Growing Your Own Fruit and Veg For Dummies, UK Edition

Save money and eat fresh with this hands-on guide to home-growing Growing you own produce is the only way to enjoy delicious, garden-fresh fruit and veg all year round. This practical manual gives you the lowdown on everything from finding the right tools and choosing which plants to grow, to nurturing your crops and bringing in your first harvest. The easy-to-follow advice will help you get started straight away and become a confident and successful kitchen gardener. • Get going with growing – discover which plants are best for you and how to make the most of your outdoor space • Prepare your plot – learn how to set up and maintain healthy beds for your fruit and vegetables • Grow tasty veg – choose your favourite veggies from asparagus and broccoli to courgettes, sweet corn and many more • Grow your own fruit salad – get quick results from fast-growing berries and learn to nurture slow-growing tree fruit and exotic greenhouse produce

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Going with Growing 7 Chapter 1: Becoming a Grow-Your-Own Gardener 9 Chapter 2: Assessing Your Territory 21 Chapter 3: Deciding What, When, Where and How To Grow 43 Part II: Prepping Your Plot 63 Chapter 4: Getting Down and Dirty with Your Soil 65 Chapter 5: Feeding and Watering Your Plants 77 Chapter 6: Becoming a Greener Gardener: Growing Organic 89 Chapter 7: Spotting Signs of Trouble 107 Part III: Growing Tasty Veg 139 Chapter 8: Looking After Leafy Crops 141 Chapter 9: Raising Root Crops 171 Chapter 10: Growing a Selection for All Seasons 207 Chapter 11: Planting Pods and Grains 235 Chapter 12: Branching Out: Growing Unusual Vegetables 253 Part IV: Growing Your Own Fruit Salad 269 Chapter 13: Fruit in a Flash: Planting Quick-Growing Fruit 271 Chapter 14: Very Berry! Growing Berries, Currants and Nuts 291 Chapter 15: Caring for Slow-Growing Tree Fruit 321 Chapter 16: Growing Greenhouse Fruits 353 Part V: The Part of Tens 375 Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Planting a Herb Garden 377 Chapter 18: Ten Projects for Your Plot 389 Index 401