The Edible Garden: Vegetables and Herbs; Berries; Fruit Trees, and Citrus; Organic Techniques, Pruning and More

Good book

This book quickly became one of our primary gardening resources. Technique descriptions, like french intensive methods, building raised beds, espaliers, small-space gardens, vertical gardens and more have been very helpful in our planning. The A - Z section on individual plants is excellent. I've learned a lot from The Edible Garden.

I am gardener in South Louisiana and though some of the cultivars mentioned in this book are difficult to grow here there are many that will work in the south. This book is full of projects, information on cultivars, diseases, and things to plant in different seasons. Great photos too! RH

Whether you are a master gardener or a beginner, this book would make a fine addition to your library. It is an excellent "how-to", with many color photos (distant and close-up for detail) and nicely-done illustrations. No, this is not a "hoity-toity" book that is out of most working peoples' price range - it covers the spectrum of gardeners out there, from the most independent "do-it-yourselfer" to those who want to give ideas to their contractor or hired gardener. The topics cover not only traditional "in ground" gardening but also touch on urban gardening, raised bed and container gardening, not to mention cold frames and overwintering non-zoned plants. Speaking of traditional gardening, this book also covers innovations for traditional beds; my favorite being a grid-shaped trellis for keeping the Asparagus bed neat. The book also touches on: * Making a "formal" garden with edibles; * Edible flowers and scented edibles; * Beneficial insects; * How to make chidrens' garden spaces (and how to get the kids involved); * Making attractive but still very functional critter-proof fencing (deer and groundhogs, to name a few); and * How to overwinter non-hardy plants and trees, especially in regards to growing container citrus trees. If you're just starting out into gardening, this would be a "must-have" book for you. If you've some gardening experience under your belt, this is still an excellent book to have as it has innovative but still very useful and functional ideas for your garden and yard. All in all, five stars for the book. I just wish it was longer - 192 pages was just a teaser.

I've looked at a lot of gardening books in my day, and this one is the best I've seen for growing herbs, fruits and vegetables. It's thin and not a page is wasted. The bulk of the book is profiles for different types of fruits/herbs/veggies, telling you when to plant, how to plant, how to maintain, and how to use in cooking. It also includes useful tips on everything from extending your growing season and getting rid of pests, to how to arrange plants and espalier your apple trees. Fascinating and easy to use with beautiful pictures! I read the whole thing in one sitting!

The Edible Garden is a practical, easy guide to growing fresh fruits and vegetables. There are a host of unusual ideas here, from kid-friendly projects to different techniques, streamlining gardening processes, and handling diseases, crop rotation needs, and special care. A fine beginner's guide.