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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegetable Gardening
Offers techniques for plotting and planning; instructions for growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and berries; and tips on pruning, feeding and harvesting a garden.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 21, 2010
I'm transitioning from 'gatherer' (wild berries and nuts, some herbs) to a cultivator. I'm about to enter my third season of vegetable gardening, and figured it was high time to figure out exactly what it is I'm trying to do out there in the field. My first two gardens were, on the whole, successful, the first year rich in learning experience if not edible bounty (although there was some). New location the next year, better soil, and boom! I'm hooked! Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, potatoes, beets, and several squashes. I made enough tomato sauce to freeze and get me through the off season and I was harvesting lettuce all winter.
"Gatherers" and "Cultivators" have two entirely different world views when it comes to the plant world, and I'm a little uncomfortable with the "management" aspect of gardening...you're controlling a 'natural' process, you're in essence playing God. There's some eqo in gardening. Gatherers are humble beneficiaries of the random bounties of nature.
Most of what I know about gardening is from other gardeners. From the moment any other humans knew I was starting a garden I was inundated with advice. Mostly good, and always proffered in a warm and friendly manner. It seemed that by merely saying I was going to plant a garden I had been accepted into a generous and good-hearted fellowship. Some of the advice has been simply "This is California! Don't worry about calendars and schedules. Just put stuff in the ground and see what happens". In my limited experience that works out often enough.
But it's time I figured out what I should be doing out there. This book was given to me at Christmas by my Mom, and it pleased me that she noticed my interest in gardening through our weekly transcontinental phone conversations, to pick out a comprehensive, how-to gardening book.
I read it and will use it as my primary guide this season.
It's a breezy read, the information is graspable. It appears to be more comprehensive than I'll probably need, but anything I'll need help with this summer will most likely be covered in here, or have information on where else to consult.
"Gatherers" and "Cultivators" have two entirely different world views when it comes to the plant world, and I'm a little uncomfortable with the "management" aspect of gardening...you're controlling a 'natural' process, you're in essence playing God. There's some eqo in gardening. Gatherers are humble beneficiaries of the random bounties of nature.
Most of what I know about gardening is from other gardeners. From the moment any other humans knew I was starting a garden I was inundated with advice. Mostly good, and always proffered in a warm and friendly manner. It seemed that by merely saying I was going to plant a garden I had been accepted into a generous and good-hearted fellowship. Some of the advice has been simply "This is California! Don't worry about calendars and schedules. Just put stuff in the ground and see what happens". In my limited experience that works out often enough.
But it's time I figured out what I should be doing out there. This book was given to me at Christmas by my Mom, and it pleased me that she noticed my interest in gardening through our weekly transcontinental phone conversations, to pick out a comprehensive, how-to gardening book.
I read it and will use it as my primary guide this season.
It's a breezy read, the information is graspable. It appears to be more comprehensive than I'll probably need, but anything I'll need help with this summer will most likely be covered in here, or have information on where else to consult.
May 21, 2020
Tons of great tips. I should have read this in December while planning a garden and not May after I had the seeds in the soil.
The digital version I read was missing the section on transplanting herbs from the garden into inside containers, which would have been helpful.
The digital version I read was missing the section on transplanting herbs from the garden into inside containers, which would have been helpful.
July 12, 2022
A good starting-off point. My review was HIGHLY influenced by the fact that I didn't read this first.
December 7, 2009
Book #49 of the year! Only 3 more to go and I've hit a book-a-week reading rate for 2009 (personal milestone).
I wish there was more information in here on how to safely and organically control weeds. But then again, maybe there isn't much to say on the subject beyond "weed your weeds" and "use mulch". This book got us started with our first-ever garden. It's helpful, though I would prefer more details on "how to" and fewer suggestions of what to plant.
I wish there was more information in here on how to safely and organically control weeds. But then again, maybe there isn't much to say on the subject beyond "weed your weeds" and "use mulch". This book got us started with our first-ever garden. It's helpful, though I would prefer more details on "how to" and fewer suggestions of what to plant.
August 26, 2011
I am a real beginner when it comes to gardening! We've had a few gardens, and although we did produce vegetables, I encountered lots of problems. I have found lots of answers to the problems that we had in this book. I think it is a great book for us beginning gardeners. This book covers just about everything as you can see above. So if you're new to gardening, be sure and get a copy!
October 2, 2009
I tried gardening with limited success so I thought some information would a good thing.
This book is a solid beginners book, at least for me. I enjoyed it, it had enough information to help me understand the basics and it was easy to read.
Next spring I'll see if the advice helps me :)
This book is a solid beginners book, at least for me. I enjoyed it, it had enough information to help me understand the basics and it was easy to read.
Next spring I'll see if the advice helps me :)
November 29, 2010
For the beginner it gave the complete picture of things to think about and plan. I dont think it will be a go-to resource but it provided what i was looking for which was general information to get me started.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews