A hard-working series with a strong identity, visible authority, on mainstream gardening subjects. Jargon-free delivery clarifying the mystique and perceived difficulty of some gardening practices. A 'Back to basics' box will debunk the old, difficult methods that are no longer practiced (such as double digging, some forms of rose pruning, folding over onion crops, painting pruning wounds, using tar oil winter wash, hormone rooting powder, copper sulphate on crops etc etc etc.

This series is written by a team of Royal Horticultural Society experts in fruit, trees, ornamentals and hedges with decades of practical experience. The Royal Horticultural Society is at the forefront of a gardening revolution in which received wisdom is questioned and updated. This book is the result of more than 100 years of practical experience in gardens across the world. With this book, gardening practice is in safe hands.

6-9 Introduction: why grow your own 10-27 Rules and Tools: climate, soils, planning, buying seeds, tools 28-45 Basic Techniques: digging, raised beds, manures, sowing and planting, watering. 46-63 Crop Protection: weeds, mulches, frames, windbreaks, pests and diseases 64-169 Vegetable Directory. Vegetables are grouped by family groups. 170-179 Herb Directory. Alphabetical listing 180-185 Sowing charts, harvesting times, 186 Glossary 190 Index 192 Acknowledgements