Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically

Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically
Average customer rating:

Great overview book

Should be called the Coffee Table Encyclopedia of Gardening

Gardners Dictionary

Well Organized, Comprehensive, Excellent Layout

Vegatable Gardening Made Really Easy

Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically
Karan Davis Cutler , Cavagnarok David , Barbara W. Ellis , and David Cavagnaro
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Herbs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Organic | Techniques | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Vegetables | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More

ASIN: 0028620054

Amazon.com

Burpee has created a truly encyclopedic, but non-intimidating, guide to organic vegetable gardening that can be used and appreciated by anyone, whether or not they've ever stuck a seed in the ground. All the essential information is here--how to condition the soil, how and where to plant, sprouting schedules, what kind of yield to expect from each plant variety, and harvesting tips--in beautiful, bountiful, illustrated detail; the book's largest section, "Plant Portraits," contains explanations of the many cultivars of each vegetable and herb. If you're a novice vegetable gardener or new to organic gardening and can only afford one gardening guide, this may be your best value.

Book Description

A Backyard-Gardener's Guide to Growing a Bountiful, Great-Tasting Harvest

The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener features:

A full-color encyclopedia of over 100 vegetables and herbs with detailed, expert advice on growing them successfully from planting to harvest
Planting and growing techniques that keep maintenance to a minimum
Entries on how to grow unusual edibles, such as refreshing mesclun for salads, colorful edible flowers, spicy mustards, and more
Descriptions and photos of a host of succulent vegetables, both hybrids and heirlooms, from common to exotic
Complete information on improving even the poorest garden soil using safe, organic techniques, plus practical advice on making compost
Recommendations on garden tools you need-and those you don't
Information on controlling pests and diseases organically, without resorting to poisonous sprays
Spectacular full-color photographs of vegetables and herbs, food gardens, and edible landscapes, plus 30 black-and-white line drawings

Customer Reviews:

Great overview book.......2007-06-09

This book is great if you're a beginner gardener, and want just one book to sit down and read that covers all aspects of gardening. You'll want to go on an buy other books that go into more detail on specific topics, but this is a great place to start, and one to keep on the shelf.
It is presented as a gardening book should be - a large hardcover with lots of glossy colour photographs.
Chapters are:
1) Growing you own
2) Getting Started
3) Garden Tools & Equipment
4) Improving the soil
5) Laying out the Garden
6) Planting the Garden
7) Caring for the Garden
8) Coping with Garden Problems

Should be called the Coffee Table Encyclopedia of Gardening.......2007-03-10

I am so impressed with this big, beautiful book! The photos are inspiring, and the technical aspects are thoroughly covered. I love the historic background of each vegetable and herb.
I think there is literally everything I ever needed to know about vegetable gardening from seed germination, through care and feeding, to harvest. Detailed charts outline fertilizer, pests, water, soil conditions, and planting and harvest times.

I keep it on my coffee table and flip through it daily just to enjoy the photos and learn some new fact.

You will not be disappointed with this book!

Gardners Dictionary.......2006-10-31

I am a new gardener and this book has helped so much! I look everything up in it. RIght down to problems with plant to how much water each plant gets. It has a guide to all plants and great pictures. Also has tips for gardening.

Well Organized, Comprehensive, Excellent Layout.......2002-08-14

Burpee's "The Complete Vegetable and Herb Gardener: A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically" is fantastic. In addition to what Burpee lists on the back cover of what is inside the book, there are also many easy-reading tables that contain excellent information such as the vitamin(s) that each vegetable contains, different cultivars, plant PH needs, watering needs per week, crop yields, etc. Many interesting tidbits.

The layout is so wonderful, one does not feel overwhelmed with all of the information that is in the book!

Vegatable Gardening Made Really Easy.......2001-11-02

Very similar in content and structure to Ortho's Complete Guide to Vegtables. The difference comes in the experience the writer has growing and maitaining the various plants. I find using both books gives different perspectives for growing and caretaking of plants but conatins the same basic information. For instance the Ortho book has better Garden Setup and maintenance data, and raw data on the various gardening aspects like fertilizer and pest eradiction. The Burpee book focuses on plant and cultivar details a little better. The book is filled with plenty high quality pictures of plants and their fruits using multiple pictures of various cultivars within plant families.
The book is geared for both beginners in gardening and the handy do it yourselfer types. Chapters progress you through the steps from site selection and plant selection to harvesting, crop rotating and soil conditioning over winter and indoor greenhouse seed starting. The book also contains references to various cultivars within vegtable species, so a beginner gardener could not only successfully select and grow well know vegtables, but could also grow and use the odd often hard to find fresh herbs.
I consistently flip between both this book and Ortho's book. I find using them in this manner makes the information extracted complimentary and thorough.

The Complete Book of Herbs: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Herbs

Average customer rating:

Fabulous!!!A must have .
A great resource book!
Everything you need!
Great book to have on our shelf
new to herbs

The Complete Book of Herbs: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Herbs
Lesley Bremness
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0140238026

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous!!!A must have ........2007-06-27

Cannot say enough about how glad I am to own this. It has more than I would need to raise herbs. Concise. Beautiful pictures. Excellent reference source.

A great resource book!.......2007-06-08

I purchased this book for a basic book about herb gardening. I used the reviews which were very helpful. It is fantastic! Not too confusing like some I purchased which were very technical. (Not being a scientist, I couldn't use a lot of them because I didn't know their botanical names!) This book is definitely user friendly. I am recommending it to my friends who also are getting into herb gardening. A lot of information for a good price, you won't be disappointed. Great recipe ideas too.

Everything you need!.......2006-08-07

I LOVE this book! It shows you how to grow, cook and use herbs in arrangements. It tells you what the history of the herb is and what other cultures have used them for. I'm not the best at writing reviews and I never do... but I would buy this one!!! It's a great price for a great book!

Great book to have on our shelf.......2006-06-15

Will serve as a reference for years to come. Good visuals of different herbs with complete index.

new to herbs.......2005-07-16

being new to herbs this is one book i think every beginner should have. the info in this book is great tells you what herbs for crafts, cooking, med's, and growing. this is the 2nd book of Lesley's that i have and i will be looking out for more of her books. she makes it so you can read and learn not go to sleep.

Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More

Average customer rating:

Concise, but useful
in love with herbs
I LOVE THIS BOOK
"Must Have" for aspiring herb growers
A complete herbal reference book!

Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More
Miranda Smith
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0875969941

Book Description

Everything you need to know about growing your favorite herbs using safe, natural, all-organic methods!Practical tips and advice on all aspects of successful herb growing.A wealth of great ideas and helpful how-to on using herbs in cooking, crafts, cosmetics, health care, insect repellents, and more.Illustrated herb directory featuring all the most popular herbs-- from aloe to yarrow-- each with complete information on growing, care, harvesting, and uses.

Customer Reviews:

Concise, but useful.......2007-06-09

This is a relatively small book at about 150 pages, but it manages to pack in a lot of information very concisely. It's beautifully illustrated with color photographs and drawings.

The first 2/3 of the book includes general herb gardening background and use of herbs tips: how to choose plants, pick the location, general design principles, planting instructions (including some nice tips on extending the growing season), propagation, harvesting, drying, pests and diseases, etc.

It also includes suggestions for common culinary uses, such as salads, herbal vinegars, flavored oils, teas, jellies, honeys, and breads. These are not an extensive set of recipes, but more like master recipes with some suggestions for how you can mix them up with variations.

The book also includes suggestions and recipes for health and beauty products (again, not an extensive collection). This section includes potpourri, sachets, bouquets, dried arrangements and insect repellents.

The last 1/3 of the book has individual pages on about 50 different herbs. These individual pages tell you a description, how to grow, harvesting instructions, suggested uses, tips, cultivars, and also includes a quick key on the level of care required (using a 4 glove rating system), if it attracts beneficial insects, whether or not it is ornamental, whether or not it can be grown in a container, how much yield you can expect to get and how easy it is to grow.

The back of the book contains a few pages of resources for laboratories, vendors, herb associations and other books or literary resources.

There are lots of charts and sidebars and overall I found this book to be very useful and easy to access. It doesn't have the level of information needed to make this anything other than a quick reference book though.

in love with herbs.......2007-01-25

I adore this book! Wow! It has all the things I wanted!
- it's organic
- it very thorougly covers many herbs in different formats, so you know everything from what bugs they attract or repel, how tall they grow, and what zone they can be grown in
- common uses for them: I discovered many herbs I thought were inedible plants that are indeed herbs
- easy to use tables

I wasn't too hip on all the cosmetic and craft uses - I'd rather eat them, but they're short and may come in handy. I know the rest of the book sure will!

I LOVE THIS BOOK.......2006-08-23

This is a great book for a beginning herb gardener. The first half of the book is a general overview of gardening techniques, designs, and uses for herbs. The second half gives specific information on growing and using many herbs. This has been extraordinarily helpful to me as background and reference for me.

However, it is pretty basic and only covers the most commonly used herbs, so I'm not sure that advanced herb gardeners would get much out of this.

"Must Have" for aspiring herb growers.......2006-07-24

Great resource book. Covers all of the basics in clear, simple instructions.

A complete herbal reference book!.......2006-06-26

I really like this book. It is very easy to follow and has a little bit of everything you need to know packed into the book. I bought it for the outside herb garden design, but I changed my mind. I am trying a kitchen garden, growing the herbs inside in containers. If you are new to herb gardening, this is the perfect book. And in my opinion, it is the only book you will need. I want to use the fragrant herbs for sachet crafts and dry some herbs for cooking. These will be terrific gifts for my DIL because she buys and uses a lot of herbs for cooking and will never have the time to grown them. You will never put this book away. There are so many possibilities of what to do with herbs.

Beginning Hydroponics: Soilless Gardening : A Beginner's Guide to Growing Vegetables, House Plants, Flowers, and Herbs Without Soil

Average customer rating:

Beginning Hydroponics: Soilless Gardening : A Beginner's Guide to Growing Vegetables, House Plants, Flowers, and Herbs Without S
Waste of Money
As it says...
An Excellent Intro to a Technology with Proven Potential
A little help for my Greenhouse Business!

Beginning Hydroponics: Soilless Gardening : A Beginner's Guide to Growing Vegetables, House Plants, Flowers, and Herbs Without Soil
Richard E. Nicholls
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0894717413

Customer Reviews:

Beginning Hydroponics: Soilless Gardening : A Beginner's Guide to Growing Vegetables, House Plants, Flowers, and Herbs Without S.......2006-02-19

book recieved in a timely manner. Information is OK. Outdated information, lacks specifics. Need better clarification.

Waste of Money.......2005-04-06

What I was expecting was a guide on how I could start/build/create a hydroponic garden from scratch. What i got was a simpletons generic, vague something that really taught me nothing. I don't need the history of it, or the theories behind it. The title said 'simplified workbook' but it taught me nothing, I'm at square one which is "how do I build and start a hydroponic garden? What supplies and where do I get them?"

As it says..........2004-08-02

It is a beginner's introduction to hydroponics. While it is an exceptionally good overview and a great place to begin studying the topic, it is by no means a canon on the topic. Grab this book, read it cover to cover, photocopy it's tables to tack to the wall in whatever area you do your plant working. It will give you a skeleton, but your flesh is earned via experience and communicating with other gardeners, especially in better hydroponics forums on the internet.

These forums, however, can be confusing without the background provided by books such as this.

An Excellent Intro to a Technology with Proven Potential.......2004-06-19

Hydroponics... presents an open and honest introduction to the subject of growing plants without soil, covering its long history (especially before it was called 'hydroponics' and before Western Europeans happened upon it), the basic principles underlying hydroponics and the more common methods of the field from the simple to the complex. It also includes a chapter on troubleshooting, provides copious resources in the form of a book list for further reading and suppliers to hydroponic growers (from backyard gardeners to commercial growers), and is an all-around accessible text for both beginning non-gardeners and to gardeners of all ability ranges. It also lays out the need for and benefits derived from hydroponics without embellishment, and presents just a small amount of the technology's practical applications and tremendous (and proven) potential.

However, based on this text alone, the reader has no real idea just how big the field of soil-less gardening has become. For example, a sizable amount of commercial tomato production in the United States is done hydroponically, and virtually all of the fresh lettuce in Japan is produced this way. Additionally, the technology has proven itself to be commercially viable for the production of a variety of specialty crops. After reading this book, I could easily think of five or six spin-offs for potential research.

Probably the best endorsement for the power and capability of this applied technology is the fact that more research is done in hydroponics by commercial growers and big multinationals than is done by (and this is in the United States context) both universities and the USDA. As an aside, although not originally intended as an application, more than a few enterprising individuals have co-opted its utilization, and advanced its development in order to cultivate, produce and distribute cannabis!

This in turn may or may not explain the reticence of the United States government, through the USDA, to fund research into improved hydroponic methods. However, a more reasonable possibility may be that the technology is first a proven concept and second is very highly developed. Still, there is considerable room for creative thinking, improvement, improvisation and innovation, as many an enterprising law-breaker has demonstrated.

On the other hand, foreign governments in arid regions of the world, such as Israel, the greater Middle East and the North African region, have invested heavily in hydroponics research as a means to simultaneously produce food for domestic requirements and to conserve scarce water resources. Israel in particular is very aggressive in its attempts to use hydroponics as a basis for export-led agricultural production.

Considering how long this book has been on the market (some 27 years), and how bad the situation in the world is with regard to hunger and food insecurity, and environmental degradation, I have to wonder aloud why environmental types like Lester Brown, Helen Caldicott and environmental groups such as the Worldwatch Institute, Sierra Club and Greenpeace have not bothered to champion this technology. Given all of the benefits of the technology, and the number of greedy corporate fingers using it to rake in beaucoup bucks, you have to wonder exactly where the priorities of many of the so-called 'eco-advocacy' groups lay, as they should be grinning from ear to ear over this water conserving (and in many cases water recycling), decreased energy, pesticide and fertilizer utilizing technology.

A little help for my Greenhouse Business!.......2001-02-11

Good growing information but lacks details. Not a complete guide but worth the price for sure. I got a few good ideas from this one, making it a worthy purchase. Another book for learning the most up to date hydroponic methods is my favorite, "Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business".

Growing 101 Herbs that Heal: Gardening Techniques, Recipes, and Remedies

Average customer rating:

Growing 101 Herbs that Heal
Beautiful paperback book.....
Herbs for Everyone
Highly Recommend
An Amazingly Useful Handbook on Herbs

Growing 101 Herbs that Heal: Gardening Techniques, Recipes, and Remedies
Tammi Hartung
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Herbal Remedies | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
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ASIN: 1580172156

Amazon.com

An excellent guide for novices and experts alike, Growing 101 Herbs That Heal combines gardening, cooking, crafts, and natural healthcare into one sturdy manual. The author's care and concern for healthy plants and people are evident on every page, and there's an astonishing amount of detail in every section. Simple plant listings cover multiple pages, outlining everything from drainage preferences to the size and color of blooms. The different garden styles presented range from formal knot gardens to carefree wild gardens, with lots of choices for raised beds and containers. Organic methods for fertilizing and pest control are emphasized--time to get familiar with beneficial nematodes!

If you've already got an herbal garden in place and are now wondering what to do with your harvest, look no further. Delicious recipes for breads, soups, and salads are here, along with medicinal tinctures, creams, and bath soaks, which are great for gifts or home use. There are also straightforward tips for starting an herb-based home business from your own creations. The last section is a fascinating materia medica that devotes a separate page to each herb, going into beneficial companion plants, harvesting time, market value, and home pharmacy uses. From common peppermint to the unusual yerba de la negrita, you'll enjoy the lovely pictures at least as much as the helpful information. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

Complete instructions for successfully growing 101 medicinal plants using totally organic techniques. Hartung, a certified organic grower and board member of United Plant Savers, shares all the secrets of propagation, soil preparation, natural pest management, harvesting techniques, and even garden design for both beauty and highest yield. Also includes herb-by-herb profiles and a guide to making medicines and delicious healing foods.

Customer Reviews:

Growing 101 Herbs that Heal.......2007-04-01

vital information for a coming time when alternatives will be a necessity, not just an alternative.

Beautiful paperback book............2005-06-11

Although Rodale's book is still one of the beter gardening books for growing herbs, and other books have more comprehensive coverage of the uses of essential oils, Tammi Hartung's GROWING 101 HERBS THAT HEAL is interesting if you are a relative newcomer to either area and want a good overview of factors to consider. Hartung includes a brief discussion of gardening techniques, harvesting and drying methods, and culinary uses of herbs including a few recipes (check out Dr. Duke and Andrew Weil for more coverage on the latter.)

The book also includes many lovely photos, especially one of `Goldenseal' which I plan to grow in my own garden next year as CITES (Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species) lists this plant as an `at-risk' organism. Many herbalists understand the importance of responsible wildcrafting, Hartung, a 'Medical Herbalist', points a way toward growing your own remedies and relieving the stress on overharvested wild plants as well as obtaining A-1 oils or dried herbs from your own garden.

Herbs for Everyone.......2004-05-14

I have had the pleasure of knowing the author of this book since we were both young children. I have watched her develop her knowledge and skills in this area for 20 years, yet I was amazed at the amount of information she provided in her book! Her style in presenting the information allows even the most novice of gardeners ample opportunity to learn and develop their skills. Yet she provides considerable information to those readers who are more advanced in their gardening skills.

Easy to read, easy to understand, it leaves you wanting more. I sincerely hope that Tammi undertakes another book (as her extremely busy schedule allows!) in the not so distant future.

Highly Recommend.......2002-02-27

This book is fascinating, full of information, recipes, and all the information you could need to grow these herbs, anywhere in the country.

An Amazingly Useful Handbook on Herbs.......2000-06-25

This is a beautiful and very readable comprehensive guide to herbs, packed with information and techniques for making the most of herbs and transforming our awareness of plants and gardening. Readers will be encouraged to "cultivate plant relationships" which can become profound acts of self-help, ecological preservation, and cultural renewal.

Kitchen Garden A to Z: Growing, Harvesting, Buying, Storing

Average customer rating:

My new favorite veggie picture book
A mouth-watering sight for any Veggie
Kitchen Garden A to Z
Maybe a nice photo book for a beginning gardner

Kitchen Garden A to Z: Growing, Harvesting, Buying, Storing
Mike McGrath , and Gordon Smith
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Vegetables | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0810955806

Book Description

Did you know that if you can't smell a strawberry, it won't have any taste? That lemon thyme is as effective a mosquito repellent as DEET? That corn with kernels in the straightest lines will taste the best? Do you know which vegetables should never go in the refrigerator? And which freeze beautifully? All of these questions-and many more-are answered in this indispensable guide to vegetables and fruits, whether you shop for them in a farmers' market, buy them in a supermarket, or grow them in your own kitchen garden.

Organized alphabetically from artichoke to zucchini, the main section of the book provides detailed information on how to grow, harvest, select, and store each type of produce, accompanied by magnificent full-page photographs made especially for this book. Also featured are sections on kitchen garden basics, hardware, and the cycle of life (which covers such topics as starting seeds, nurturing, and harvesting). A wonderful combination of beauty and practical advice, this glorious book is essential for anyone who buys produce or owns a kitchen garden. AUTHOR BIO: Mike McGrath, former editor-in-chief of Organic Gardening magazine, has his own program, "You Bet Your Garden," on National Public Radio. He lives in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Gordon Smith's photographs can be found in museums and private collections throughout the world.

Customer Reviews:

My new favorite veggie picture book.......2005-08-30

There is a place in my home for a coffee table book about gardening. It's on the coffee table, where it can be admired and browsed by family and visitors, or maybe just by me when I am in the mood to look at gorgeous pictures of garden produce and dream about next year's crop.

This book is obviously geared to the rank novice gardener (And where, I ask you, does it claim otherwise?). I am unlikely to use Kitchen Garden A to Z as a reference because I am an intermediate level home gardener who has managed to grow every category of vegetable and herb mentioned in this book. If I were a beginner, however, I would find this book to be indispensable for my starting information and pure inspiration to get going. It would be easy to find whatever I was looking for with the oversized page titles laid out A to Z, on the side edge, graphic-stylish. I would also be awed at the lovely diversity of tomatoes, melons, squash, etc. which I almost never see in my grocery store. The pictures are impeccable and artistically shot, and they feature several varieties and stages of growth for each crop being examined on the spread. The information is short and useful, but doesn't go into much detail; for instance, in the Pumpkin spread under "harvest" it simply says to leave the handle on, cut when the fruit is mature and let cure in the sun for a week. Nothing about thumbnail testing the shell first or whether it should cure on the ground or somewhere else, and if it can be left on the vine for awhile or not. Oh well, most people will do okay with this so I suppose one shouldn't get too picky about short text.

I am grateful that in the first section (which takes up nearly half the book) there is more explanation about how to garden generally and an emphasis on how to do it organically. A first-timer would have been thoroughly primed on how to lay out their garden depending on available sun and how much they could realistically handle. It also shows superb examples of beautiful and clever vegetable gardens above and beyond typical row-style. Beginners will be able to start out right after reading this book and they will have every chance of productive and satisfying crops.

But I still like it mainly for the pictures:).
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

A mouth-watering sight for any Veggie.......2004-11-28

This book gets the end spot in my kitchen cookbook shelf, just to show off the great cover photograph. For a veggie like me, it's a taste of heaven. I love the photographs, not just because the vegetables are all so wonderfully ripe and luscious looking, but because Smith has shot them in such an inventive way. I wish I could visit his produce market! The text is a bit lite, but that's not what I bought the book for. This is a coffee table book that will hold its own with any collection of dazzling images.

Kitchen Garden A to Z.......2004-11-15

As a home gardener and artist, I am delighted and inspired by Kitchen Garden A to Z, which is filled with easy to access "how-to" information and beautiful illustrations. Having heard Mike McGrath on public radio, I find his down-to-earth enthusiasm and knowledge about organic gardening as welcoming as ever. He's written a great reference book that's clear, practical and to-the-point. He doesn't read like an encyclopedia or a scientific journal, but rather, he sounds like the gardener next door who's been there, done that, and wants you to succeed. The wisdom of his experience shows. Of course, the vegetables in the beautiful photographs are a feast for the eyes - something to see now, and (hopefully) grow later.

I think there is certainly something in the book for gardeners of every age and skill level. My sister, who has a lot of vegetable-loving animals in her yard, found an answer to her prayers in the section on container gardening. The information on how to prevent "damping off" and leggy seedlings has given me the courage to start planting from seed again. And when I showed the book to my 87-year old mother, who knows her way around the kitchen, she wanted a copy of the "Storage Basics at a Glance" summery page for her very own.

The book has been wonderful gift. You may discover, as I have, that Kitchen Garden A to Z works beautifully both on the coffee table and the back porch.

Maybe a nice photo book for a beginning gardner.......2004-11-14

An oversized volume that is well organized and has beautiful pictures; unfortunately, what it has for visual impact it sorely lacks in useful detail. The primary purpose for my purchasing the book were harvesting and storage options of vegatables. However for each plant covered, at best a sentence or two is offered. Best example of where it failed me - for carrots it offers 2 choices; refrigeration or long term storage buried in sand. No comment on canning, freezing, drying, etc -- and who in suburbia is going to have a box o' sand?

Other topics, garden design, tools, mulching are all treated on the same "high level" aspect. Its like reading a collection of highlights to chapters that somehow never made it to the printers.

While it might be useful for someone whose never worked in a garden before, or perhaps a child who is interested in learning about gardening, on the whole its little more than a well organized collection of interesting tidbits of knowledge. Its not worth the $45.00 cover charge in either case.

Seed Sowing and Saving: Step-by-Step Techniques for Collecting and Growing More Than 100 Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs (Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated)

Average customer rating:

Seed Sowing and Saving: Step-by-Step Techniques for Collecting and Growing More Than 100 Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs (Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated)
Carole B. Turner
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners
The New Seed Starter's Handbook
Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables
Secrets to Great Soil (Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated)
Saving Seeds: The Gardener's Guide to Growing and Storing Vegetable and Flower Seeds (A Down-to-Earth Gardening Book)

ASIN: 1580170013

Book Description

Hands-on instructions for sowing seeds from more than 100 common vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, and wildflowers.

Book Description

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Customer Reviews:

Lavender grower.......2007-08-24

This is a brief bulletin of information but still quite helpful. Ms. Barrett touches on the types, the maintenance and the uses of lavender. It's a small book, but I found tips and recipes in here that were missing in other lavender books. It's plain and simple, short and sweet. A very good basic reference book.

This little gem is so full of useful information.......2006-07-12

This little gem is so full of useful information it puts the other books I have on lavender to shame. Not only does it discuss the many varieties of lavender and their history and growing wants/needs. But one learns how to propagate, trim and use the various lavenders be it in bath items or medicinally, cooking or as gifts. I grow lavender and make various things from the plants but really want to try making the 'Net sachets' shown on page 24 which are gorgeous!

Bravo.......2005-09-06

This summer I planted 80 lavender plants in honor of my mom who recently passed away. This book has been a major part of the success my garden has achieved, with 2 harvestings of lavender to date. An excellent resource and inspiration for how to grow and use lavender

Average customer rating:

A good start
Excellent Manual

Growing and Selling Fresh-Cut Herbs
Sandie Shores
Manufacturer: Ball Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Industrial | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Entrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

New Business Enterprises | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Herbs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Growing Your Herb Business
Start Your Own Herb and Herbal Products Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up)
Growing Herbs from Seed, Cutting & Root: An Adventure in Small Miracles
Backyard Market Gardening: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Selling What You Grow (Good Earth)
Herbs for Sale: Growing and Marketing Herbs, Herbal Products, and Herbal Know-How (Bootstrap Guide)

ASIN: 188305236X

Amazon.com

Ready to turn your herb-gardening hobby into a business? Sandie Shores details the fundamentals of commercial herb growing in a thorough, well-organized reference. Written from the vantage of the author's 14 years of experience in the business, the information is practical and practicable. Profiles and anecdotes from other growers around the country are interspersed throughout the book.

The section on business basics starts with a thoughtful discourse on personal objectives and market research and continues with site selection and a thorough list of potential customers, from restaurants to distributors. The section on greenhouses for year-round growing includes practical discussion on materials and construction, interior layout, and systems design, so there's no need to purchase a separate greenhouse reference. Further discussion of growing methods focuses on sustainability, and pest-management suggestions include preventative awareness of life cycle and preferred environments. Handling and harvesting tips, uses, and specialized packaging advice are provided for 14 different herbs, inclusive of the wide selection found in the majority of markets today. Lesser-known herbs are touched on, as are edible flowers. A list of resources and support publications concludes the book.

The author takes the mystery out of this business, filling a near vacuum with this reference, but at the same time presents the potential hazards and attention required. One caveat: the black-and-white photos and sketches are generally useful, but one wishes for color pictures of the herbs themselves, given that part of the appeal of fresh herbs is the vibrant color and texture that promise romance to the nose and taste buds. --Molly McElroy

Book Description

This definitive guide for those looking to start or expand their own herb business focuses entirely on fresh-cut herbs for the grower who supplies restaurants or supermarkets, vends at farmers markets, or sells from her own retail space. Discussed are the value of a business plan and how to find the right niche for the business. Whether selling to supermarkets, wholesalers, brokers, or caterers, growers will benefit from these business tips. Valuable advice is provided on financing; honoring local zoning laws; creating invoices and packing slips; managing employees; pricing and marketing; maintaining accounts; and increasing business. All aspects of building a greenhouse are addressed, from selecting a prime location and building a structure to the equipment needed to grow, including lights, thermostats, benches, and irrigation systems. Other topics include growing and nurturing plants from germination through harvest; assessing the needs of different herb crops and edible flowers; and harvesting and packaging the finished product.

Customer Reviews:

A good start.......2004-09-06

It's obvious Sandie Shores put a lot of effort, time and heartfelt advice into this reference book, and it contains a lot of useful advice for the beginning grower.

I've been referring to this book for several years now; I have grown herbs for many years and built a greenhouse business around it. I would like to comment on a few shortcomings of this book, in hopes that those individuals choosing to go into the culinary herb growing field will refer to additional sources of information, rather than relying strictly on this one source.

One major problem is Ms. Shores' lack of emphasis toward maintaining *healthy* plants and how this effectively prevents disease and pests to begin with. She instead talks about how to deal with pests and diseases. The more I study disease and pest control, the more I find increased emphasis on maintaining healthy plants as the best defense. Growers are now becoming aware of techniques that increase brix in plants which is a natural pest fighter, and improving and restoring healthy soil conditions through organic practices and remineralization, or even adopting simplified and effective hydroponic techniques (e.g., VertiGro). Some of these effects can be sought through the use of Sonic Bloom, mineral dust, OceanGrown, composting, and using a TDS meter to measure solids in your water supply. I have found that by greatly increasing the plant's health I have been able to effectively fight disease and pests rather than resort to time-consuming and redundant spraying which only makes me feel like I'm sometimes fighting a losing battle.

I have found contradictory or missing information compared to other resources. I had to discover through another reference that I was overwatering my bay laurel trees; there is no mention in her book that they require less water than other plants. In fact, there is no mention on how much water to give bay laurel at all.

She says mint doesn't do well in containers--I have personally found that is the only way to grow them (otherwise they are too much work) and they do very well. Refer to "Bountiful Container" by McGee and Stuckey on how to successfully grow mint in containers.

There is no mention of White Dalmatian Sage, the best sage for culinary use.

Ms. Shores claims that French Tarragon must be allowed to go dormant in the winter. However, "Bountiful Container" describes a method where you can continue to grow it through the winter.

Ms. Shores says oregano is a slow grower; McGee and Stuckey say it's a rapid grower. I think it depends on the growing environment, but it can be a rapid grower given the proper conditions.

There is no mention of fusarium oxysporum under the basil section; I had to find a short description of it under the soil-borne diseases section. Shane Smith's book, Greenhouse Gardeners Companion, says it's believed that fusarium oxysporum now infects most of the world's supply of basil seeds. He recommended buying fusarium-resistant seeds and named the sources where you can buy them.

There also lacks a simplified reference to identifying plant problems. I tried looking up black spots on the basil leaves in this book but could not find any advice. Greenhouse Gardener's Companion has an excellent reference chart for looking up this kind of information.

Her sources for packaging supplies do not have what she lists in her appendix and her website. I've found other very useful vendors on the web that provide the same supplies.

Sometimes there was confusion whether she was talking about growing in the greenhouse versus field growing, or container growing versus bed growing.

If you're just starting out and will seek outside funding for your new herb business, the most important step is creating a detailed business plan. Even though there is a chapter devoted to business planning, there's no specific guidance on how to develop one. And here's some practical advice I've discovered on my own that you also won't find in this book: if you don't have experience as a grower professionally for many years, you won't even be considered for a bank or SBA loan. Smart Money magazine confirmed this with an article of theirs--banks will fund only 2% of new businesses, SBA only 6%, while 50% of new businesses will buy capital expenditures through the use of personal credit cards.

I've stopped producing plants for cutting and instead grow herb plants and container gardens (as well as others) to sell directly to the consumer. There is more satisfaction (and more money) in this, and when I discovered that wholesale distributors were selling basil in the middle of summertime for $5.50/lb, I knew I couldn't compete with those prices and pay myself a wage. Ms. Shores' book correctly states you will not get rich selling fresh cut herbs.

Ms. Shores does give excellent advice on building and maintaining a greenhouse, and how to efficiently harvest herbs for packaging and selling.

Great growing references: "Bountiful Container," "The Green Thumb Garden Handbook," "Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business," "Herbs in Pots," "Fresh Culinary Herb Production," "Basil: An Herb Lover's Guide," and ATTRA on the web.

Excellent Manual.......2004-07-03

I gained a lot of insight from this book and have been marking pages and referring to it constantly. I even followed the pattern mentioned for building raised beds and it is working out great. I would have liked to see more about growing organically.

It is definitely a great source for growing your own herbs. Highly recommended.

Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace
Average customer rating:

The best book for experienced gardeners new to greenhouses

Great Buy

M. Guenard

A "Must Have" Book

Start here for Help, greenhouse?

Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace
Shane Smith
Manufacturer: Fulcrum Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Greenhouses | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Herbs | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
House Plants | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Gardening in Your Greenhouse (Greenhouse Basics , No 2)

Ortho's All About Greenhouses (Ortho's All About Gardening)

Greenhouse Gardening: Step by Step to Growing Success (Crowood Gardening Guide)

In Your Greenhouse: A Beginner's Guide

Building Your Own Greenhouse (Greenhouse Basics)

ASIN: 1555911064

Book Description

Imagine savoring the taste of your own homegrown tomato, fresh from the vine, in February! How about harvesting fresh organic salad greens year-round, or stepping into a blossom-laden tropical paradise on the coldest of winter days? Today, greenhouses and sunrooms are real living spaces where gardeners spend as much time with a book and a cup of coffee as they do with a watering can and a pair of pruning shoes. In this fully revised edition of a best-selling classic, veteran gardener Shane Smith embraces this new lifestyle approach to greenhouse gardening.

Customer Reviews:

The best book for experienced gardeners new to greenhouses.......2007-09-16

Actually the title says it all. I wish I had time to read lots of books
about greenhouse gardening but I don't. An experienced gardener, I'm new to greenhouse gardening and struck gold when I bought this book. It isn't dumbed down and is fast and fun to read.

The book doesn't begin at square one but does explain the important differences between gardening in an outside
garden and a greenhouse. One example; the reason fans are needed during the day (while photo synthesis is taking place) is to prevent a CO2 deficient envelope from surrounding the leaves. Also, explaination of
how to pollinate in an environment with no birds or insects is helpful.
Varieties of vegetables and flowers are discussed and why certain ones are
better suited. Trouble shooting and "when things go wrong" chapters are
good. Also, I learned more than I thought was possible about light and the different qualities of light plants need. Again, advice on when a
less expensive alternative will work was very welcome.

I'm so happy I bought this book BEFORE our greenhouse is complete because
the chapters on design and environment have given me a master plan for the space we have. Also, throughout the book are money saving ideas and
words of warning from experience. This author knows his subject inside out, is very good at communicating and doesn't use 100 words when 50 will do. Buy the book-you won't be disappointed!

Great Buy.......2007-09-10

I purchased this book on previous recommendations listed and am very pleased that I did. Great book for those just starting to think about using a greenhouse or for someone who needs a few extra tips. Well written with good descriptions.

M. Guenard.......2007-08-26

This book is an absolute MUST for any Northern gardener!

Before I start raving about the different indispensible topics covered in this book, I will also mention that in the spring of 2006 I also bought "Gardening in Your Greenhouse, by Mark Freeman".

I`ve waited a year - virtually two growing seasons - and I'm ready to give my review(s). This is my first and only review so far on this site.

A year ago this spring, I had just ordered my 6 ml. polyethylene steel frame greenhouse & I read Freeman's book first. I was so discouraged I almost cancelled the order. When you live in Northeastern Vermont, the climate is jokingly referred to as "10 months of winter & 2 months bad skiing" (zone 4/sometimes 3 depending on the year). The whole point of having a greenhouse is to extend the seasons but Freeman's view on this subject seems to be; "Don't bother! When it gets cold it gets cold and unless you want to spend a fortune, you'll just have to live with it."(Not a direct quote but that's the gist you get from his book).

"The Greenhouse Gardener's Companion" on the other hand gives you all the tools you need to beat back the elements and enjoy the fruits of your labor when everything outside that flimsy sheet of plastic has long since died.

Shane Smith goes into extensive detail on how to build "Thermal Mass" in your greenhouse - the natural, non-electric heat sinks that will keep your greenhouse warm; barrels of water, jugs of water, brick, stone, gravel, etc. He also tells you exactly how to calculate just how much water (or other materials) you'll need to keep your greenhouse above acceptable growing temperatures using the square footage and the thickness of the glazing and of course your growing zone. He also gives spectacular examples of his research; sub-zero conditions and the actual temperatures inside greenhouses using appropriate thermal mass; e.g. a solar greenhouse in Wyoming on a night with -30F temps. with a 15mph wind & the temp inside the greenhouse at 32F heated only by thermal mass.

In the summer there's the opposite problem - how to keep the greenhouse cool. Smith describes the science of airflow & how to calculate the size and position of your lower and upper air vents to naturally siphon the heat through the space and create a natural cooling system (without fans!).

Unfortunately, I had set up my greenhouse before I read Smith's book, or I would have done a lot of things differently (at that point I had only read Freeman's book and was working on dogged determination and not much else). If I had read the "Greenhouse Gardener's Companion" I would have also put insulation around my 3-foot deep gravel base for instance. I had installed 6 vents near the bottom, which didn't seem to do anything to disperse the heat - but once I put in new vents according to Smith's calculations, the greenhouse virtually cooled itself. I do run one household fan near the upper vent but today I forgot; the outside temperature was 85F & the greenhouse temperature was only 92F. Need I say more!

Smith's book also covers all the essentials of greenhouse gardening including the unique problems of pollinating in a closed space and recommends self-pollinating varieties & other tricks to get things growing robustly. One of the other reviewers has suggested that no one would actually read this cover to cover, well I did, and it was a worthwhile read.

But the proof is in the pudding isn't it? In my zone, planting frost tender plants isn't recommended until the first or second week of June, with frost still possible. Well, I had almost all my seedlings in flats in my greenhouse by late April (this being my first spring I held back a little - I did keep my frost tender seedlings inside). On the other end of the scale, last fall we had tomatoes from the greenhouse in late October, and salad greens in November. This year I've added more thermal mass so who knows?

My conclusion: if you're a gardener who wants to keep growing when the nay sayers say you can't - buy The Greenhouse Gardener's Companion.

A "Must Have" Book.......2007-05-07

We just built a Growing Dome and needed a few books on greenhouse growing. This is the first one we grab for answers. Shane Smith is so complete, and he can relate to the extremes in our Western weather, affecting the greenhouse. Love this book. A great purchase.

Start here for Help, greenhouse?.......2007-03-25

5 Stars, to me that means read on my friend. Depending on your level of skill, I have none, but the desire was there. Ok, I got the Greenhouse when I moved in 14x14 freestanding, baseboard heat and plumbed, the owner was dead and nothing was hooked up or working. What do I do with it. what was it worth, should I tear it down or restore it. No one wants someone elses, headache or was it soon to be my white elephant. I needed help! I fixed the automatic ventilation, but how do I decide whats next and what's not. This book came recommended for getting my head on straight and not looking to far and checking first things first. Hey was the right kind of light getting through the 30 yr old fiberglass? What if the thing is all wrong... This book eased my mind into the basics and still has plenty to offer. Good reading if your planning or have adopted as I did. I'd loan you mine, but of course I am keeping it. I think you could save time and money.

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