Conventional wisdom is difficult to question, even when it is misguided and contains many contradictions. Gardening has its share of such ‘myths’ – some with discernible origins in history, others that have become established for no obvious reason – and they often obscure simpler and easier methods
of working. This delightfully illustrated book reveals how common sense triumphs and crops are more successful when these ‘rules’ are overturned.
A fascinating but practical book that will save the seasoned gardener time and give new gardeners heart.  

Charles Dowding is an internationally recognized organic gardening expert and winner of the 2014 Garden Media Guild Practical Journalist of the Year award. He talks on radio and television and contributes articles to many magazines, including Gardeners’ World, Gardens llustrated and Grow It! He gives regular talks, runs courses and advises many gardeners on best practice, including the National Trust in the UK. 

He is a veteran organic grower, having practised no-dig gardening for many years. In his gardens over the years he has run experiments to compare differences in growth between vegetables on dug and undug soil. He has discovered different patterns of growth in most seasons, with slightly lower yields, more weeds and slugs found on the dug beds.  He is currently establishing a new  garden to illustrate no-dig practice and form the basis for a new experiment. 

He says: "I have always been interested in lookiing 'behind the scenes' and asking why things are as they are, questioning practices that are taken for granted. This led me to grow organically, at a time when the chemical approach was rarely challenged."

His books for Green Books are:

Organic Gardening: the natural, no-dig way

Salad Leaves for All Seasons

How to Grow Winter Vegetables

Gardening Myths and Misconceptions

Find out more at www.charlesdowding.co.uk.

Photo: Stephanie Hafferty