As environmental issues move into the mainstream and the popularity of organic food increases, people are more aware than ever about the importance of the quality of the food they eat, as well as being more concerned about how food is produced. 'Growing your own' is seen as the most ethical, eco-friendly and healthy option - resulting in cheaper, fresher and tastier food - and is the only way of knowing exactly what you're eating.

Whether readers want to grow produce in an allotment, in their gardens, or even in a hanging basket or pot, this handy guide takes readers step-by-step through the planting process.

It provides clear, easy-to-follow expert advice, so you can get started in the garden right away, build your knowledge and confidence and become a successful back garden or allotment gardener. It gives you the low-down on everything from assessing your plot and getting your hands on the right tools, to choosing the plants to grow, nurturing your crops and bringing in your harvest.

The chapters include; Getting Going With Growing, Preparing Your Plot, Growing Tasty Vegetables, and Growing Your Own Fruit Salad.

About the author
Geoff Stebbings is the Editor of "Garden Answers", having previously worked as a writer on "Garden News" and as a freelance garden author. Geoff trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew and is a regular speaker at garden clubs.

Part I: Getting Going With Growing (The basics you need to know to get to grips with growing your own crops)

Chapter 1:
Becoming a 'Grow Your Own' Gardener - Recognising the Advantages of:

• Growing Your Own
• Saving money
• Eating fresh
• Growing food on your doorstep
• Feasting without chemicals
• Tooling Around - Assessing the Requirements
• Acquiring Essential tools
• Getting the plot
• Knowing What You're Growing
• Growing tasty veg
• Planting luscious fruit

Chapter 2:
Assessing Your Territory

• Allotment Gardening
• Choosing a plot
• Opening up a new world of crops
• Clearing old plots
• Avoiding common allotment pitfalls
• Making the Most out of a Small Garden
• Working with raised beds
• Nurturing vertical gardens
• Gardening in Containers
• Pot training - getting the right size and shape
• Choosing the right compost
• Watering and weekend care
• Feeding container plants
• Growing Under Cover
• Growing in a greenhouse
• Size matters
• Growing crops all year
• Growing in a poly tunnel
• The advantage of a polytunnel
• Extending the season
• Polytunnel crops

Chapter 3:
Deciding What, When, and Where to Grow(Do you want to be self-sufficient or just add some homegrown produce to your diet? Either way, grow what suits your plot and your taste)

• Choosing Your Fruit and Veg
• Choosing for yield or flavour
• Picking modern or heritage varieties
• Selecting Seeds or Plants
• Growing from seed
• Thinning and transplanting
• Choosing successful plants
• Buying plants to save time
• Planning Your Plot
• Planning the layout
• Catch cropping
• Intercropping
• Deciding What to Grow Where
• Making a planting calendar
• Being flexible
• Dealing with pitfalls

Part II: Preparing Your Plot

Chapter 4:
Understanding and Maintaining Your Soil(Get to know your soil and how it works and you will be assured of success)Assessing

• Your Site
• Soil types
• Analysing your soil
• Improving Your Soil
• Adding organic matter -Which is the best
• Making compost

Chapter 5:
Feeding and watering your plants(Your plants will need some help if they are to feed you)

• Using Fertilisers
• Solid fertiliser
• Liquid feeding
• Organic fertilisers
• Watering Your Crops - Knowing when to water
• Making water go further
• Deciding which crops need water
• Reducing water needs

Chapter 6:
Growing Organic (Are organic crops important to you? If so, what there the changes you must make?) - Understanding the Ins and Outs of Organic Gardening

• Gardening without chemicals
• Gardening with nature
• Assessing the Pros and Cons
• Common advantages
• Common problems

Chapter 7:
Spotting Signs of Trouble (No matter how hard you try, something will go wrong one day. It may not be your fault, so do not despair.)

• Catching Common Problems
• Climatic problems
• Soil problems
• General pests
• General diseases
• Sorting Specific Problems

ISBN-13: 9780470699607
Publication date: March 13th, 2009
Number of pages: 432