[simon h]

Hi everybody 

I've just registered on here as I'm just starting out.
I intend to start growing a few vegetables and salad crops next year and want to use as few chemicals and pesticides as possible.
I understand that crops can be grown in a symbiotic way that encourages nature to take care of at least some of the 'nasties'.
Can somebody recommend a good book that a complete novice would understand in terms of how this works?

many thanks
Simon

[simon h]

Doh!

Just seen an earlier post asking exactly the same question!

Note to self.......pay attention before posting.

Sorry to have wasted your time clicking on this thread

[Fleecewife]

Not at all Simon - it's great to hear of someone intending to start out growing veg, and to do so without chemicals is lovely. 

I grew up in the 1950s and 60s on a mixed farm where we couldn't afford the then new fangled chemicals, so we never started using them either on the farm or in the garden.  So for me chemical free 'organic' gardening is all I know.  It certainly works, just remember - feed the soil which will feed your plants.  Another maxim is 'always grow more than you need' for the birds and pests to have some - they were here first 

Good luck with your growing.

[Lesley Silvester]

I would recommend looking at the Garden Organic website www.gardenorganic.org.uk (or, better still, join the organisation). There is a lot of information on there and you can also access organic seeds from their sister company.

[Anke]

It depends a bit on what you are starting with - state of your soil, variety and quantity/quality of muck you have available, kind of beds you are planning to use (or have already in your garden) etc etc.

I have used the "Organic Gardener's handbook" (M Littlewood) quite a bit and if you are in Scotland (or North of England) I can recommend K Cox and C Beaton's "Fruit & Vegetables for Scotland". Monty Don's Complete Gardener also has a good veg/fruit section, and there are quire a few books with "Organic" in the title in your library. Bob Flowerdew is quite good too. Best to get all the books from the library first and see which one you like most.

I have found the Charles Dowding books interesting if a bit irrelevant, as I am on heavy (with a capital H) clay soil that was arable until we took it over 7 years ago...