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5th out of 219 books
—
67 voters
The Garden Primer
A 688-page volume jam-packed with practical information, advice, tips, and quirky wisdom, both basic enough for the novice and complete enough to help those with more experience improve their gardening habits, "The Garden Primer" leads all readers down the path to a simpler and more successful garden.
Combining easy "how-to" instruction with quirky wisdom and tried-and-tru...more
Combining easy "how-to" instruction with quirky wisdom and tried-and-tru...more
Paperback, 688 pages
Published
January 10th 1988
by Workman Publishing
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This is THE quintessential go-to book for gardening questions. Damrosch takes it to the next level--but only if the reader needs to go there. It works for the beginning gardener, listing plant by plant, the basics required to grow it. For the advanced gardener, she includes soil breakdowns and pH, along with pests and how to treat them. She takes the reader from beginning to end--the best basic tools, how to care for them, how to store them. There are designs in the book, tips that seem off the...more
This book is my gardening bible! It's thorough and well-written.
Region is important in gardening books. The Garden Primer is written by a New Englander and is very well-suited to my small, urban, MA garden. People always tell me I have a green thumb, and I have to respond, "I just read a lot before I started digging." What I mean is, I read this book cover to cover, and have read it many times in pieces since then. The best garden reference book I own, and a great way to get started if you're n...more
Region is important in gardening books. The Garden Primer is written by a New Englander and is very well-suited to my small, urban, MA garden. People always tell me I have a green thumb, and I have to respond, "I just read a lot before I started digging." What I mean is, I read this book cover to cover, and have read it many times in pieces since then. The best garden reference book I own, and a great way to get started if you're n...more
This book is a fantastic, all in one compendium for the modern gardener. It is full of advice on building, fostering, feeding, flora, and just about every aspect of gardening. It is great - if you are just starting out, or you have been gardening for a while, this book is really and all in one resource for you to use in the garden and in the living room. Really helpful! Would rate it more, but it is almost like rating a dictionary - a dictionary is a dictionary. I will say this, though - it beat...more
I picked this up because it is the book that my friend who I thought knew everything about gardening refers to. Surprisingly, a novice like me can understand it too. Very simple and straightforward. The introductory chapters are worth reading through if you are a newbie - about soil, garden planning, etc - but this is also the book you want on your shelf to refer to about particular plants and what they need once you get rolling. Love it.
This is a GREAT book. The version I have was printed a long time ago, I don't know if there is a newer version out there. The only thing that could be better is that she gives you places to order different catalogues, flowers, etc. and there aren't any websites. :) It has information for every type of garden: vegetable, fruit, flower, shurb, tree, wild, herb... I think I'm going to buy it I liked it so much.
An invaluable but verrryyy looooong book. I was primarily interested in the vegetable section which was very well written in a commonsense fashion. (finally someone says how often to water and why!) I think my garden will be better than ever this year!
The previous owner of our new house kept a nice vegetable garden and I'd like to keep it going. Gretchen and I ran a little veggie growing experiment last year and it convinced me that we should that it's worth the effort (and that I needed to learn more).
Have actually read most of this book, at least the beginner chapters about how to garden, then about vegetable garden. Seems invaluable and I would definitely like to own. I'm a beginner gardener, and this would be a wonderful reference book.
ONe of the best garden books I have came across. It is complete and can tell you how to grow anything organically! I loved the way it was organized. I plan on buying this for my own library and future reference.
I've found this book very helpful while planning and working in my garden. The advice is simple and easy to understand and organized in a way that makes looking information up easy. It's a great book for any gardener.
This was a great book for beginner and seasoned gardeners alike, especially if you're looking to garden in more sustainable ways. A wonderful read for garden nerds.
This is the best in the long series of "Introduction to Gardening" books that I have been devouring. (I think I can finally stop reading in this genre now . . .)
Great for browsing or for finding the answers to your gardening questions, this is not one of those glossy photo books, but a practical tome. I consult it often. Suzy S
this is THE book to get to learn about how to design, plan, construct, plant, and maintain a flourishing garden, in any climate in north america.
Refer to it all of the time. Loved the tv show she was on with Eliot Coleman. Wish it was still on or they would do something new.
This book is not something that one would generally expect to find witty, inviting, and readable just for the sake of reading.
It was.
The author has an engaging voice, and breaks down gardening into the simplest of terms for even the most incompetent novice. (aka: me) Her descriptions of the desired texture of the soil, or what a certain kind of pest looks like are so accurate that a picture would be redundant. Her little wry comments had Steve double checking to make sure I was actually reading...more
It was.
The author has an engaging voice, and breaks down gardening into the simplest of terms for even the most incompetent novice. (aka: me) Her descriptions of the desired texture of the soil, or what a certain kind of pest looks like are so accurate that a picture would be redundant. Her little wry comments had Steve double checking to make sure I was actually reading...more
I've had this book for going on twenty years and I still pull it out every Spring and learn something new. A keeper for sure!
A nice over view of gardening and landscaping that is of value to any gardener whether new or experienced.
I will be "currently reading" this all summer. This book has all the answers in a very user-friendly format. She is a gardening prophet!
Recommended to me by a woman who runs her own landscaping/organic gardening business.
Such a fantastic, comprehensive source for organic gardening. Love it!
Best basic gardening book ever. I've given this as a gift many times.
One of the first gardening books I bought, and still a favorite.
My go-to gardening book, which I read instead of gardening.
if I had to have one garden book this would be it.
Recommended by Michael
Indispensable.
i use it constantly
Ho hum, very basic.
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Apr 29, 2009 07:15pm