The Backyard Berry Book: A Hands-On Guide to Growing Berries, Brambles, and Vine Fruit in the Home Garden

by Stella Otto, Stella Lee

Here's hands-on advice from a professional horticulturist and experienced fruit grower to help gardeners create an edible landscape. The Backyard Berry Book provided all the information that backyard gardeners need to grow strawberries, rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, lingonberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, and kiwi fruit. Includes details on soil nutrition and testing; disease, pest, weed, and bird control; and trellis design. A trouble-shooting section and seasonal activity calendar will help ensure success.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Food

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Kristal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book turned me off almost immediately. In chapter 2, the author suggests the use of Roundup to kill weeds in the area you are prepping to plant your berries and vine fruit. What? Is the author a Monsanto employee? I thumbed through a bit further and found recommendations for mixing up pesticide for pest control. Come on, people. Some organic choices, please? The reason most people want to grow their own berries, fruits, and vegetables these days is not only for enjoyment and producing perfect "specimens", but to obtain organic food that we KNOW has not been sprayed with Roundup, pesticide, and coated with waxes.

[Gail Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read the entire volume, but the Backyard Berry Book is set up like author Otto's award-wining The Backyard Orchardist and systematically with diagrams, charts, and references demonstrates how to set up and maintain berries and vine fruit in a home garden.

This volume includes site selection, soil preparation, selection of variety, pruning, pests..... name it, and if it has to do with berries or grapes, it can be found here.

Excellent selection for a beginner and experienced gardener.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has useful info on choosing varieties, trellising, planting, dealing with pests, beneficial insects and the like. Gave me a lot more confidence about berries and soft fruit gardening!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential garden book

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly just grazed this book looking for helpful information.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading books on gardening-- for fun and for information. Otto's books are very easy for the plain ole hobbyist like me and especially for those who want to get started growing berries or and orchard (home orchard of course!)

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really just skimmed this book since I've read several others on the basics of berry-growing. What I liked the most about the book is the copious charts. What I didn't like is the focus on conventional agriculture (pesticides, herbicides, etc.)

[Elie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers good practical skills. Gets right to the point.

[Ravi · Rating 1 out of 5]

good

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good info - detailed and specific.

[Nicolas]

I bought this more as a reference book for my blueberry bushes.