Reviews (23)

Great Book. Quick Shipment. Greaat seller.
The book was delivered in a timely manner, well packaged. Would buy from this seller again.

The author enthusiastically shares his passion and experience with grape growing and winemaking
This book is clearly written and easy to read. In addition to the educational aspects, the author effortlessly recounts his own home winemaking experience and shares his passion for it. I found the tables and calculations extremely helpful. A lot of attention is paid to describing the technology and chemistry of the homemade wine. However, the author puts even more emphasis on choosing and correctly growing the right grape at the right place and calls it "your single most important decision". That's why the first chapters on the grape varieties and basic viticulture techniques are especially helpful for beginning grape growers. I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it!
WoW what a book !!!!
I have read a lot about this book so I had to have it. I recently bought a small vineyard in Slovakia and I have tons of local books about winemaking. I am a real newbie and after I read these books I had an idea how to make wine, but that was not enough. I always had tons of questions, which I did not know who to ask. Well Jeff Cox answers them. When he describes the wine making process he does that very precisselly that a newbie like me would underestand it. I am looking forward to use his tips this autumn. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Fruit    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Organic    7. United States    8. Viticulture    9. Wine and wine making    10. Wine and winemaking    11. COOKING / Beverages / Wine & Spirits    12. Gardening / Fruit    13. Wines   

Reviews (8)

The most comprehensive book on fruit out there
I thougherly reccomend this book to anyone interested in fruit. It is so great it has heaps on cool info on all your favorite fruits (including the elusive Jack Fruit and the fantastical Banana rescently voted the worlds number one fruit by readers of fruit monthly, a subsidery of Fruit.com) Get this NOW!

Best single source on 100+ tropical fruits
Everything one needs to know before investing in tropical fruits.All cultural and horticultal issuses are covered as well as other uses of the plants.Morton even covers related species and major nutritional values. Good but expensive
This book is a real wonder book for any fruit lover who wants to do more than just plant fruit trees.Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruit Crops    3. Fruit-culture    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Tropical fruit   

Reviews (2)

Good find for apple growers, or potential growers!
I think this a very well written, well laid out book that could help you get started in the apple orchard business. The thing that I find most interesting about this book is that you don't need to be dedicated to organic methods to learn an enormous amount from this book. It is full of general information to aid in the whole process of growing apples.

The Apple Grower by Michael Phillips
The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist
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Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Apples    3. Fruit    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Organic    8. Organic farming    9. United States    10. Organic gardening   

Reviews (4)

Wealth of knowledge
Loaded with good no-nonsense information on preparing a productive garden in an efficient and economical manner.

gardening when it counts
I own Steve's previous book and have gardened for years using his method. This book explains in great detail how plants grow and survive down to the line drawings of root structure for most vegetables. That helped me to understand just how important it is to space my plants correctly. His description of how to manage the soil before planting is great! I can't wait to get out in the garden and amaze my neighbors!!

A good, basic, orgainic vegtable gardening book
This is an excellent vegetable gardening book. Although Mr. Solomon has moved to Tasmania and now expands his scope to much of the English speaking world; if you have read his "Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades", you will find much that is familiar here.If not, you will find excellent information on seeds, where to buy them, how to prepare the garden bed and plant them, how to choose and maintain quality tools, composting and fertilizing, pest and disease problems, irrigation, and some specific plant growing advice.
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Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. General    6. Organic    7. Vegetables    8. Gardening / General   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (1)

Detailed and lucid
I have an extensive home orchard with 56 trees (18 varietals) of fruit and nut trees.This little volume covered everything I needed in a short, erudite and amazingly well-detailed volume.I live in the Southeastern US and this book was spot on everything from blueberries to stone fruits and pears and apples, (not to mention Walnuts and Filberts).It covers everything from soil preparation, pruning, fertilization, pests and diseases, propagation, healing-in, ad infinitum.I have nearly every book available on fruit and nut production for the home orchard.This is the best one I own by leaps and bounds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit Crops    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. General    6. Home Gardening    7. Crop husbandry    8. FLOWER GARDENING    9. FRUIT-CULTURE    10. Fruit & vegetables    11. Gardening / Flowers / General    12. Fruit   

Reviews (11)

Very Informative
I found this book very informative and comprehensive in answering my questions and concerns with my trees and how to care for and protect them. I highly recommend reading this book to others who have equal concerns and interest in the care of fruit trees.

Get Ready for Spring
If you have found it difficult to move beyond dreaming about a backyard orchard, this book is such a powerhouse of information that you will confidently plant a pair of fruit trees knowing that they will not drown, succumb to drought or disease, and not be defoliated by Japanese beetles.You'll even know how to prune them so that the branches grow outward rather than straight up, thus allowing in the sunlight needed to ripen your fruit.
Great Stuff!
When I ordered The Backyard Orchardist, it came in timely fasion, and was in perfect condition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Fruit    3. Fruits And Orchards    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Trees    8. Crop husbandry    9. Fruit & vegetables    10. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (2)

A Must Have
Part III of the "trilogy" is a beautifully done book that you will read again and again. It introduces you to some of the top growers in the world and gives the latest growing techniques. I would suggest getting part II as well.

What A GREAT BOOK!!
This is a great follow up to the other two books. It goes into great detail about genetics inparticular. It also covers just about everything else very nicely. As a pumpkin grower myself this book helped me grow a 370.6 pound pumpkin my first year! You could grow one too with the expert advice of this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Vegetables   

Editorial Review

In the late 20th century, unfortunately, berries are seen primarily in the supermarket at certain times of year, and while this is welcome, it used to be that everyone had a few berry bushes in the backyard: some currants, some gooseberries and a few rhubarb plants. Stella Otto explains how to bring this tradition back and raise lush crops of berries and fruit with pointers on soil nutrition, plant nutrients and mulching that will make your home-grown berries the envy of folks who only see them in the supermarket. This mouth-watering book will get you going. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Backyard Berry Book: A Hands-on Guide to Growing Berries, Brambles, and Vine Fruit in the Home Garden
Very helpful. We have learned new techniques to try for our berry growing next season. Good source for information for the beginner and not so new gardener both.

Good, but not great
This book offers rather generic information on growing a variety of fruits, most of which will be old lore to experienced gardeners. While it would be difficult to be comprehensive with regard to varieties of given fruits, more attention could have been given to them.Also, more specific information on individual fruits and varieties would have been welcome, particularly with regard to site preparation and pruning.The illustrations are poorly drawn and thus not particularly useful.

Berry Growing Basics for Beginners
Stella Otto uses plain language and ample illustrations to cover the basics of growing small fruit.Her book contains separate chapters for strawberries, blueberries, brambles, grapes, kiwis, gooseberries, currants, lingonberries and even rhubarb in the backyard garden. The coverage of varieties of each fruit and varietal differences is good, which is why each fruit requires a chapter.
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Subjects:  1. Berries    2. Fruit    3. Fruit-culture    4. Fruits And Orchards    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Varieties    8. Viticulture   

Reviews (2)

Semi-formal vegetable garden?
The concept of edible landscaping is given a boost toward a practical and beautiful kitchen garden in this book.The history behind kitchen gardens ("potagers", that is gardens designed around culinary use rather than solely appearance) is interesting and lively, and the sections on a few modern garden case studies is useful.
A great read on vegetable garden design. Buy It.
`Designing the New Kitchen Garden, An American Potager Handbook' by professional garden design consultant, Jennifer R. Bartley is a very serious book, absolutely perfect for the zone 6 snowbound gardener to buy in December, when nothing is growing, and it's even too cold to start hardscaping projects.
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Subjects:  1. Design    2. English Garden Design And Planting    3. Fruit    4. Garden Design    5. Gardening    6. Gardening / Horticulture    7. Gardening/Plants    8. Herbs    9. Kitchen gardens    10. Organic gardening    11. Vegetable Crops    12. Vegetable gardening    13. Vegetables    14. Fruit & vegetables    15. Gardening / Garden Design   

Reviews (3)

A great book!
This is a very well written and interesting book, for anyone wanting to get into the hobby/sport ofgiant pumpkin growing. In fact, I would consider it a must! There is a lot of good quality photography, appropriateto the subject.

It's the Pumpkin Grower's Bible
We ordered 40 books for sale at our 2nd Annual Pumpkinfest in Beautiful Prince Edward County. They sold out completely before Christmas. Looks like we will need some more before our seed Seminar in March.This book is amust if you are interested in growing Giant Pumpkins.

The best place to start ,in giant pumpkin growing.
Don has done a masterful job of initiating the first time grower into the exciting world of giant pumpkin growing.Easy to follow hands on advice. This book is the place to start ! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Pumpkin   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Gardening    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Fruit    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Preschool Informational Books    7. Pumpkin    8. Science & Nature - Flowers & Plants    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Nature / Flowers & Plants   

Reviews (1)

Pumpkins is great in the classroom
This book has everything you could posibably want or need in it. It is a valuable resource for the classroom for Fall activities across the curriculum. It has poems, recipes, history, and web sites listed right in it, and many other great ideas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Cooking & Food    4. Fruit    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Pumpkin    9. Pumpkins    10. Science & Nature - Flowers & Plants   

Subjects:  1. Vegetable gardening    2. Gardening/Plants    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Regional - South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA    5. Regional - General    6. Herb gardening    7. Gardening / Regional / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)    8. Fruit    9. Vegetables    10. Nuts    11. Fruit-culture    12. Gardening    13. Alabama   

Reviews (3)

Simply the Best
This book fooled me at first glance.I browsed the bookstore and purchased several other books on gardening for hot, arid climates and passed on this book.The lack of color and the obviously amateur photographs in this book led me to believe that the text would be amateur too.This assumption was complete in error!After reading the other books I still didn't feel satisfied that I had received the knowledge I was seeking so I took a chance on this book.This book is very detailed and is really the only book I should have purchased.The author is conversational in his writing style which makes it easy to understand and to the point. Totally sufficient knowledge for desert gardening
This complete desert gardening guide is the finestI have ever encountered.After trying to grow veggies and fruit in this dry high-desert for over 40 years, I have confidence that it will happen now. Ihighly recommend this for desert dwellers and asa much appreciated gift.

An outstanding insight to gardening in a desert environment.
If you thought that only cactus grew in the desert, then this book will show you how to overcome that myth.This book goes over the fruits and vegetables that can be grown in the desert and will help you use the fourseasons so as to make the most of your garden.The book goes into greatdetail of the makeup of the desert soil and how to improve it for your use. It explains how to make a compost pile, how to use the compost, anddetailed information on thetypes of fertilizer to aid you in your questof fresh and vegetables.The author gives advice on when to plant crops soyou can grow vegetables and herbs year round.He explains why and how totake care of your fruit and citrus trees.This book is well worth themoney to buy it, the time to read it, and the avoidance of frustration whengardening in the desert. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Desert gardening    2. Fruit    3. Fruit Crops    4. Fruit-culture    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Hydroponics    8. Organic gardening    9. Regional - General    10. Vegetable Crops    11. Vegetable gardening    12. Vegetables    13. Fruit & vegetables   

Reviews (5)

Important questiones unansewred.
Very basic information at best. Not really much help if you are seriously thinking of growing your own grapes. Many questions, like what variety should I grow, in not addressed properly as far as a Merlot or Cabernet etc. In fact the word "Merlot" is not even in the book! How far apart should the vines be planted? Beats me! I guess I'll have to look in another book.

Probably a helpful read if startinga home vineyard
I thought this book was mediocre at best.I was surprised whengot it because it is a small book. I have read others on grape growing and wine making and this didnt hit the top of the list.I was a little surprised because some of the important info of this book contradicted other books which makes me think that there are different methods to do certain things.The book has some very good ideas, but it can sometimes be hard to understand.I found many of theillustrations and tables hard to understand.Being an amateur grape grower, I guess i just had more questions than the illustrations and explanations could answer.Some chapters are very good.For example there is one that talks about specific diseases; this would be a good reference for the amateur grape grower.
Western States Beware.....
If you have simply a curiosity on how to grow grapes, this book will suffice.It reads like a large brochure.However, important topics, such as choosing an appropriate vineyard site, are fully explained in only half a page.The illustrations are few and very poorly drawn, as well as some being so small one needs a magnifiying glass to read them.A few paragraphs are so poorly written (J. R. McGrew), they need to be re-read multiple times.Most importantly, this book is written strictly for the EASTERN UNITED STATES... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Fruit    5. Gardening    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Reference   

Reviews (4)

No California or Southwest
Covers strawberries, brambles, blueberries, and grapes very well. Other vine crops, such as kiwis, are covered too briefly to be of any value. Western gardeners beware
In the intro, the author warns (paraphrasing) that her experience is mostly in the eastern and midwest US - and her comments will be of most value for gardeners in those regions. That is a fair thing to state.. What I have a problem with, is the complete neglect of the Southwest - to the point I sensed that she doubts people even garden there - and its all commercial growers. A very useful book
Barbara Bowling's book is well organized and well worth owning. There's an opening chapter about the general principles for growing all kinds of berries (or small fruits, as they are called, not because of the size of the fruits, but because of the size of the plants they grow on). Then, surprisingly, there is an interesting chapter about using berry plants for landscaping. It says, for instance, that elderberry bushes make good hedges.Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruits And Orchards    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Home Gardening    7. Fruit & vegetables    8. Gardening / Fruit   

Reviews (3)

Old Southern Apples
Great Book.If you like apples, get this book and you'll become passionate about apples.Great history on old apples grown in the old south, most of which are now very rare.This book made this transplanted Yankee feel like an old southern rebel farmer.

An excellent reference and history of old apple varieties
This book successfully conveys what is lost when an old apple tree is cut down.It emphasizes the importance of apples throughout the history of the south.Furthermore, it provides excellent descriptions of the manyvarieties of old southern apples.The research that went into creatingthis book was obviously tremendous.The descriptions include over 1600varities of apples. Throughout the book, the author is able to relate hisgreat enthusiasm for old apple varieties as well as a profound sense ofloss over the destruction of an important part of Southern heritage. "Old Southern Apples" has even inspired me to start my own searchfor the old varieties of apple trees.This is a resource that no Southernfruit grower should be without.

An excellent reference and history of old apple varieties
This book successfully conveys what is lost when an old apple tree is cut down.It emphasizes the importance of apples throughout the history of the south.Furthermore, it provides excellent descriptions of the manyvarieties of old southern apples.The research that went into creatingthis book was obviously tremendous.The descriptions include over 1600varities of apples. Throughout the book, the author is able to relate hisgreat enthusiasm for old apple varieties as well as a profound sense ofloss over the destruction of an important part of Southern heritage. "Old Southern Apples" has even inspired me to start my own searchfor the old varieties of apple trees.This is a resource that no Southernfruit grower should be without. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Apples    2. Fruit    3. Fruit Crops    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. History - U.S.    7. Southern States    8. United States - State & Local - General    9. Varieties    10. American history    11. Fruit & vegetables    12. Local history    13. USA   

Editorial Review

This is a book for the true tomato snob who is not content withthe ordinary red beefsteak weighing heavily on the vine at the end ofsummer. Yellow, pink, green, and orange tomatoes are all part of this guide to heirloom varieties, many of which are only available through catalogsor through an organization called the Seed Savers Exchange.Read more

Reviews (28)

Great Book
Enjoyed the book enough to buy another to give to my tomato-growing son.Also hooked me to the point of buying three other tomato books from Amazon. The author posts regularly on various tomato websites. Great photographs. For the price that Amazon sells this book - you cannot go wrong.

Emily White knows "snob" quite well
After reading Miss Emily Whites "editorial" comments...it would seem that "snob" is a term that Miss White throws about because of close association with the same.
100 is not enough!
This is a great book.I especially love the pictures with cross-sections of each tomato so you can see the meatiness before you buy.I also appriciate that the taste of each one is described in detail.My only complaint is that a lot of great tomatoes are missing from this book.I hope the next volume has about 500 varieties to truley reflect the unique color, taste and shape variations in heirloom tomatoes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Heirloom varieties    6. Tomatoes    7. Vegetable Crops    8. Vegetables    9. Fruit & vegetables    10. GARDENING / Fruit    11. Gardening / Vegetables    12. Horticulture   

Reviews (15)

Ordered by accidentally but....
I asked my wife to get me for xmass Jeff Cox's book "From Vines to Wines". Accidentally she put also "The Grape grower" to the basket. Well I am not sorry. The book is full of usefull information about the process of growing grapes. I like the authors attitude towards local grapes. Some of them are grown also here in Hungary, but they are forbiden here, because they are not from the Vitis Vinifera. People do grow them, but there is not too much information about them. Thanx for the great info !!!

The Bible of Viticulture
The secret to success in any growing venture is to know the facts, and plant and maintain your garden accordingly.Lon Rombough, who has been growing grapes in Oregon for over 36 years, provides extremely thorough information on siting and establishing the vineyard, training and pruning the vines, pests, diseases and animal pests, propagation and breeding.This book covers EVERYTHING the small grower needs to know.
Burn your General Viticultures and Biology of the Grapevines
This book contains absolutely everything you need to know about growing grapes, and is the best value for your dollar on the market today.
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Subjects:  1. United States    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Organic    4. Viticulture    5. Fruit & vegetables    6. Organic gardening    7. Fruit    8. Gardening/Plants    9. Gardening    10. Grapes   

Reviews (1)

Excellent book!Open your garden to a wonderful range of unique edibles.
Lee Reich has complied a wonderful, detailed listing of "the fruits less planted".His style is very readable and the photos and illustrations compliment the written material very well.Detailed information on plant descriptions, cultivation, propagation and recommended cultivars.His vivid plant descriptions are enough to make your mouth water, and he has purposely focused on fruits that are relatively low maintenance and disease free.Plants also vary in size, so there are options for those who use containers to those who have room for full grown trees. I enjoyed the book very much, and look forward to adding many of these plants to our homestead. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruit-culture    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Fruit & vegetables    7. Gardening / Fruit