Kitchen Garden Forum

Arising from the KG mag discussions on the cover date, can I air a general bugbear (not directed against KG, please note):
Magazines seem to be issued earlier and earlier, presumably to catch the casual rather than regular buyer, and by now some mags come out about 6 weeks before the start of the month they are supposed to cover. I certainly bought a MARCH magazine in the last week of JANUARY! On a general subject like history, motor bikes, embroidery or whatever, I don't suppose it matters very much what it says on the cover, but in a time-critical subject like gardening it is very important to know to which period the contents refer! Also, occasionally the closing dates for competitions etc occur before the end of the period the magazine is supposed to cover!
Right, I am off my soap box now.

Hi Monika,I thought it was only me who found it a bit annoying [maybe too strong a word] to be reading about topics at least amonth to 6 weeks before there is any possibility of putting it into practise,particularly as I am a relative new comer to gardening. I know its only a matter of not reading the subscription until the relevent month but thats easier said than done. On the brighter side its great to have KG at any time

Dear Monika, i quite agree, but i bet i would be the first to complain if mine was delivered a month late.

I actually find it quite useful having the magazine a month ahead so to speak, being still relatively new at growing vegetables it reminds me what I need to plan to do or go out and buy in readiness.

Gaby at KG's sister magazine, Organic Gardening has done a climbdown. The current issue is called Winter 2008 (for February), so that at the end of Feb, they can release March 2008 issue covering March things.

Monika wrote:Arising from the KG mag discussions on the cover date, can I air a general bugbear (not directed against KG, please note):
Magazines seem to be issued earlier and earlier, presumably to catch the casual rather than regular buyer, and by now some mags come out about 6 weeks before the start of the month they are supposed to cover. I certainly bought a MARCH magazine in the last week of JANUARY! On a general subject like history, motor bikes, embroidery or whatever, I don't suppose it matters very much what it says on the cover, but in a time-critical subject like gardening it is very important to know to which period the contents refer! Also, occasionally the closing dates for competitions etc occur before the end of the period the magazine is supposed to cover!
Right, I am off my soap box now.

Hi Multiveg

Climbdown isn't quite the right term More that Gaby and Mortons decided the issue date was getting a little out of sync with the issue features.
(i.e. March issue mentions work to do in February - which can be confusing.

KG however, is titled March and has the jobs for March, which makes more sense.

That being said - issue dates can be confusing - even to us.


KGAdmin

Hi Guys
Yes this is a topic that comes up regularly in the KG office and your postings here really sum up our dilemma. Some readers tell us that our current habit of bringing out, for example, the April mag at the beginning of March can be confusing as they then are not sure whether the jobs should be done now or in a month's time. Others tell us that having the mag a month in advance helps with planning and seed buying etc.
The latter is the way I've always favoured mags to be personally, but I'd be happy to hear more of your comments via this thread and promise to take them into consideration for the future.

Just seeing your smiling faces in the K.G.Mgazine, more than makes up for any little inconveniences.

Thanks O H. Not bad to be smiling on the first day back at work after having had a week on the north east coast. Must be the one place that was colder than my garden in the midlands! The view and the walking more than made up for it though!

My personal thoughts on this are that I like to be able to plan ahead therefore the arrangment of being a month ahead suits me.

The magazine acts as a prompt for me (and probably for others)as I am susceptible to Senior Moments at increasingly regular intervals

Hmmm...
I thought that the dating of magazines was more to do with dated press embargoes than anything else.
"Sorry, you may not print this untill April" "OK, it will be in our April issue" (The April edition comes out at the end of Feb)

Maybe it would help that any column headed, say, " Jobs to do this month" was called "Jobs to do in April". Then it would be quite clear to which period it refers, never mind the cover date.

KG, of course, does just that: it clearly says "Jobs for March" in the March issue!

Hi Steve,
For people new to gardening to be able to read a month ahead is essential. As I see it, just so long as it headed for a particular month I have no qualms whatsoever.
Sometimes it does get out of hand with the issue date but just so long as things are listed clearly it is patently obvious to all.
I don't feel that you at Morton's have to change a thing.
Oh how I wish that we had had magazines like 'ours' when I started out.
JB.

I agree JB, about Mortens not changing anything and also about a magazine such as KG years back. I had to make to with Gardeners' World which is admirable in its way, but does little for those who want vegetables and not ornamentals.

Yes, please don't change KG, it's just right and I look forward to it every month!