm pleased to see. It provides further in-depth reading to the course material provided, although my one whinge is that it could expand its chapter on pests and diseases as there are so many covered in the course. Happily websites like the RHS help out here. However, this book is fine foundation reading.
brillant, 23 Jan 2002
if you are intrested in any part of horticulture for a hobby or study, this is a must have every thing is explained in full in terms that any one would understand.And this is a up dated one.
brillant, 27 Nov 2001
I have read the 2nd edition but this one is much better they keep adding more information. if you are into gardening of any type this is the book to have. Very easy to read.
Highly recommended for students and professionals, 14 Nov 2000
This book provides a valuable introduction to horticulture. The information covered is wide ranging, explained clearly and is accompanied on many occasions by useful pictures and diagrams. This text was useful to me on the HNC/HND (Horticulture) course and also occasionally during my horticultural degree. The book would also be of interest to many horticuural professionals. There are not currently enough text books available specifically for horticultural students so this book is a valuable one.
Proper User Guide for a Veg Plot, 31 May 2008
Too many gardening authors take time out to wax lyrical about seasons and the joys of blackbirds and dew on your runner canes. Their books end up as a decent afternoon's read, but difficult to use when you're trying to work out what's going wrong with your kohlrabi.
This book is different. Veg are listed alphabetically with clear sections on selecting varieties, planting, looking after, harvesting and cooking, with a troubleshooting guide covering disease, pests, storage and the like.
No nonsense, everything you need and easy to find.
The bees knees..., 04 May 2008
Having just started with a vagetable patch in the garden, I was looking for, in effect an "idiot's guide" to vegetable growing (believe me, I needed it !) - this book is marvellous - helpful illustrations,easy to follow layout & packed with information on cultivation, preperation, eating, protecting from pests & diseases, the whole lot.
The herb section is by no means as comprehensive as the veg part of the book, but it has inspired me to grow my own selection of herbs (in one of those very attractive "ornamental" wooden wheelbarrows,my wife's aunty got us for Christmas - bless) & hopefully add something a bit different, interesting & above all, tasty to the garden.
I bought this at the same time as a far glossier, bigger (& more expensive !) book I got from the garden centre - this book beats the more expensive competition hands down. A really great investment, made me burst with horticultural enthusiasm & feel like Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's cousin.
Vegetable & Herb Expert by D.G.Hessayon review, 23 Apr 2007
I have always found the Expert Garden range of books to be my most valuable gardening books - clear, simple and easy to find what you want.
Sadly they have not updated to metric units so I can no longer buy them as presents for budding gardeners, since the modern generation only know metric and there is nothing more discouraging than to use a book you cannot understand. I hope they will rectify this before long so that I can continue using them.
Great help to a novice grower, 05 Nov 2006
I got this book when I decided to get my allotment, and I found and still do a great help.
Fantastic pictures are illustrated with the information that goes with them.
The book starts at the beginning which helps if you're a complete novice to vegetable growing.
"Getting started" covers digging and preparing your land, what is the best seeds to buy and how to sow them. This section also covers the importance of crop rotation.
Other section covers the growing of vegetables, covers greenhouse growing, border planting and cover pot and windowsill planting.
Looking after vegetables section covers the dreaded weeding. But it also covers feeding, mulching and watering of the plants; also a section is covered on spotting and dealing with pests.
The book has a section about unusual types of vegetables and how to grow them.
There is a good section on vegetable troubles, how to spot and treat before it starts to do damage to other crops.
Tips on how to preserve and ripen your vegetables and of course to eat them.
This is a great book and if you're thinking of growing your own vegetables like I have done this year, this books it a must
Growing into an expert, 31 Oct 2006
Just moved from London with a shady patio to a country acre, with greenhouse and allotment sized veg patch - and not had to buy a vegetable since March. I was worried gardening was one of those things you couldn't do by book-learning, but of the four tomes I picked up, this is the only one I would use. Brilliant, and inspiring confidence straight away - I'm buying the rest of the series!
..., 21 Sep 2008
Els projectes i les idees que presenta aquest llibre trobo que tenen molt poc joc per personalitzar-los, són idees massa concretes amb poc marge de maniobra...
La veritat és que m'ha decepcionat força... No se perquè la gent li ha posat una nota tan alta...
Best book bought for a long time...., 14 Sep 2008
The moment i received this book i could barely put it down for days, beautiful pictures and easy to follow, all the projects are items you would want to make! Have already tried two projects from the book and have not been disappointed with the result.
An inspirational delight, 31 Aug 2008
I was fortunate to be able to flick through this book before I ordered it from Amazon. This book is the favourite of both my son (12!) and my daughter, for it's dreamy, shabby-chic inspired theme. It is an ode to the home, and the room-by-room treatment of offerings is a perfect way to inspire the crafter to visualise a complete makeover! I love this book so much, that I ordered the Christmas version, which is just as lovely. However, since I can't see us adding the flying pigs to our Yule-time trimmings, this book remains our favourite to curl up to, with a cup of tea. I made the fabulous living room quilt as my first ever quilting project, and am delighted with the result, even if it is deliberately different to the original. There is not a single project in this book that I don't adore, including the daft little strawberry pin-cushion things. Even projects that I will never make, delight me at every turn of the page.
This book is a must for the armchair decorator, stitcher and crafter. Directions are better suited to those with some experience of following shop-bought, sewing pattern directions, or those who can grasp how to create three-dimentional items from two-dimentional fabric, but there are enough projects to suit complete beginners, too.
Everyone should own this book for the warm-fuzzy-feeling it imparts!
Wonderful projects, 19 Aug 2008
I cannot put this book down! All the projects are beautiful and even if you do not intend to sew anything, it is worth having for the lovely pictures and inspiration. The fabrics used are in gorgeous shades of pale green, blue and pink - some with small flowers, some stripes and some plain. The fabrics are available from a website detailed at the back of the book. I intend to make many of the projects such as the little 'duffle' style bag, make-up bag, wall holder for magazines, needlecase, quilted placemats, angels - there is even a pattern for slippers! The patterns include some embroidery and the applique 'houses' on the quilt can be used for many other projects. The instructions are not the 'step-by-step' picture type but are clear enough if you have some basic sewing experience. I am off to buy some of the other books in this range.
Gorgeous things to make!, 17 Aug 2008
Thought I'd just find one or two things to catch my interest as I am not really into pink, and the cover is pink, pink, pink! But what a gorgeous book, full of lovely things...I just want to make everything! I have already made the cafetiere cover and one of the makeup pouches (though in brighter colours, but they still look great!)
Super book. Lots of inspiration! Makes you want to paint all your furniture white and coordinate everything in your home!
It's okay..., 26 Apr 2007
If, like me, you need an allotment book which assumes you know v little, but have already made the decision to work an allotment, don't necessarily put this book at the top of your list. i didn't need a chapter telling me why people have allotments. i didn't need recipes. i didn't need to know that someone has been labeled "the queen of herbs" by jamie oliver. i didn't need a page on bees. i need a book that allows me to look up raspberries, rhubarb, potatoes, courgettes, or whatever, and be directed to a page with everything i needed to know about those fruits/vegetables, plus a section that outlines everything i need to plan for each season. the latter section is here, and it is *almost* acceptable, but it assumes too much prior knowledge. if, like me, you didn't pick up a lifetime's worth of gardening tips from your ancient relatives, e.g. you don't know exactly how to "force" a vegetable, how to prune, etc., then this book isn't the one you need. fair play to the guy - it probably does have a large audience and it's good value for money - but it isn't being marketed at its real audience.
Great for new allotmenteers..., 13 Dec 2006
..I got myself a plot on an organic farm ealrier this year. Apart from growing the odd thing whilst I grew up, I was starting from scratch.
This book doesn't go into great detail about every plant, but it isn't an encyclopaedia of allotment plants so it isn't to be expected.
It does give excellent important notes for plants though and contains information about the whole allotment experience.
There are photographs galore to inpsire allotmenteers, the calendar section has been a godsend to newbies like me, and the recipes section is great too (my wife used his carrot cake recipe and it was gorgeous! Thanks Heather!).
He gives advise on companion planting, composting, storring your harvest, and many more essential matters.
I learn't a lot from reading his book, you can really feel his passion for growing fruit and veg, and this rubs off onto the reader.
Time to get your wellies on.., 01 Sep 2006 | | |