Does anybody else have the same issues as me?

dollparts

In that gardening websites (some, not all), give lots of info about pinching pruning, potting up, on and taking cuttings but not enough info on what to do after and in some cases in between?

GW is my chief example of this, they give mounds of info but much of it applies to the more experienced gardener.

No matter how much money I spend on magazines and time spent sifting through leaflets and instructions guides, I always end up back here (not a bad place to be I might add, because everyone here is so helpful)

It's just that I get really frustrated when I have questions that I would expect to have included in the info especially when I have paid for the plants, plugs, bare roots etc etc.

I have received 15 bare roots this week and only 9 of them have instructions for the plants I have received and it's sketchy at best.

Gardening is so much fun for me and I have never felt so relaxed in all my years as when I am out there pottering about. It's just this gripe is making me cross today!

foxgloves

We've all got to learn these skills. I gardened alongside my Mum from the age of about 5 and that's helped, but I know what you mean. When I got my first garden, I found I relied on good basic gardening books to help with the knowledge that the experienced gardeners all seemed to have by heart. My suggestion is that you pop into your local library and have a look at the gardening books. You ideally need one about gardening throughout the year where the author takes you throuoh the different jobs month by month. I agree that pottering round the garden is brilliant stress-relief. I always seem to hit a low point in January when it's too soggy & cold to go out & do anything and as soon as I can get my hands in the soil again in my garden, I feel my mood lighten. It's such good therapy....and exercise.

Red_Doe

I think my issue is that I can`t find sites that cater to those of us living in the fringes of the UK (I`m in the far north of Scotland) so the bulk of info is tailored to those living in moderate/milder climates, with nothing of advice on how to combat the gales, colder temperatures etc. Not to mention being nowhere near any garden centre.

emiff6

foxgloves wrote: »

My suggestion is that you pop into your local library and have a look at the gardening books.

My library only seem to have 'coffee table' gardening books - glossy things by designer gardeners with lots of pics of their designs and hardly any advice. The best gardening books I've found are from second hand bookshops, really old books, loads of description and advice, written by 'proper' gardeners, and cheap 'cos no pics, just a few sketches.

realfood

Red Doe, you could try this site www.growyourown.info which caters for growing almost all fruits and vegetables in the North of the UK. Particularly useful are the suggestions for quick growing varieties suitable for the North.

nanamags

Do you watch Beechgrove Garden on BBC Scotland? It has finished for this season but they offer lots of info on their website.
http://www.beechgrove.co.uk/

Linda32

dollparts wrote: »

In that gardening websites (some, not all), give lots of info about pinching pruning, potting up, on and taking cuttings but not enough info on what to do after and in some cases in between?

GW is my chief example of this, they give mounds of info but much of it applies to the more experienced gardener.

No matter how much money I spend on magazines and time spent sifting through leaflets and instructions guides, I always end up back here (not a bad place to be I might add, because everyone here is so helpful)

It's just that I get really frustrated when I have questions that I would expect to have included in the info especially when I have paid for the plants, plugs, bare roots etc etc.

I have received 15 bare roots this week and only 9 of them have instructions for the plants I have received and it's sketchy at best.

Gardening is so much fun for me and I have never felt so relaxed in all my years as when I am out there pottering about. It's just this gripe is making me cross today!

Yes it can be like that, I agree, they do assume a level of knowledge, its no good just announcing that you do something, without explaining it fully, lets face it, that wouldn't have got these people far in the exams they will have taken and passed, you have to explain what you mean.

I learn't basic stuff by reading magazine, which I know you have done, Garden News is a good paper, its like a news paper and is weekly, if you can find this.
Another way, was really listerning to GW, rather than it just being on in the back ground, although I agree GW does give me cause to shout at the television sometime :rotfl:

Another thing I found useful, was to go to Garden Centres and read the labels, study each plant, use it like a library, thats a good thing that I can recommend.

The big ones, if you can get to them, have the plants in sections, so you get to understand what is best where.

Finally, don't be to dispondant if it dosn't work, get to know whats good for your garden, they say its not an exact science, "the plants don't read the books" Maybe keep a diary has to what works on your patch so next year you can refer back.

Best of luck

dollparts

I subscribe to Garden News and I do find it helpful somewhat, although they do sometimes assume you already have a intermediate knowledge. Their saving grace is that they often have a photo to accompany stages of the task they are explaining so i does help.

I also subscribe to the gardeners question time and download the podcast each week via itunes. (it's free and you can listen through your pc) I have picked up a few tips from that, I write them in a journal whilst I am listening as I cook dinner!

noxon

For basic info, techniques and month by month tasks I usually return to the Readers Digest Gardening Year, edited by Roy Hay, 1976 edition.

I've got loads of gardening books and magazines but find this is the most useful because it is mostly text, and has clear explanations with useful sketches rather than glossy photos of unattainably perfect gardens.

I got my copy in a charity shop but have also bought a copy for a friend from a secondhand seller via abebooks.co.uk. While there may be more recently bred plant varieties and new trends in garden design, the basics of looking after plants hasn't really changed in the 35 years or so since it was published and I just ignore all the stuff I'm not interested in e.g. weedkillers, chemical pest control or how to have a perfect lawn...

valk_scot

The Kitchen Garden is a good magazine for vegetable growers and allotment holders and it has a website too. The Hessayon "Expert" series of books is excellent too for basic information. And yes, the Readers Digest book is a good one for really detailed info. Steer clear of glossy coffee table books and mags and go for more down to earth books with a more textbooky feel, and preferably good line drawings rather than arty photos.