Advice needed please.

As I am very new to gardening, I have been doing a lot of reading while I have been off sick recovering from a heart attack. One of the things I really want to do is grow my own vegatables. As a novice I know I have much to learn and that will never stop. Everything I do this year is pretty much an experiment, finding out what I can grow etc.

I have a booke called "The Vegetable & Herb Expert", by Dr D. G. Hessayon. At first glance I thought the book would be ideal for me to start learning about the many different plants and what they need, how to grow them ect. However, on reading the book, I find that the author does rely on and encourage the useof a lot of chemicals to deter pests and encourage plant growth.

I REALLY do not like the idea of introducing loads of chemicals into my garden, especially when I have no real idea of the side effects and potential long term consequences of doing so. Not to mention the cost of adding loads of artificial compounds.

Surely I do not have to use all this stuff just to grow normal, commonly grown plants? What did gardeners use before all these chemicals came along? Am I missing some vital information or have I just made the wrong choice of books to read?

I am confused now and a little bit concerned that I am doing something very wrong. Can anybody help please?

Thank you

Chopper.

 

Hi Chopper, sorry about your illness and glad you are now recovering well. i can't think of anything better than gardening to aid recovery.

I don't know the book you have, but you certainly do not need to use lots of chemicals to grow good healthy veg. There are lots of threads on here dealing with growing of veg, you can search for past advice for particular plants.

Most of it is common sense - you plant a seed and it grows. Just make sure that your soil has lots of organic matter, keep down the weeds and away you go.

I have the RHS book of vegetable gardening, which is very useful for planning, sowing and growing veg plus how to deal with pests and diseases without resorting to chemicals.

Good luck and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

PHEW! There was me thinking I had missed out something important.

Really didn't like the idea of using loads of chemicals. Last thing I wanted was to have to buy chemicals for my garden. I want something natural and fresh.

Short on home made compost as I have only just rescued a couple of bins. I have prepared a space to put the bins directly onto the ground. I will be adding some bought in compost soon as the budget allows. Any recommendations as to which is best for my veg patch please? The soil has been freshly dug after being grass for at least 8 years. It is a little bit on the clay side.

Many thanks for the good wishes. Just came back in from the garden after doing a bit of pottering around. Much better medicine than all the drugs they want me to take. Hope to be able to get out on my bike this week.

Regards

Chopper.

 

Have a read up on 'companion planting'. It's the 'new' thing (I put 'new' in inverted commas because it has actually been around for a very, very long time, but has recently become the new thing ).

In essence, the idea is that certain plants repel pests of other plants, and if you grow 'companion' plants near each other, each will repel the other's the pests.