how do I get started on my garden? book recommendation needed please!

[GoingPostal]

hello there. I love gardening but am clueless about ... erm ... everything. I'm actually going to start a horticultural course in Sept because I think I would love to garden more. I'm a bit nervous though because my knowledge is so scant and would like to start with some absolute basics.

Can anyone recommend a beginners' guide to gardening and plants please? My reading list looks a bit scary and I don't want to put myself off by jumping into the deep end and not understanding anything.

Many thanks for your help. I'm looking forward to hanging out on this topic in the future - when I can actually contribute!!

I am exactly the same!

I went to my local liberary and got some books about fruit and veg growing which is my main aim.

I am finding it very addictive. My aim of saving money by growing my own fruit and veg seems to have gone out the window and I seem to be spending a lot of money in the garden centre

Have you got kids you can invlove in it? My 2 year old DD is loving helping me plant things in the garden and just getting messy in the mud!

Hi JennyPenny - yes ds is just 3 and loves digging - though digs bulbs up more often than not.

I need to do a complete garden make over and have lots of basic questions about soil, drainage, plants' preferences, annuals vs perennials (and how to identify) plus the general how and why and when for choosing and planting stuff. I would also like a tree and need to find something appropriate for my small garden.

bumping in case anyone has any recommendations for a gentle book or two please?

thanks

Alan Titchmarsh's How to Be A Gardener books are a good place to start. An identification book would also be good, I have an ancient Reader's Digest Garden Plants and Flowers which is very comprehensive. I also learn a lot from seed and plant catalogues, which are free. Gardeners World magazine is a great entry level read and has a 2 for 1 gardens to visit card in it this month, which is valid for the whole year. I use it loads, has some great days out in it, some with great kids activities too.

I find a browse round the gardening section of the library good, and normally pick up a few gardening books each time I'm there. As you know, there are many specialist tomes, I tend to steer clear of these unless I have a specific need. The ones I have read recently are Alys Fowler's Thrifty Gardener, one on propagation, Kim Wilde's Gardening with Children and lots of fruit and veg growing.

brilliant, thanks taffetacat. off to the library now!

Hi GoingPostal

I'm just starting to look at growing my own stuff too.

This is a great book even though it says its for smallholders it's for anyone looking at growing their own food.

And I'm currently mulling over some of these raised beds www.mygreenerhome.co.uk/garden-60/vegetable-beds-64/

Let me know how you get on and I'll share my stories too!

vegetable growing month-by-month by John Harrison is brilliant (isbn 9780716021896

you can get it from the allotment website (which is also a good place to look if you're a beginner)
www.allotment.org.uk

RHS encyclopedia of gardening

Fantastic. Suitable for beginners, covers all the basics and also has large sections on herbs, fruit and vegetables.