Vegetable Growing Month by Month - Just £5.99 + £1.50 P&P (UK only) with FREE SEEDS

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"The down-to-earth guide that takes you through the vegetable year" - Signed by the author!

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As you probably gathered, I've been growing vegetables for 30 years and you can share my experience. I think growing your own gives you control of your food. You know what has gone into producing them and what, if any, sprays have gone onto your crop.

When I set up this website and the forums, I realized that that most people nowadays don’t have the benefit of following in a parent’s or grandparent’s footsteps to guide them, as modern society spreads our family across the country and no longer is growing your own vital to full bellies of a night.

These new vegetable growers were looking for a simple, straightforward guide, written in plain English, that told them what to do, when to do it and how to do it. This is what I have tried to provide here.

Even if you are not lucky enough to have a large garden or an allotment, you can still grow some vegetables on a patio or even on a balcony. There's a comprehensive section on growing in containers and pots.

The chapter list will give you a good idea of what's covered:

• Introduction
  Some general background to the book
• Why Grow Your Own Vegetables?
  A discussion on the reasons for growing your own and the benefits of growing your own.
• Where to Grow and Preparing to Grow
  The places you can grow vegetables, a comprehensive section on Container Growing, Raised Beds and how to build them, Preparing the Soil, clearing a new patch or allotment, Know Your Soil - the different types of soil, Why, When and How to Dig - single digging, double digging, trenching etc, no-digging, Drainage and how to drain a wet plot.
• Planning the Gardening Year
  The Garden Diary, What to Grow, Buying Seeds, F1 Hybrids and Heritage seeds explained, Planning Your Plot, Crop Rotation, Crop Families
• Getting the Most From Your Land
  Successional Sowing, Extending the Season, Horticultural Fleece, Cloches, Hot Beds, Coldframes,
• Weeds and What to do About Them
  The worst weeds and how to handle them, hoeing, organic methods and weed killers.
• Tools
  The tools you actually need and the tools you may want with how to pick them and what they are used for. Powered Machinery, chippers and shredder, rotovators and tillers.
• Compost, Manures and Fertilizers
  Humus, Manures - various types, Green Manures, Leafmould, How to make compost, Proprietary Composts, Fertilizers, NPK, Micro-Nutrients and Trace Elements, Types of Fertilizer, Home-made natural fertilizers, manure tea, comfrey, Lime - types of lime, use of lime
• Watering
  When, How Much and How to Water, Saving Water etc
• Greenhouses and Polytunnels
  Differences between greenhouses and polytunnels, where to site them, different types, building the greenhouse, ventilation and temperature control, propagators, staging, shelving, water,
• Pests, Problems and Protection
  The various pests and problems range from the slug to rats, Carrot Root Fly, Club Root, Blight and diseases. Cabbage Root Fly, Butterflies, Aphids, Whitefly etc
• The Vegetable Year
  A guide to what to do month by month in the garden. Surprisingly in 12 sections! From January to December.
• Brief Guide to the Vegetables
  As the title suggests, a brief guide to growing most vegetables. I've not provided absolute planting instructions for each and every crop because spacing and timing will vary for different varieties and growing methods but I've covered the general requirements for them
• Glossary
  Gardener's have their own jargon and specialist words, hence a short jargon busting glossary.
• Some Useful Contacts
• Index

What's been said about Vegetable Growing Month by Month

‘Having just received John Harrisons book On Vegetable Growing Month by Month, I have to say that it’s definitely going to be a well thumbed volume, particularly by those who want to grow vegetables for the first time.  

Forget about any glossy pictures, what’s in this book is solid words of advice, written in plain to understand English from a grower who’s had frustrating years of experience behind him in trying to grow nutritious vegetables, whilst at the same time running a business and raising a family. 

Everyone will benefit from this book and I found the glossary at the back, which explains gardening terminology in a way that everyone will understand, to be extremely useful. It will certainly have a place on my extensive gardening book shelf.’

Medwyn Williams MBE FNVS
Chair of the National Vegetable Society.

Winner of 10 RHS Gold Medals
at Chelsea for vegetables.

Orders Outside of the UK - Please Contact Me

Vegetable Growing Month by Month Available directly, signed, direct from the author. £5.99 + £1.50 P&P with £8.00 of FREE SEEDS (UK Only) - Pay via PayPal or payment with cheque or PO

Amazon Review

As the title suggests - down to earth guide. You can really relate to the author and the information goes further than the usual veg books, rather than the usual colour photos of tools, veg etc, its crammed with tips and advice that are usually passed down from generations. There are diagrams and sketches when needed - simple clear and easy to follow. Another thing I liked was the author covers all methods and doesnt 'preach' a certain method, just gives the facts so you can choose yourself. VERY highly recomended and very thorough. Easy to read and a book I will keep close at hand - fits in the handbag. Such good value for money, every page has been used to its full. Well done John Harrison

256 Pages of straightforward advice and help.

This book is the most helpful tool in my garden shed. My hoe is a close second, but this book covers so much and I have a constant bookmark on the current month to be sure I am doing what needs to be done, and then flick forward every few weeks to check what is coming up.

The books main body is divided up into the different months with the tasks that should be done outlines. One of the features I love - apart from the great little monthly drawing of an allotment going through the yearly cycle - is that every month it tells you what you 'could be' eating. This is great inspiration to plant more, which in my book is a positive influence.

Amazon Review

Well what a fantastic and very helpful book i have finished reading this one i shall be taking notes and i shall keep coming back to it in the future. John who wrote this book gives you down to earth sometime funny guidance information and help.

His website is just as good no frills just good old fashioned advice. what more can i say but do buy this book, it is well worth the money. i understand he has another book out soon i cant wait.

Amazon Review

Reviews

Mr Harrison has produced a well written veg book, that will get you growing your own in no time.

It does exactly what it says on the cover,a good down to earth guide which will be a great book for new and experienced gardeners alike. Just the right size to take out to your veg plot.

Mr R W Braker

John's book offers down to earth advice in a friendly chatty way, keeping an eye to simplicity (and the "have a go spirit") but also offering useful knowledge to help ensure success.

A wealth of information in a book small enough to be brought to the plot for on the spot reference. Highly recommended!

Sal

My son wrote this, he's an author you know. Buy a copy now and he'll sign it for you.

Did I tell you he's an author?

My Mum

You can spend three times as much as this book costs and get lots of glossy photo's and an impressive looking bookcase, but that's all....
The joy of this Book is that it gets down to basics, is well set out and unlike some books, you can get to where you want to easily

Mr R Cannon

A book with personality. I personally enjoyed it and it is great to take everywhere with you. The month by month concept works well and I refer to it on a regular basis. Worth buying especially if you are a beginner.

Amazon Review

This is a great book. No pretty pictures necessary when the content is so good. Highly recommended to any gardener. And a good price too!

S Glenn

I know absolutely nothing about vegetable growing but within a day of buying this book I was in my local garden centre buying eveything I needed, confident in what I was doing! If you want to just get on with it and start growing things straight away, this book is brilliant. I have already recommended it to friends who want to start growing their own vegetables. Thank you John!

M Tucker