The HDRA Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening

Paperback  416 pages  ISBN 1405308915      £20.00

The complete guide to natural and chemical-free gardening, new in paperback 2005

"... Destined to become the organic gardener's bible..."
Alan Titchmarsh

The book begins by explaining the fascinating origins of organic gardening, showing what the benefits can be for you and your family. HDRA's Organic Guidelines are included, so you can measure up to see how green you are. The introduction also incorporates planning and design suggestions for setting up your organic garden, together with advice on where to begin, whether you're a novice or experienced gardener.

Guidelines for going green

The book begins by explaining the fascinating origins of organic gardening, showing what the benefits can be for you and your family. HDRA's Organic Guidelines are included, so you can measure up to see how green you are. The introduction also incorporates planning and design suggestions for setting up your organic garden, together with advice on where to begin, whether you're a novice or experienced gardener.

Outstanding coverage

An excellent grounding in the basics of organic gardening, this practical handbook covers everything from soil management and recycling to water conservation, natural pest control and propagation. From compost to cloches, there are step-by-step techniques and a seasonal overview to help you to create the perfect organic garden.

Practical expertise

There is detailed coverage of a wide range of organic concerns - from information on hard-wearing landscaping materials, planting beds and learning about local wildlife - to helpful articles on which plants thrive in pots. You'll find organic best practice tips on how to grow delicious fruit and vegetables, together with a troubleshooting section for common plant problems. Also included is an up-to-date list of contact addresses, websites and other key points of interest to organic gardeners.

Reflecting the growing demand for greener solutions, this reference book gives you all the tools you need to create an organic garden to savour and enjoy.

Packed with expert advice and information on both ornamental and kitchen gardens, this is the ideal reference guide for all organic gardeners

• Contains simple, stage-by-stage advice for 'going organic'
• Practical sections show how to plant, propagate and harvest
• Specially commissioned photographs illustrate key techniques
• Includes an easy-to-use reference section with A-Z directories of fruit, vegetables and common plant problems
• In this exclusive interview, Pauline Pears - the editor-in-chief of The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening - explains why gardening the natural way is the best way to make your plants and veggies grow.

What would you say is the definition of an organic garden?

In an organic garden, the plants and the natural creatures thrive in an acceptable balance. The gardener works with nature as far as possible. Sustainable methods, such as making compost to feed the soil, are used. Making compost recycles garden waste, which saves money, avoids the need to dig up peat bogs, and reduces the mountains of rubbish that have to be disposed of elsewhere.

What about food we find in the grocery store labelled as organic?

Food in the shops labelled as organic is grown to strictly monitored, strictly defined standards, laid down by the EU and the UK government. It is against the law to label food as organic if it has not been grown to those standards.

Organic gardening products are not covered under this law. In this context, the term organic is often used simply to mean 'of living origin', and the product may not be suitable for use in an organic garden.

Have you always been interested in organic gardening? How did your interest come about?

I have always gardened organically. My parents gardened organically, more or less, and when I started gardening I never considered doing it any other way. Laziness may have been a part of it - I could never be bothered to go and buy sprays and fertilisers, and didn't like to waste my money. Now, gardening organically makes me feel I am 'doing my bit' for the environment. It is hard to help save a rainforest or a whale, but at least I have control over what I do on my own piece of ground.

Why should people consider going organic?

• Organic gardening works
• It's safer for pets and kids
• It can save you money
• It helps protect the environment
• It makes a safer haven for wildlife - gardens are valuable mini conservation areas these days
• You know how your food has been grown
• It's interesting and satisfying

Why do you think there has been a phenomenal rise in all things organic in the last decade?

• Food safety scares, such as BSE, pesticide residues, salmonella poisoning
• Advice, information and organic food is more readily available
• People are more aware that 'organic' exists due to organic food in supermarkets, which has helped to raise the profile of organic gardening
• Image of poor quality food and 'tatty', untidy gardens has gone
• Increased awareness of environmental issues

Where does one begin if they want to create an organic garden?

Buy a copy of HDRA's Organic Encyclopedia to find out what organic gardening really means. Have a good look at the garden as it stands; identify areas that are already 'organic'; note areas that need to be changed. Then go for it!

If someone doesn't feel ready to make their entire garden organic, what small steps can they take?

• Start recycling garden waste into compost and leafmould
• Use mulches to control weeds, protect the soil, conserve moisture and provide a habitat for beetles, centipedes and other pest-eating creatures
• Choose plants that suit the conditions in your garden
• Think before you spray - and check out alternative methods for controlling pests
• Make the garden friendlier for natural pest-controlling creatures by avoiding sprays, growing flowers to feed hoverflies and other useful insects, digging a pond and leaving some wilder areas
• Visit HDRA's organic gardens at Ryton, Audley End and Yalding to see organic gardening in action and go to www.hdra.org.uk on the Internet to view details of these gardens

Are organic gardens designed differently?

An organic garden can be small or large; formal, relaxed or wild; urban or rural; productive or ornamental (or both) - so the design varies according to what the gardener wants.

An organic garden should be created and maintained with the health of the environment in mind. It does pay to think organic from the start - designing in features that will make management easier and designing out potential problem areas. For example, don't plan for acid-loving plants if the soil is alkaline; cut out unnecessary areas of paving and paths where weed control could be difficult; choose pest and disease resistant cultivars and those that suit your particular soil conditions. Garden designers often forget to include an area for making compost and leafmould, with the excuse that there is not enough space. In an organic garden this is essential.

Low environmental impact is also an important aim - and one should keep this in mind when choosing hard landscaping materials.

The HDRA Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening helps the reader to create a design that meets their particular requirements, and is manageable organically. There are plans for six very different gardens - including a suburban orchard, a family plot and a small city garden.

What do you think prevents people from going organic?

• Lack of information on what organics means in practice
• Misconceptions that plants won't grow without pesticides or chemical fertilisers
• They think it's too risky
• They aren't sure how to get started

Can people go organic and still have a flourishing garden?

Yes! I have 4 allotments and grow almost all my own vegetables and it's all done organically. HRH The Prince of Wales, the National Trust (Snowshill Manor) and Lady Salisbury (Hatfield House) can't all be wrong.

Are there organic solutions for pests?

Yes - the Encyclopedia is full of them. The main aim in an organic garden is to give plants the right growing conditions, so they are basically healthy. Compost helps to keep soil and plants healthy; natural predators and parasites help to control pests. A range of barriers, traps, scaring devices and avoidance techniques keep pests and diseases at bay.

The Encyclopedia covers all these methods in detail, and the A-Z plant problems section gives advice for specific pests and diseases.