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Grow Your Own Vegetables
<!--StartFragment--> Eating vegetables is good for you. Growing your own is even better.
"You are what you eat" may be a timeworn adage, but it makes a valid point. When you grow your own vegetables, you'll not only eat better food, but you'll also regain your connection to the seasons and the natural rhythms of life. Growing your own will change what's on your dinner table, and it will change you .
That's the philosophy behind Carol Klein's impeccably thorough guide to home vegetable gardening. In its pages, she reveals all the tricks to becoming a successful small-plot gardener, from preparing the soil, to deciding what to grow (and when to plant and harvest), to coping with pests, weeds, and other common problems. The book's second half is a veritable encyclopedia of the various vegetables-delicate salad greens, hardy root vegetables, and everything in between-that you might choose to grow.
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"You are what you eat" may be a timeworn adage, but it makes a valid point. When you grow your own vegetables, you'll not only eat better food, but you'll also regain your connection to the seasons and the natural rhythms of life. Growing your own will change what's on your dinner table, and it will change you .
That's the philosophy behind Carol Klein's impeccably thorough guide to home vegetable gardening. In its pages, she reveals all the tricks to becoming a successful small-plot gardener, from preparing the soil, to deciding what to grow (and when to plant and harvest), to coping with pests, weeds, and other common problems. The book's second half is a veritable encyclopedia of the various vegetables-delicate salad greens, hardy root vegetables, and everything in between-that you might choose to grow.
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224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 15, 2026
I brought this book to read before starting my allotment. It was very informative and easy to follow, exactly what I was looking for. She didn’t over complicate anything or use too many technical words.
April 24, 2020
( Format : hardback )
Taking charge of what you eat.
The start of a new vegetable growing year has brought out not just the spring flowers but also favourite gardening books. Carol Klein's is certainly one of them. First purchased ten years ago, it is still as useful as it was then. The basics of growing different veggies don't change much: the individual types preceding specific soil types, distancing and general care, and this book is separated into all of the major categories, from garlic to peppers and chi!lies, via cabbages, beans, salad leaves and potatoes, with most everything in between. For all, there are recommended varieties suggested, tips on sowing and planting, best sites and soils, cultivation, harvesting, storage, even cooking tips, as well as pests and diseases to be avoided. And the book is beautifully illustrated throughout, with smaller colour pictures on every page as well a frequent full page matt photos. There is also a short glossary at the end in addition to an helpful index.
The book was originally published to accompany a BBC TV series, produced in association with the Royal Horticultural Society. Sadly, I didn't see it but it must have been made to encourage small space, urban gardening as the initial fifth of the book deals with preparing, planning and even creating a growing area, including the building of a 3 x 3 metre raised her block. Very useful if space is limited.
Grow your own is definitely a gardening beginners book, and a good one. Easy to reference whatever veggies are to be grown, easy to read, attractive to look at and worth enjoying over and over again.
Taking charge of what you eat.
The start of a new vegetable growing year has brought out not just the spring flowers but also favourite gardening books. Carol Klein's is certainly one of them. First purchased ten years ago, it is still as useful as it was then. The basics of growing different veggies don't change much: the individual types preceding specific soil types, distancing and general care, and this book is separated into all of the major categories, from garlic to peppers and chi!lies, via cabbages, beans, salad leaves and potatoes, with most everything in between. For all, there are recommended varieties suggested, tips on sowing and planting, best sites and soils, cultivation, harvesting, storage, even cooking tips, as well as pests and diseases to be avoided. And the book is beautifully illustrated throughout, with smaller colour pictures on every page as well a frequent full page matt photos. There is also a short glossary at the end in addition to an helpful index.
The book was originally published to accompany a BBC TV series, produced in association with the Royal Horticultural Society. Sadly, I didn't see it but it must have been made to encourage small space, urban gardening as the initial fifth of the book deals with preparing, planning and even creating a growing area, including the building of a 3 x 3 metre raised her block. Very useful if space is limited.
Grow your own is definitely a gardening beginners book, and a good one. Easy to reference whatever veggies are to be grown, easy to read, attractive to look at and worth enjoying over and over again.
August 14, 2017
V interesting read. Will have to borrow from the library again when I finally get a garden!
January 14, 2019
Fantastic resource that I look in all the time. A go to guide for growing.
April 20, 2020
Informative, easy to read, gorgeous pictures.
June 9, 2021
Solid, practical advice!
September 22, 2016
So good decided to order my own copy!
February 12, 2017
very informative!
October 26, 2011
Another very practical veg cultivation book with lots of lovely photos.
divided into two main sections:
Preparation and techniques which covered growing in small spaces, knowing the plot, preparing the plot, gorwing, extending the season, coping with problems and planning what to grow,
Growing your own - entries dealth with by type e.g. onions, cabbage family, peas & beans etc. Gives a general overie of the type - best sites and soils, sowing & planting, pests and diseases. Individual entries give into on best sites/soil, sowing/planting, cultivation, harvesting, storing & cooking and pests/diseases.
divided into two main sections:
Preparation and techniques which covered growing in small spaces, knowing the plot, preparing the plot, gorwing, extending the season, coping with problems and planning what to grow,
Growing your own - entries dealth with by type e.g. onions, cabbage family, peas & beans etc. Gives a general overie of the type - best sites and soils, sowing & planting, pests and diseases. Individual entries give into on best sites/soil, sowing/planting, cultivation, harvesting, storing & cooking and pests/diseases.
May 9, 2013
Bought this book and I'm very happy I did. Basically I just skimmed through it to see what to expect for gardening this year, and it looks like this is going to be a very handy reference guide for me for many years to come!
Beware to other Portland readers: she doesn't necessarily favor strict organic gardening. This book is definitely meant to be a beginner's guide and doesn't expect you to be comfortable with the intricacies of herbicide-free planting. However there are lots of great tips for all year planting, lots of great information, and detailed instructions for all of your basic vegetables. Really happy with this purchase!
Beware to other Portland readers: she doesn't necessarily favor strict organic gardening. This book is definitely meant to be a beginner's guide and doesn't expect you to be comfortable with the intricacies of herbicide-free planting. However there are lots of great tips for all year planting, lots of great information, and detailed instructions for all of your basic vegetables. Really happy with this purchase!
April 20, 2012
Definitely useful and easy to find relevant information. I am not a hard-core gardener, so finding tips and how-to's for my small patch of land and small selection of vegetables is sometimes hard. This book was good, as it seperated into easy sections, had lots of information on each vegetable and didn't require a full-time gardening commitment in order for it to be useful. I'll return to this book for more tips and tricks as I need it for sure.
June 24, 2016
The author provides about 50 pages on planning and preparing the garden as well as with dealing with problems. On every kind of vegetable one would want o grow, Klein offers photos and numerous tips and information on caring for and harvesting the crop. This book would have been even better had the author offered some of her favorite veggie recipes.
September 10, 2015
Great book, really clear and easy to follow. I love how enthusiastic Carol always gets for her fresh fruit and veg and we are hoping to emulate her. Here starts the beginning of our grow your own journey!
September 7, 2009
THE book for urban gardeners! Absolute must. No more Sunset gardening book for me!
July 26, 2010
Easy to understand and holds most of the things that we have grown/had trouble growing.
The book included tips and tricks
The book included tips and tricks
August 23, 2014
A really good book for any gardener wanting to grow their own vegetables. A must have.
April 24, 2015
Excellent and informative - a very good reference book
January 16, 2016
very helpful reference book which I use year after year!
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July 28, 2011makes it look oh so easy!
November 25, 2012
Een erg goed moestuinboek met prettige opmaak. Ook in het Nederlands verkrijgbaar.
February 27, 2014
Great resource
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May 1, 2017Mitchell Beazley (2007)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews