What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to pests to planting

On 27/8/07 15:20, in article , "Scotnorm"
wrote:


What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting


Rather than one book, perhaps a series of the Hessayon Gardening Expert
books, then you can pick and choose which suits your needs.
http://books.kelkoo.co.uk/cpc_5101_v...c18855927.html

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

In article ,
Scotnorm writes:
|
| What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
| book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
| pests to planting

uk.rec.gardening :-)

You are crying for the moon. Be a little more realistic.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Scotnorm" wrote in message
...

What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting
Scotnorm

I have an old Readers Digest "The Illustrated Guide to gardening" which has
served me well for many years. It covers all the basics until you start to
need specialised info.

Found some on Amazone :~))
http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-gu.../dp/0895778297

Or maybe this one :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ookfindercom01

Pop down your local library and see what they have. You can then buy the
one(s0 you like best :~)

Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Scotnorm" wrote in message
...

What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting
Scotnorm

I have an old Readers Digest "The Illustrated Guide to gardening" which
has served me well for many years. It covers all the basics until you
start to need specialised info.


One which was the bedrock when we started gardening was, and still is as we
still have a copy, is A.G.L.Hellyer's The Amateur Gardener. Of course now
out of date with regards sprays etc, but for down to earth (if you will
excuse the pun) basics, fine :-)

Mike


--
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy
Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 FULL. WAIT LIST OPERATING
www.rneba.org.uk to find your ex-Greenie mess mates
www.iowtours.com for all ex-Service Reunions. More being added daily
"Navy Days" Portsmouth 25th - 27th July 2008. RN Shipmates will have a Stand

On 27 Aug, 15:20, Scotnorm
wrote:
What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting

One book? It's impossible. I rather liked A Handbook for Horticultural
Student by Peter Dawson but it needs to be complemented by drawings,
which it doesn't have. For pruning I would recommend Stefan Buczacki
Best Pruning. It's clear and easy to understand. Another would be by
Lawrence D Hills Organic Gardening and finally the Cassell's
Encyclopedia of Gardening - just because it has everything in it and I
mean everything!

"Scotnorm" wrote in message
...

What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting

When I arrived here, in Canada, I thought that I ought to by a book on
gardening for local conditions (3500'altitude, 110 day growing season, low
rainfall, very cold winters, etc.). I found one published by a well-known
Canadian bookstore chain and bought it. Upon reading it that night, I
thought the advice about sowing and harvesting times was more than a bit
strange. They had re-printed an Australian book!!!!!
Graham

I don't believe there will ever be such a thing, for two reasons.

The first is that, I would have thought, the amount of detailed information
to cover, as you put it, "all the bases" would make the book huge and far
too expensive to buy. It would probably have to run into several volumes.

The second is that, just as the book had been published, new information and
ideas would probably arrive and make it out of date! Just think of the
number of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers that have been banned over
the past few years!

There are favourite gardening books but that's a different matter! It must
depend however, on what you are growing or intend to grow.

The first book I bought on gardening, and thought wonderful, was
A.G.L.Hellyer's, "The Amateur Gardener" and it was my "bible" for many
years. I think it was published in the 1960s but am unsure about that. I
didn't do a lot of gardening, then, however, so it was easy to find all the
answers to my questions!



Since then, I've retired, got an allotment (but not a lot of experience)
memory not so good and I'm growing older, so I'm always asking questions!
I've bought more than a couple of dozen books on gardening because I've
never found just one book that gives all the information I now need.



Sorry not to be able to help. I shall look forward to other member's
opinions and suggestions!



Best of luck!



John

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________

"Scotnorm" wrote in message
...

What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting
--
Scotnorm

"John Vanini" wrote in message
...

The first book I bought on gardening, and thought wonderful, was
A.G.L.Hellyer's, "The Amateur Gardener" and it was my "bible" for many
years. I think it was published in the 1960s but am unsure about that. I
didn't do a lot of gardening, then, however, so it was easy to find all
the answers to my questions!



First published in 1948.

Third revised edition published in 1972

Second impression third edition 1975 ...... our copy ....

Editions 1948, 1954, 1964 and 1972

Earlier than you thought :-))

Mike


--
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy
Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 FULL. WAIT LIST OPERATING
www.rneba.org.uk to find your ex-Greenie mess mates
www.iowtours.com for all ex-Service Reunions. More being added daily
"Navy Days" Portsmouth 25th - 27th July 2008. RN Shipmates will have a Stand

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
Scotnorm writes:
|
| What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
| book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
| pests to planting

uk.rec.gardening :-)

Or knowing how to use google/vivisimo

You are crying for the moon. Be a little more realistic.

:-)) I dunno. I've always fancied owning the gardening equivalent of the
Encyclopaedia Brittannica. The only trouble is that I do 't think there is
such a thing. The Martin and Rix books are reasonably good for plant
varieties but lack lots of other stuff and even their coverage on some
subjects is poor (eg their book on Roses).

In article ,
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes:
| "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
| Scotnorm writes:
| |
| | What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
| | book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
| | pests to planting
|
| uk.rec.gardening :-)
|
| Or knowing how to use google/vivisimo

Actually, this group is more reliable. Unless you already know a great
deal, detecting the misinformation (and even propaganda) you find by
searching in that way is tricky.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
In article "FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes:
| "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
| Scotnorm writes:
| |
| | What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop"
gardening
| | book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
| | pests to planting
|
| uk.rec.gardening :-)
|
| Or knowing how to use google/vivisimo

Actually, this group is more reliable.

:-)) I assume you've kidding! Given some of the amazing misinformation
I've seen here, I think that a search engine would do as good a job, if not
a better one. At least a search engine will turn up cites that don't result
in abuse if you think they are a load of old rubbish.

Unless you already know a great
deal, detecting the misinformation (and even propaganda) you find by
searching in that way is tricky.

But how does that differ to what we have seen here on a regular basis?

As long term readers of the ng, you and I can both identify those posters
here who are befuddled, simply will not admit that they could ever possibly
be wrong, or that they are lacking in experience, or are simply on some form
of strange self promotion.

Not all readers will have the skills or experience to pick out the
untrustworthy.

Most gardeners are used to reading books and can figure out rubbish to a
greater or lesser degree. And sometimes this group simply doesn't provide
the answers. For example, I still don't know the trick to getting my
blasted paeonies to flower and that is after asking here and using google.
I've done all the usual things with the paeonies but nothing has yet worked.
I think it's soil related but I'm darned if I can figure out what it is.

On Aug 27, 3:43 pm, Sacha wrote:
On 27/8/07 15:20, in article , "Scotnorm"

wrote:

What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop" gardening
book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
pests to planting

Rather than one book, perhaps a series of the Hessayon Gardening Expert
books, then you can pick and choose which suits your needs.http://books.kelkoo.co.uk/cpc_5101_v...c18855927.html


I second that. They are the books that have been of most use to me (a
fair weather gardening amateur), they are cheap and widely
available.

Cat(h)

In article ,
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes:
|
| | Or knowing how to use google/vivisimo
|
| Actually, this group is more reliable.
|
| :-)) I assume you've kidding! Given some of the amazing misinformation
| I've seen here, I think that a search engine would do as good a job, if not
| a better one. At least a search engine will turn up cites that don't result
| in abuse if you think they are a load of old rubbish.

Then you should get out more. I stand by what I said.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Aug 29, 1:35 pm, "FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote:
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
In article "FarmI" ask@itshall be given writes:
| "Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
| Scotnorm writes:
| |
| | What do the forum members recommend as the best "one stop"
gardening
| | book currently available that covers all the bases from pruning to
| | pests to planting
|
| uk.rec.gardening :-)
|
| Or knowing how to use google/vivisimo

Actually, this group is more reliable.

:-)) I assume you've kidding! Given some of the amazing misinformation
I've seen here, I think that a search engine would do as good a job, if not
a better one. At least a search engine will turn up cites that don't result
in abuse if you think they are a load of old rubbish.

Unless you already know a great

deal, detecting the misinformation (and even propaganda) you find by
searching in that way is tricky.

But how does that differ to what we have seen here on a regular basis?

As long term readers of the ng, you and I can both identify those posters
here who are befuddled, simply will not admit that they could ever possibly
be wrong, or that they are lacking in experience, or are simply on some form
of strange self promotion.

Not all readers will have the skills or experience to pick out the
untrustworthy.

I have neither the skills nor the experience of gardening that the
vast majority of posters here have - but I can pick out a contrary
dishonest poster intent on a bitch fest a mile off... Also, I can
check advice given here with a bit of googling and book research,
increasing my chances of getting it right...

And if I get it wrong, people, most of the time, the worse thing that
will happen is that a plant which cost me a few euros will die.
Hardly the end of civilisation as we know it...


Most gardeners are used to reading books and can figure out rubbish to a
greater or lesser degree. And sometimes this group simply doesn't provide
the answers. For example, I still don't know the trick to getting my
blasted paeonies to flower and that is after asking here and using google.
I've done all the usual things with the paeonies but nothing has yet worked.
I think it's soil related but I'm darned if I can figure out what it is.

A proper tragedy :-) You should ask my neighbours - their display of
deep purpley pink peonies every year has me drooling on the patio.

Cat(h)