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Gardening Myths and Misconceptions (Wise Words) by Charles Dowding (27-Mar-2014) Hardcover
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. This fascinating and practical book will save the seasoned gardener time, money, and unnecessary effort and give new gardeners heart.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
16 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dowding
33 books882 followersCharles Dowding has been pioneering organic, no dig gardening since 1982, when he began growing vegetables on a 6,000m² plot in Somerset, UK. From the beginning, his no dig methods delivered healthy, abundant crops, with fewer weeds and no need for synthetic inputs. At the time, nobody else was growing commercially at this scale without digging, and Charles has been refining the approach ever since.
Today, he shares the simplicity and power of no dig gardening with a global audience, through his books, courses, YouTube videos, social media, and regular travels to connect with growers around the world.
Charles published his first book, Organic Gardening, in 2007, and has since written 14 more. His most recent titles include New Energies for Gardening (April 2025) and Compost (September 2024). He also produces an annual Calendar of Sowing Dates, packed with practical tips based on his trials and growing experience.
From his 1,600m² Homeacres market garden in Somerset, Charles continues to experiment with crops and methods – comparing dig and no dig plots, testing new varieties, and refining techniques. The garden yields around £35,000 of produce annually and serves as a living example of how low-input, soil-first methods can lead to healthy plants and sustainable harvests.
Charles is passionate about helping others find joy and success in growing food, and believes that no dig is not just a method, but a mindset.
Today, he shares the simplicity and power of no dig gardening with a global audience, through his books, courses, YouTube videos, social media, and regular travels to connect with growers around the world.
Charles published his first book, Organic Gardening, in 2007, and has since written 14 more. His most recent titles include New Energies for Gardening (April 2025) and Compost (September 2024). He also produces an annual Calendar of Sowing Dates, packed with practical tips based on his trials and growing experience.
From his 1,600m² Homeacres market garden in Somerset, Charles continues to experiment with crops and methods – comparing dig and no dig plots, testing new varieties, and refining techniques. The garden yields around £35,000 of produce annually and serves as a living example of how low-input, soil-first methods can lead to healthy plants and sustainable harvests.
Charles is passionate about helping others find joy and success in growing food, and believes that no dig is not just a method, but a mindset.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 15, 2014
Anyone who has an interest in organic vegetable gardening, or No Dig techniques, is likely to have a book by Charles Dowding on their shelf – he is considered to be an expert on those subjects. His latest book, just published by Green Books, is a bit different. In Gardening Myths and Misconceptions he doesn’t aim to tell you how to garden, but rather identifies pieces of gardening lore that we could perhaps do without. Although some of the traditional gardening ‘wisdom’ handed down (possibly through generations) is helpful, some needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. There aren’t many gardening axioms that are appropriate for all gardens, at all times.
In his introduction, Dowding affirms himself to be a person with a questioning nature, and most of the advice in the book to be based on his own years of experience. He would like to free us all to garden in our own way, less stifled by the rules that are handed down.
The book is then divided into chapters that cover different aspects of gardening, and the myths and misconceptions that pertain to them. Chapter 2 is on sowing and planting and, among other things, reminds us that not all seeds need to be sown in spring. There’s also a section on transplanting root vegetables.
Chapter 3 is on watering, and recaps some scientific evidence that putting shards in the bottom of your containers and that watering in the middle of the day doesn’t burn plant leaves.
Moving through vegetable garden planning and design (chapter 4) to annual vegetables (chapter 5), Dowding tells us that – according to his own experiments – grafted vegetable plants (e.g. tomatoes) aren’t actually worth the extra investment in terms of the resulting increase in yields.
Chapter 6 covers trees, shrubs and perennial vegetables, and there are some interesting snippets here about whether perennial vegetables can be as productive as conventional annual and biennial ones. Dowding recommends ditching the forcing pots for an easier life, a sentiment unlikely to go down well with anyone who has invested money in one of those lovely Victorian-style terracotta forcing pots.
Chapter 7 (manuring and fertilizing) admits that making liquid feeds is a lot less smelly if you don’t drown your source plants (something I have been saying for years) and is followed by a chapter on making and using compost.
Chapter 9 is on soil structure and care (one of Dowding’s specialities) and chapter 10 talks about pests, diseases and weeds.
Gardeners who have been keeping pace with developments in horticulture may not find much new information in this book. Traditional gardeners may not wish to be convinced that their way of doing things is unnecessarily hard work. The audience for this book would therefore seem to be the middle ground. Gardeners, perhaps new gardeners, taught in the traditional horticultural style but who have an inkling that there might be a better way.
In his introduction, Dowding affirms himself to be a person with a questioning nature, and most of the advice in the book to be based on his own years of experience. He would like to free us all to garden in our own way, less stifled by the rules that are handed down.
The book is then divided into chapters that cover different aspects of gardening, and the myths and misconceptions that pertain to them. Chapter 2 is on sowing and planting and, among other things, reminds us that not all seeds need to be sown in spring. There’s also a section on transplanting root vegetables.
Chapter 3 is on watering, and recaps some scientific evidence that putting shards in the bottom of your containers and that watering in the middle of the day doesn’t burn plant leaves.
Moving through vegetable garden planning and design (chapter 4) to annual vegetables (chapter 5), Dowding tells us that – according to his own experiments – grafted vegetable plants (e.g. tomatoes) aren’t actually worth the extra investment in terms of the resulting increase in yields.
Chapter 6 covers trees, shrubs and perennial vegetables, and there are some interesting snippets here about whether perennial vegetables can be as productive as conventional annual and biennial ones. Dowding recommends ditching the forcing pots for an easier life, a sentiment unlikely to go down well with anyone who has invested money in one of those lovely Victorian-style terracotta forcing pots.
Chapter 7 (manuring and fertilizing) admits that making liquid feeds is a lot less smelly if you don’t drown your source plants (something I have been saying for years) and is followed by a chapter on making and using compost.
Chapter 9 is on soil structure and care (one of Dowding’s specialities) and chapter 10 talks about pests, diseases and weeds.
Gardeners who have been keeping pace with developments in horticulture may not find much new information in this book. Traditional gardeners may not wish to be convinced that their way of doing things is unnecessarily hard work. The audience for this book would therefore seem to be the middle ground. Gardeners, perhaps new gardeners, taught in the traditional horticultural style but who have an inkling that there might be a better way.
December 28, 2020
Einige der "enttarnten" Mythen sind überraschend, andere Einsichten nicht ganz so neu.
Das Buch bekommt von mir trotzdem 4,5 aufgerundet 5 Sterne, weil es ermuntert selbst Dinge auszuprobieren und auf die eigenen Erfahrungen zu vertrauen. "Gelassen gärtnern"- das ist genau der richtige Titel für dieses Buch.
Das Buch bekommt von mir trotzdem 4,5 aufgerundet 5 Sterne, weil es ermuntert selbst Dinge auszuprobieren und auf die eigenen Erfahrungen zu vertrauen. "Gelassen gärtnern"- das ist genau der richtige Titel für dieses Buch.
June 5, 2021
A nicely produced little book for casually dipping into. I'm new to gardening so perhaps haven't absorbed all the myths it debunks. The counter examples are mostly based on Dowding's own experience - which is certainly not to be discounted - but may lack the weightiness required lay a persistent myth to rest.
September 7, 2018
An interesting read.
May 6, 2019
Lots of good gardening information, but not exactly what I was after. Still worthwhile.
June 10, 2021
Nice book! But where are the notes?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews