The Everything Grow Your Own Vegetables Book

by Abbott, Catherine

• ISBN13: 9781440500138
• ISBN10: 1440500134
• Edition: Original
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-10
• Publisher: Adams Media Corp

Summary

Vine-ripened tomatoes. Succulent squash. Plump cucumbers.Growing vegetables is a rewarding—and cost-effective—way to eat better for less. Yet many don’t know where to start. Author and farmer Catherine Abbott answers questions like: What is the best way to maximize my garden space? How do I get started growing food to sustain my family? Can I grow vegetables inside my house? How can I tell if my vegetables are primed for eating? Will I really save money by growing my own? You will find affordable tips on how to plant and harvest more than thirty common vegetables, from spinach and eggplant to corn and beans. Abbott’s expertise shines on planting, fertilizing, watering, weeding, and troubleshooting. This book haseverythingyou need to grow fresh, delicious veggies in any climate, any time of year!

Table of Contents

Ten Steps to a Bountiful Vegetable Garden	p. x
Foreword	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
Choosing a Garden Site	p. 1
Why Do You Want to Grow Vegetables?	p. 2
What Do You Want to Grow?	p. 3
Consider Your Climate	p. 4
The Importance of Sunlight	p. 7
The Water Source	p. 8
From Lawn to Garden	p. 9
City Gardening	p. 11
Your Garden Layout	p. 13
What Is Your Style?	p. 14
Design Decisions	p. 15
Pathways	p. 17
Choosing the Right Vegetables	p. 19
Consider What the Veggies Need	p. 21
Placement of the Plants	p. 22
The Garden Soil	p. 29
What Is Soil?	p. 30
What Is Your Soil Type?	p. 31
Soil Testing: Is It Important?	p. 33
Soil Nutrients	p. 34
Do You Fertilize?	p. 36
What Are Soil Amendments?	p. 37
Soil Preparation	p. 39
Veggies in Containers	p. 43
The Advantages	p. 44
Disadvantages to Container Growing	p. 45
The Best Veggies for Containers	p. 46
The Containers	p. 48
Container Soil	p. 50
Watering and Fertilizing	p. 51
Raised Beds	p. 55
The Benefits	p. 56
What to Consider	p. 57
Your Design	p. 58
Building Your Raised Bed	p. 59
Square Foot Gardening	p. 61
Gardening with a Physical Disability	p. 63
Greenhouse Gardening	p. 65
Extend Your Growing Season	p. 66
Protect Your Plants	p. 67
Cold Frames	p. 68
Plastic Tunnels	p. 70
Glass Greenhouses	p. 72
Greenhouse Maintenance	p. 73
Best Veggies for the Greenhouse	p. 74
Vegetable Seeds	p. 77
Choosing Seeds	p. 78
Starting Seeds Outdoors	p. 79
Transplants: Buy or Start Your Own?	p. 81
Caring for Your Seedlings	p. 83
Saving Seeds	p. 85
Salad Stuff	p. 89
Lettuce	p. 90
Celery	p. 91
Oriental Vegetables	p. 93
Salad Greens	p. 94
Spinach	p. 95
Swiss Chard	p. 97
Brassicas	p. 99
Broccoli	p. 100
Brussels Sprouts	p. 101
Cabbage	p. 102
Cauliflower	p. 104
Collards	p. 105
Kale	p. 107
Beans, Peas, and Perennial Vegetables	p. 109
Beans	p. 110
Peas	p. 112
Artichokes	p. 114
Sun Chokes	p. 115
Asparagus	p. 116
The Root Veggies	p. 119
Beets	p. 120
Carrots	p. 121
Potatoes	p. 123
Radishes	p. 125
Rutabagas and Turnips	p. 126
Garlic	p. 128
Leeks	p. 130
Onions	p. 132
Heat-Loving Veggies	p. 135
Corn	p. 136
Cucumbers	p. 137
Eggplants	p. 139
Okra	p. 141
Peppers	p. 142
Squash	p. 144
Tomatoes	p. 146
Tips for Raising Happy, Healthy Veggies	p. 149
Crop Rotation	p. 150
Companion Planting	p. 151
Protecting Your Plants	p. 153
Trellis and Staking	p. 155
Compost and Manure Teas	p. 157
Green Manures and Cover Crops	p. 159
Composting Basics	p. 161
The Benefits of Composting	p. 162
Choosing a Bin	p. 163
Composting Materials	p. 164
Making Compost	p. 167
Composting with Earthworms	p. 168
Problem Solving	p. 170
Easy Ways to Water	p. 173
Hand Watering	p. 174
Overhead Watering	p. 175
Drip Irrigation	p. 176
Signs of Underwatering	p. 178
Signs of Overwatering	p. 179
Combating Drainage Problems	p. 180
Controlling the Weeds	p. 183
Know Your Weeds	p. 184
What Weeds Can Tell You	p. 185
Weed Your Garden	p. 187
Mulch: Does It Work?	p. 188
Other Ways to Control Weeds	p. 189
The Benefits of Weeds	p. 191
Pests and Diseases: What Do I Do?	p. 193
Find the Problem	p. 194
Start with Healthy Soil	p. 195
Good Gardening Practices	p. 196
Keep Your Plants Healthy	p. 198
Use Natural Controls	p. 199
Harmful Pests Versus Beneficial Insects and Animals	p. 200
Common Diseases	p. 202
Harvesting Your Bounty	p. 205
Harvesting Tips	p. 206
Knowing When to Pick Vegetables	p. 208
Storage Tips	p. 211
Freezing Veggies	p. 213
Canning Veggies	p. 215
Top Gardening Tools	p. 217
Choosing the Right Tool	p. 218
Shovels	p. 219
Garden Fork	p. 219
Rake	p. 220
Hoe	p. 221
Trowel	p. 221
Wheelbarrow	p. 222
Garden Hose	p. 222
Sharp Knife	p. 223
Garden Gloves	p. 223
Garden Journal	p. 224
Cleaning and Sharpening Your Tools	p. 225
Troubleshooting	p. 227
Identify the Problem	p. 228
Garden Concerns	p. 229
Signs of Nutrient Deficiency in the Soil	p. 231
What's Wrong with My Plants?	p. 232
Specific Veggie Concerns	p. 233
Vegetable Pest and Disease Identification	p. 235
Organic Versus Nonorganic Vegetable Gardening	p. 239
What is Organic Gardening?	p. 240
The Organic Principles	p. 241
The Benefits of Eating Organic	p. 243
The Transition	p. 244
Plan for Next Season	p. 249
Did You Choose a Good Garden Site?	p. 250
Did Your Plants Get Enough Sunlight and Rainfall?	p. 250
Was the Garden Too Large or Too Small?	p. 251
Did You Have Too Many or Too Few Vegetables?	p. 252
Did You Have Pest Problems?	p. 253
Were Certain Diseases a Problem?	p. 254
Did You Have the Tools You Needed?	p. 255
What Do You Want to Try Next Season?	p. 255
Did You Have Fun?	p. 256
Web and Book Resources	p. 257
Glossary of Terms	p. 261
Vegetable Garden Recipes	p. 269
Index	p. 283
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