A good vegetable gardening book is an essential reference

For successful vegetable gardening find a good vegetable gardening book for part of your references.

The ideal book should be easy to read, full of useful diagrams and explanations that help you and meet your own personal needs; a practical, inspiring reference.

My favourite book currently is 'The Allotment Book' by Andi Clevely, published by Collins 2006. It is beautifully illustrated, very practical and a great reference. It covers allotments, but is equally useful for any vegetable garden and provides a great source of information on everything from clearing the ground, to improving the soil, to crop rotation, growing vegetables, harvesting and storage.

To complement this I also recommend you look at the following gardening books;

'The Vegetable and Herb Expert' by Dr D.G. Hessayon, published by Transworld Publishers. This provides the essential guidance on individual crops, with detail on sowing, planting, growing, varietal choice and diseases.

'The Complete Book of Vegetables' by Matthew Bigg's et al, Kyle Cathie 2006, again provides an excellent overview and information on individual vegetables, best growing advice and a rich reference guide.

'The half hour allotment' by Lia Leendertz, Frances Lincoln Publishers 2006, provides guidance on time management; little and often takes less time on the vegetable patch. This approach has been proven on my own vegetable plot and ensures you get the work done with minimum fuss and less strain.