Editorial Review

This is truly a one-stop comprehensive guide to organic gardening: it is a big book filled with techniques, definitions, solutions to gardening problems, and a huge listing of organic gardening resources.It's one of the most thorough guides I have seen for organic gardeners--it is well indexed and annotated, and covers all climate zones and growing conditions. If this book doesn't get your motor running about the garden, well, maybe you'll want to try a different hobby. I think it should be a part of any true gardener's library, covered with notes, muddy fingerprints, and with the well-worn pages. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Comprehensive
The Organic Gardener's Home Reference is a chart book, plant by plant, in alphabetical order, for vegetables, fruits and nuts, and herbs. The final two sections offer charts for controlling diseases and pests and suggestions for companion plants.
Organic Gardener's Home Helper
I have found this book to be loaded with helpful information.Some basic info, which we can forget, to detailed info to help with particular problems is wonderful.The best thing is, if the book gives you options to fix a problem, it tells you why it works and whether the method is a certain or uncertain fix.It covers everything from planting by variety to pests vs beneficial insests, fungus, soil, and a large index/appendices to lead you elsewhere if needed.It covers companions/ally planting quite well.The only thing I have noted which appears not to be covered is crop rotation.Great Reference book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Herb gardening    6. Organic    7. Organic gardening    8. Vegetable gardening    9. Vegetables   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Blueberries    3. Business & Economics    4. Business/Economics    5. Fruit Crops    6. Industrial Management    7. Technology & Industrial Arts   

Reviews (1)

Great read
Very informative and entertaining. I liked the "down home" stories and practical advise. Growing my own fruits and vegetables is very important in my attempt to establish a more self sufficient lifestyle. This book is a very enjoyable read from start to finish. Finding answers is also quick and easy. I'm looking forward to trying some of the tonics and also buying more of Mr. Bakers books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruit Crops    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. General    7. Techniques    8. Vegetable Crops    9. Vegetable gardening    10. Vegetables    11. Gardening / Vegetables   

Reviews (1)

A gem of a book for lovers of Monticell0--and fruit!
Peter J. Hatch, head of gardening at Thomas Jefferson's beloved plantation, Monticello, offers an authorative and edifying look at the orchards and fruits grown historically and today at this beautiful Virginiaestate.With much information -- both historical and practical -- the readeris taught much. And has a unique opportunity to know better not just ThomasJefferson, the man and statesman, but Thomas Jefferson the consummategardener.Beautifully photographed and illustrated, it's an elegant additionto any gardener's coffee table or library. And for the serious fruit groweror Monticello afficionado, a must. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1743-1826    2. Fruit    3. Fruits And Orchards    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Gardens    8. Homes and haunts    9. Jefferson, Thomas,    10. Monticello (Va.)    11. Orchards    12. Trees    13. United States - State & Local - General    14. Virginia    15. Fruit & vegetables    16. Gardens (descriptions, history etc)    17. Horticulture    18. Jefferson, Thomas    19. USA   

Editorial Review

Another impressive tome from Rodale Press, this practical text of nearly 1,000 pages covers organic gardening from the first soil preparation to the final harvesting and preserving. Read more

Reviews (4)

ORGANIC GARDENING FOR THE HOME GARDEN
There is no doubt that this book is the best that has ever been written on the subject of ORGANIC GARDENING. J.I. Rodale was years ahead of his time.

The gardener's Bible
The language is a bit stilted in places, and the photos are from the original publication date, but some things never change and gardening is one of them.
Everything you need to know about gardening all year is here
This review is for the copyright 1961 edition by J.I. Rodale, Eleventh Printing-November 1975.In this book, you will find chapters of planning the vegetable garden,starting with the soil, improving soil structure, fertilizing your soil, how to make compost, preparing the soil for planting, starting plants from seed, seeding, planting and transplanting outside, how to use mulches, summer garden care, watering and irrigating, when to harvest, fall and winter garden care, storing the surplus, controlling insects and disease, freezing and canning vegetables, marketing organic foods, growing vegetables in the greenhouse and year-round schedules of garden activity.There is also 16 chapters of fruit gardening.Index included. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruit culture    3. Fruit-culture    4. Fruits And Orchards    5. Gardening    6. Gardening / Horticulture    7. Gardening/Plants    8. Organic    9. Organic Gardening    10. Techniques    11. Vegetable gardening   

Reviews (3)

Very readable
I am doing a lot of apple reading for a personal project and found this book to be very helpful. On the same subject Browning's The Story of the Fruit of Temptation is good, andfor a wider view try The Story of the Apple by Juniper.

Lots of useful information in a small, affordable softcover.
I am impressed with the quantity and quality of information in this nice little book (it would fit in a vehicle's glove-box).It is written by professional apple folks -- nurserymen, orchardists, researchers, breeders and professors -- and the information is up-to-date, which includes several disease-resistant cultivars that were introduced relatively recently.There is instruction for planting, and even grafting, apple trees.An aspiring backyard orchardist would do good in buying this book, as it is especially written with this activity in mind.Example sections are: Restoring a Derelict Apple Tree, Planting an Apple Tree Hedge, and Using Apple Bags (to grow attractive fruit without pesticides being sprayed).
Great book
Library Journal
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Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Gardening / Fruit    6. HEALTH & FITNESS - EXERCISE TRD PB   

Reviews (2)

A Library Within This Book
One of my most-used books; I'm buying this copy for a wedding. Two negatives -- The cost is high, and even as I wish for more color photographs, I ponder how much the price would rise with them. Also, as a new gardener, I struggled with five-syllable foreign terms and phrases.But he compensates well.After "an inoculant called rhizobium that colonizes the roots of leguminous plants", he says, "Pull up some bean plants.If you can see small pinkish white nodules on the roots" then it's okay. (p. 125)
Best book I have ever read related to gardening!
I am an experienced gardener but I never fail to learn something new when I pick up this book.I have had my copy for over fifteen years but still find the information current. This book is a must for anyone who has every wanted to grow an edible garden. From cover crops to choosing apple tree varieties it's packed full of information.I only wish the author would write another similar book so I could buy it. I own most of the books written about edible landscaping and can say this is by far the best. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Climatic - General    2. Fruit    3. Garden Design    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Landscape    8. Vegetables    9. Gardens (descriptions, history etc)   

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Vegetable gardening    6. Vegetables    7. Fruit & vegetables   

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Regional - General    6. Tomatoes    7. United States    8. Gardening / General    9. Gardening / Vegetables   

Subjects:  1. Citrus    2. Control    3. Diseases and pests    4. Fruit    5. Fruit Crops    6. Gardening    7. Gardening/Plants    8. Health    9. Life Sciences - Zoology - Entomology    10. Pest Control In Horticultural Crops    11. Regional - General   

Subjects:  1. Cactus    2. Fruit    3. Gardening    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Juvenile literature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Plants - Cacti/Succulents    8. Succulent plants   

Reviews (3)

Exceedingly well conceived
I love this little gem!
Hard to find the other books in this 10 vol. set
I got this book as a "bargain" book at another big name book seller (bn) for about [cheap].I'm glad I did. Unfortunately, I have yet to use any of the ideas in it, but I have to wait until I get a bigger yard!The book's set up is nice, spiral bound w/fold out pages, great illustrations. The author makes it look so effortless.The instructions that I have read are very thorough, right down to the supplies needed. Over all a nice set up.

Useful applications...
KITCHEN GARDEN by Richard Bird is one of the many books I've acquired about growing comestibles outside the back door. When purchasing a book, I look for well presented, novel, and useful ideas. KG was printed in China and contains less than perfect but colorful and informative photos, and plenty of useful information. The book includes sections on: 1) vegetable (potager, salad bed), fruit (strawberry bed), and herb plots (taste of Asia); 2) container-grown fruit and vegetables for rooftops and patios; 3) climbing fruit and vegetables (bean arbors and pear tunnels); and 4) decorative beds and borders (apple border, herb border).Read more

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

Reviews (3)

The best of pumpkin books
Lovely photographs of the most festive of all fruits.I recommend this book for all fans of Halloween, fall, and gardening. I just love the combinations of orange, browns, and greens that are captured through these photos.It really gets me excited about the season despite the fact that I'm from Texas.

Delicious Year after Year
Around late August, I start craving something I don't even like the rest of the year. I start wanting Orange. Not the fruit, but the COLOR orange. I crave looking at the round, full orange texture of pumpkins. I have owned this book for several years, and every year I look forward to pulling it out with my other Autumn decorations. I set this book out with my other pumpkin books, but "Pumpkins" is definitely the main course! Pumpkins are photographed in a wide variety of settings, making each photograph fresh and interesting. I am even thinking about getting a second copy of this book to make framed pictures out of my favorite photographs. If you celebrate Autumn with a passion for pumpkins, this book is for you.

Pumpkins, Just Pumpkins, Are Sometimes Enough
All hail the icon of autumn, the pumpkin! This exquisite coffee table book has 72 pages of pumpkins and, thankfully, no text. There isn't much you can say about a food product that once nurtured the native Americans and nowoffers itself up in supplication to yearly mutilation in the name of JackO' Lantern, so why bother? Instead treat yourself to glorious lit and artdirected photos depicting fields of orange globes, pumpkins gently restingin the snow, and proudly standing guard on a porch backlight by a beautifulblue sky. The book is truly pumpkin pie for the eyes. I must warn you, youmay never again carve out a toothy grin on one of these again. Buy thisbook and get ready for fall. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Fruit    3. North American    4. Photo Essays    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Sale Books   

Reviews (2)

Buy This Book
I bought three books on canning and this book was the best.It is simple to understand, has pictures of the way things should look, such as the canning jars in a not water bath.I was canning tomatos and this book was so easy to follow.It listed the different methods for canning, as stating the best method. I'm a 1st time canner & this book was helpful.
I found this book in the library and used it for my first garden bounty--my first canned peaches, my first jam, and my first frozen green beans.Keeping the Harvest is informative, fairly comprehensive and simple tofollow. I'm buying it now so I'll be ready for next summer! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Fruit    4. Fruit Processing    5. General    6. Methods - Canning & Preserving    7. Preservation    8. Storage    9. Vegetable Processing    10. Vegetables    11. Cooking / Canning & Preserving    12. GARDENING / General    13. Preserving   

Reviews (3)

Fruits and Berries
I am very happy with this book.It you are looking forinformation about any berry or fruit you will find it in this book.If there is something special you are looking for, it will have it.So far anything I have wanted to know I have been able to find it in this book.It will tell you anything about blueberries from planting to prunning.As far as fruit trees I have found all the info I want on apples, peaches, plums, grapes and much more.I would recamend this book to any one who is just beginning to plant berries and fruit to one who already has been doing it for a while.
Useful Book
This is one of the better "backyard" books on fruit.I recommend it.

Rewiew of an amazing book.
In this book you'll find all you need to know to start your own fruit garden. Hill explains evrything in an easy to read, smooth flowing format. You'l love it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Fruit culture    3. Fruit-culture    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Fruit & vegetables    8. Gardening / Fruit   

Reviews (1)

If you're into heirlooms, this is for your library
With over 200 color photos (which is very good) and descriptions and history on over 500 varieties of heirloom vegetables, it's a good one to have on hand. Also includes brief sections on how grow, seed saving, pests, etc for each family of vegetable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Heirloom varieties    5. Vegetable Crops    6. Vegetable gardening    7. Vegetables    8. Consumer guides & advice    9. Fruit & vegetables    10. Gardening / Vegetables    11. Reference works    12. USA   

Reviews (1)

Resources and details for ornamentals as well as fruits
Gardeners having troubles tracking down that elusive variety will welcome the latest edition of The Plant Locator Western Region: an excellent reference. Jennifer Trehane's Blueberries, Cranberries And Other Vacciniums packs in technical growing advice about growing these varieties and more. The entire Vaccinium genus holds more than 400 species worldwide: her guide covers resources and details for ornamentals as well as fruits. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blueberries    2. Cranberries    3. Fruit    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Life Sciences - Horticulture    8. Vaccinium    9. Fruit & vegetables    10. Gardening / Fruit   

Reviews (1)

Don't judge a book by its cover!
Well, when the book first arrived, all I could think of were the types of books that were 'field guides to. . .' I actually considered sending itback as I thought it would be of little value--I HAVE NEVER BEEN MOREMISTAKEN!While the book gives the appearance that it is pure textbook instyle and format it was at least for me VERY informational, AND puttogether in a very readable format. There is an absolute wealth oftechnical information on berries and fruits but the book is also written sothat even the most berry-less person (myself) can easily use theinformation. The book contains a great section on the care of berries andfruits with several chapters on pruning. It also lists the berries andfruits individually with a chapter devoted to each. The chapters allcontain the same type of topics: overview, selection, care, disease,suggested cultivars for your zone, and anything unique about the cultivar.It is also very well photographed AND the illustrations are very helpful. Ifound it to be a valuable addition to my growing gardening library with agreat deal of very practical advice! ... Read more

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

Reviews (5)

Growing World Record Tomatoes
This book and the informative resources contained within its pages are invaluable to the garden tomato grower who wants more than just "average" tomatoes. I have already read each page several times over.

Great Tomato Book!
Having had the past growing season to try out the techniques in this book, I highly recommend it.While I live in an area where I may never have crops like Charles Wilbur, with the techniques he demonstrates in his book, I more than doubled my tomato crop this past season!That right there made this book worth it.

Grow More Tomatoes Than You Ever Thought Possible
I read this book cover-to-cover several times before preparing my 2001 garden.This system works.While I didn't get 30 foot tall plants like Mr. Wilber, I probably quadrupled my previous best results -- and that was only my first try.Everybody who saw my plants commented that they had never seen such healthy, productive specimens.(Wait until they see my plants next year!)Read more

Subjects:  1. Fruit    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Organic gardening    6. Techniques    7. Tomatoes    8. Vegetables    9. Fruit & vegetables   

Reviews (2)

Really helped us out with our new place
We recently bought a small farm and orchard and were simply overwhelmed about what to do with the fruit trees.Fortunately for us, the local feed store was selling this great little book.It covers the essentials for successful grafting and budding, includes the info needed so that the proper tools are acquired and/or used, when to do the different types of grafting and budding, as well as the definitions of the various types of grafting.

A Ripoff for Orchardists
This book is a 32-page flimsy pamphlet of the kind that your local Agricultural Extension Service often gives away for free.Read more

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