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

Geoff Stebbings is the Editor of
Garden Answers magazine and a broadcaster on BBC Radio. He is the author of several gardening books and has won two Garden Media Guild awards. Before turning to writing, Geoff was a Head Gardener and trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

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