|
This
updated edition of the author's 2008 book (with help from
specialist consultant Jo Whittingham) provides instructions
for growing more than 80 different vegetables and herbs in
various spaces, such as gardens, balconies, roof terraces,
and yards. Grow Vegetables is written with general tips for
the novice gardener (e.g., tools and equipment are usually
pictured and identified) and peppered with specialized advice
for those with more experience (e.g., composting suggestions
may intrigue those with green thumbs, but intimidate newbies).
Overall, these straightforward directions, explanations, suggestions,
and beautiful color photographs can help anyone launch his
or her own vegetable garden.
The first 52 pages are devoted to "vegetable grower's
know-how," which includes all the basics about getting
started. Working primarily in plant beds (rather than pots)
with seeds (rather than cuttings), vegetable gardeners learn
how to adjust for varying climates and terrains. For instance,
photos and text help readers determine if their soil is primarily
clay, sandy, silt, limestone, or peat, and how this affects
fertilization and watering. Additional topics in this introductory
section look at tools and equipment, crop rotation, crops
in containers, harvesting and storing, and other useful first
steps.
From there, chapters explore specific types of crops: cabbage
and leaf vegetables, root and stem vegetables, peas and beans,
salads, fruiting vegetables, cucumbers and squash, perennial
vegetables, and herbs. For example, in the chapter on fruiting
vegetables there's a section on sweet corn that includes a
full-page photograph of a healthy ear of corn, tips on where
to plant, when to plant, how to sow seeds, how to plant out
seedlings, routine care, and harvesting, in addition to smaller
callout sections with photos and descriptions for planting
sweet corn in blocks, and a two-step process for harvesting
sweet corn. The corn section concludes with tips on what can
go wrong and how to prevent it.
The final two chapters provide a year-long vegetable planner
and advice from the vegetable doctor about diseases, disorders,
pests, parasites, etc., followed by an index, acknowledgments,
and a list of seeds and plant suppliers. Helpful, inspiring,
and clearly written, Grow Vegetables should provide readers
with the knowledge and confidence to begin or expand their
own attractive and efficient personal source of free food
right in their own backyards.
|
