Crops in Pots

by Bob Purnell

With easy recipes using ingredients grown in your window box or the local market, Ethnobotanist James Wong shows you how easy--and cheap--it is to make simple creams, salves, teas, lozenges, and much more. James uses his top-class academic knowledge to reveal how many plants contain the same active ingredients as over-the counter drugs, and offers recipes to relieve a whole range of common conditions, including:
-Digestive disorders: bad breath, heartburn and indigestion, digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea
-Skin complaints: athlete's foot, eczema, insect bites and stings, acne, sunburn, age spots, fungal conditions, burn scars, poor foot circulation, chapped hands and sores, insect deterrent
-Kids' remedies: vitamin booster, head lice, eczema, ear wax build-up, colic
-Aches and pains: water retention, varicose veins, aching muscles, arthritis
-Female-specific problems: hot flashes and night sweats, morning and travel sickness, PMS, cystitis
-Under the weather: colds and flu, coughs and sore throats, cholesterol reducer, hangover, cold sores, immune system booster, mouth ulcers, restorative
-Mind: memory enhancer, insomnia, migraine prevention, anxiety, memory booster
-Face and body: hair strengthener, body scrub, bath and massage oil, deodorant, face mask, hand care, bath bomb, exfoliator, face toner/hair rinse, sore eyes, tired/red eyes, glycerine soap, plague remover and gum soother, chapped lips

With over 150 full-color photos, this book outlines all of the tools, oils, waxes, and powders necessary to get started, and also directs you to suppliers for easy shopping. You'll also find a 60 page reference of the top 100 plants you should consider growing in order to make herbal remedies out of your own garden. So unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way.

BLEMISHES
Witch Hazel Gel
200 g witch hazel twigs and (preferably young) leaves (see Resources on page 218)
2 cups (500 ml) hot water
6 packets vegetable gelatin
2 tbsp vodka
1. Place the witch hazel in a pan with the hot water. Over a gentle heat, slowly reduce mixture to a third of its volume until it reaches about 2/3 cup of liquid (this will take about 1 hour).
2. Line a sieve with cheesecloth, then strain the liquid into a mixing bowl. Add the gelatin, stirring to dissolve. Set aside to cool.
3. Once cool, add the vodka and stir well. Pour the gel into a wide-mouthed jar.

COLIC
Chamomile Syrup
4 handfuls (approx 40 g) German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) flowerheads
4 cups (900 ml) water
2 1/4 cups (450g) sugar or 1 cup (340g) honey
1. In a pan, put the chamomile in the water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for about 20 minutes.
2. Reduce the mixture to 3/4 cup (approx 200 ml) by simmering very slowly with the lid off for an additional 20 minutes.
3. Add the sugar and simmer for a few more minutes, stirring until the mixture looks like syrup. Be careful not to boil rapidly; allow it to bubble just a little.
4. Strain through a mesh sieve and then pour it into a sterilized bottle. Seal with a cork; if the syrup ferments, the bottle might explode.
USE
For a child, 1 tsp, 3 to 6 times a day.
For adults, 2 to 4 tsp, 3 to 6 times a day.
Caution: If you are diabetic, do not use.
STORAGE Keeps unopened for up to 1 year. Once opened, keeps for 1 week in the refrigerator.

SORE THROAT
Echinacea Throat Spray
3 cloves
5 peppermint leaves, finely chopped
5 sage leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) Echinacea purpurea tincture (from natural food stores)
1. Place the cloves, peppermint, and sage leaves in a small glass bowl, then add the echinacea tincture. Cover and let stand for 2 weeks in a cool, dark ...

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Plants, Herbs

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2007

Reviews

[PoligirlReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd actually give this a 3.5. I ran across this book a few summers ago and found myself enchanted. The photography and the simplicity lured me right in. I started thinking "I could grow corn in pot! Apple trees in a pot! Anything and everything in a pot!!!" It pretty much falls into the category of "things I probably won't ever do completely, but might be inspired to try one or two of these ideas." The problem of course, is that for many of the plants, to be able to successfully grow them in pots, you'd need to get your hands on a variety of specialty dwarf varieties. As such, all the potential crops in pots based on this book are not terribly realistic. Still, it's fun to think about, and there are some practical tips and options for the average home gardener.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was quite the whirlwind of basic planting information. Occasionally it would give oddly specific suggestions or say things that no other container gardening book has recommended before (not necessarily wrong things possibly but it raised a few flags). If you don't have full sun none of these ideas are for you. It also referenced having access to dirt-in-the-ground/outside yard space. The "finished product" photos were awesome but having been foiled by several bad years of container gardening anyone who can get their containers to look like the photos is probably capable of magic.

[Hess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A container recipe book with beautiful photography. The Kindle version is a PDF, so good luck highlighting text. The recipes themselves are lovely to look at but otherwise limited.

First, the plants suggested are very specific with no alternatives given. Second, some of the suggestions mix poisonous with edible crops. Inedible crops are marked as (inedible), but little is done to highlight their health risks.

Gardeners raising pets and small children should tread with caution here. Make sure you read up widely on each variety listed.

If you are in Europe & new to container gardening, I can highly recommend Crops in Tight Spots by Alex Mitchell and Patio Produce by Paul Peacock.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Crops in Pots here for just $12!

This book contains 50 glorious DIY projects to help you grow edible crops in pots year round, made easy with plant lists, step-by-step instructions and at-a-glance symbols for growing requirements. Get potting, city dwellers!

Amarina - The Book Grocer

[Laurla2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

mom passed this book onto me from older bro who is cleaning out his books. this is an extremely basic book, contained no information i didn't already know that would help me have more success in growing in pots. i didn't choose this book, and wasn't impressed with it at all. maybe 2 stars? seemed more focused on how to make *specific* plant arrangements in pots, and has 'ingredient' lists for each of the various pot arrangements.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crops in Pots seems to be a reasonably solid gardening book for beginners. Purnell spent quite a bit of time focused on the appearance of the pots (making sure the "theme" of the pot matched the plant inside), but otherwise offered good information.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The kindle version isn't great in my opinion, but I did pick up some tips for improving my garden during the lockdown.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, excellent pot combination ideas for veg and flowers. I have some great plans now for my garden!

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about this book in my master gardener training - it was passed around as an example reference book during our container gardening class. It's not comprehensive, and if you don't know anything about growing in containers, this might not be the place to start. There are some "container gardening basics," but I wouldn't want all my container gardening knowledge to come from those five-ish pages. With that said, if you are going to take up container gardening edible plants (and I would, of course, encourage you to do that), this book is worth reading. A lot of container gardening books are only focused on ornamentals, and the edibles get left behind or just passing mention. In this book, however, each arrangement is focused on the edible plants, with ornamentals used as fillers or companions. There is a helpful section at the end of types and varieties of veggies well-suited to container growing. So you can find some variety of whatever you can dream up, and advice on how to execute it.

Some of the groupings are so predictable - varieties of edible flowers, pots of ornamental lettuces, and many varieties of herbs, match the red pepper with the red flower (yawn). Those are typical things to grow in containers. But there are some creative ideas in here, using edibles that flourish in pots and companions that suit them. Some of my favorite groups include a "summer cocktail" bucket with borage, salad burnet and alpine strawberries, "ornamental onions" (varieties of spring onions mixed with spinach) planted in an old wooden crate, and round yellow zucchini alongside small bushy red tomatoes. There are lots of creative uses for peas, beans, eggplant and kohlrabi. I also appreciated some of the more unusual pots - blueberries (vertical habit) paired with cranberries (horizontal habit), fruiting currants paired with dwarf Dianthus, zucchini and banana plant (who would have thought of that?), and dwarf cape gooseberry & passion fruit.

I am glad I checked this out from the library, but I wouldn't buy it. But you know, I have a policy about buying books, so...

[Ruric Amhari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presented in the form of a recipe book for planting up containers and pots,

Introductory section on getting started which covers basics such as choosing containers and compost and how to plant up, as well as sowing, general carem propagation and pests and diseases.

Main section of book is a series of recipes for planting up different containers presented under the headings: starters (mostly salads and herbs), main course (main veg) and desserts (fruit).

Entertaining and well illustrated with lots of photos.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found it interesting that other reviews ran the gamut from "this book was great" to "this book was not the least bit helpful". I, personally, thought the book adequately explained how the average person can grow edible plants in containers, and make them look great at the same time. Whether you simply want edible plants in your containers, or you'd like to combine flowers and other non-edible plants in with the edible ones, this book gives you some great tips on how to have a successful container garden.

[Lablover · Rating 2 out of 5]

This deals with more decorative ideas. It sort of gives a "recipe" for a pot with a combination of plants. For example, next to a picture it states you need a black planter. It doesn't state why you need a BLACK one. Is it for the style to match the picture or is it to retain heat that might be necessary for the plants? A few of the plants are a bit unusual and no information is given as to the hardiness of the plants or in what zones they do best.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just okay-- there is a new revised edition, maybe that is better. Having read it I think it should be renamed: "Pleasant-enough decorative container gardens composed of hard to find varieties of plants with some edible plants in them" I was just looking for a book that would explain which types of pots are best for various vegetables...I'll keep looking.

[Pomona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great reference book for growing crops in containers and have it look great. Very inspiring and helpful that it lists actual varieties that are great for growing in pots (tom tom and tumbling tom tomatoes, fairy tale eggplant, etc).

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's a little late in the season for gardening, but the library finally came through with this one for me -- and it's gorgeous! I love the idea of combining flowers and food in a pot -- for beauty and tasty simple food.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a VERY disappointing read. I am on the hunt for the ultimate container gardening book and this is not it. I did gleam two ideas for next year from this book however - sugar snap peas and sweet peas in the same hanging basket.

[Anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little book with some nice ideas for plantings. It's probably not the most resource-intensive book for container gardening -- I'm certain there's books out there that are better than that -- but it's nice for some inspiration.

[Cammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not designed for an experienced gardener. However, if you are just looking into the idea of growing some of your own food in a container garden, it might be a good basis for additional research.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a plant-by-plant breakdown of growing food plants in containers. This is actually a rather artful set of growing arrangements using different food plants, but it's more about form than function.

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting in that it told you how best to accompany plants in the same container. Other than that, it wasn't focused on organic container gardening and was more focused on how to plant. An OK reference but not what I was looking for.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it's simple to read, has awesome plant combinations and great graphics. If you need to grow in pots, this is a worthwhile read. For a more detailed review you can visit our website at homesteadlady dot com under "Book Reviews".

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living in Alaska, I need to know which plants will grow in our climate. No mention of it. A lot of choices are unusual plants that I would not easily find. Pretty pictures, inspiring combos for planters, but not much useful how-to's for me to apply.

[Stephie Jane Rexroth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great idea book for edible container crops with heavy emphasis on companion planting.

[Emily Maccready · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice displays for veg in patio pots. Good inspiration.

[Katie O’Reilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why would you suggest mixing edible vegetables in the same pot with inedible flowers?! Seems like a dodgy idea.

[Michelle Romary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful photography and interesting pot themes, so I planted some crops together in pots this year, they aren't looking as lovely.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting ready for the roof deck!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book I've found on growing veggies, fruits, and herbs in gardens.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting project ideas, but not much practical how-to advice.

[Jo-anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting suggestions re planting combinations and related recipes.