THE definitive guide to fruit and vegetable growing and an essential for every gardener old and new. Acknowledged experts on the subject such as Jim Arbury, Guy Barter, John Edgeley, Jim England and Michael Pollock give comprehensive advice on choice of cultivars, cultivation, harvest and pest and disease control for every fruit and vegetable imaginable. From soft fruits, top fruits, root crops, brassicas and cucurbits, all are given the renowned RHS attention to detail to provide a fool-proof guide to this increasingly popular form of gardening. Whether you have an allotment or just a small back yard - even just a balcony - there are fruit and vegetables to suit. Containers, ideal for strawberries and herbs, raised beds for the more serious gardener or even just leaf crops grown as much for their ornamental value as their culinary, interspersed in herbaceous borders for extra summer interest. Under glass or outdoors, against a wall or in an orchard, all aspects of this form of horticulture are covered in comprehensive detail. Basic gardening skills such as composting, bed preparation and pruning are included to give a rounded picture for the novice and to help them on the path to success. When to harvest and how to store to ensure crops are not wasted and last as long as possible are carefully explained and the whole is gloriously illustrated and laid out in typical Dorling Kindersley style. An essential book for every gardener's bookcase.An authoritative practical refere nce on cultivation requirements and techniques for fruit and vegetables. Shows how to grow more than 150 kitchen garden crops with step-by-step instructions and full colour illustrations. - Lucy Watson
