The Everything Small-Space Gardening Book

by Abbott, Catherine

• ISBN13: 9781440530609
• ISBN10: 1440530602
• Edition: Original
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-18
• 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. However, you might think you lack the space necessary to grow a functioning garden. With this guide, however, you'll learn how to maximize your space and grow delicious vegetables and herbs cheaply and efficiently, whether you have a small backyard or just a windowsill! The book includes expert information on: How to align plants for maximum compatibility and organic pest deterrence Building small-space necessities, including self-watering containers and vertical planters A variety of plans designed to maximize the amount of food generated at several specific price points Productive gardening can and should be a reality for you, regardless of the amount of land you own. This book has everything you need to grow fresh produce in any size space, at any time of year!

Author Biography

Catherine Abbott grew up on a farm in Northern Alberta, where growing vegetables was a necessity in order to have fresh, healthy food. She grew vegetables in her suburban backyard until 2000, when she and her husband started All Organic Market Farm, a small-scale community vegetable farm. Additionally, for the past two growing seasons, she has been teaching classes on small-space gardening techniques, utilizing various methods to turn a 10-foot by 10-foot space into a productive vegetable garden. Catherine also maintains the popular website Your-Vegetable-Gardening-Helper.com. She lives in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.

Table of Contents

The Top 10 Tips for Small-Space Gardening	p. 9
Introduction	p. 11
Designing a Small-Space Garden	p. 13
Why Do You Want to Grow Vegetables?	p. 14
What Do You Want to Grow?	p. 15
Consider Your Climate	p. 17
Your Light Conditions	p. 18
Your Water Source	p. 20
Designing Your Site	p. 21
Prepping Your Small Space	p. 25
Your Soil	p. 26
Consider What Your Plants Need	p. 27
Drainage Concerns	p. 29
Backyard Composting	p. 30
Apartment Worm Composting	p. 33
Layered Gardens	p. 37
What Is Lasagna Gardening?	p. 38
Planning Your Site	p. 39
What Materials Do I Need?	p. 40
Gathering Materials	p. 42
Building a Layered Garden Bed	p. 44
The Best Plants to Use	p. 45
Maintaining Your New Garden	p. 47
Square-Foot Gardens	p. 49
What You Need to Know	p. 50
Benefits	p. 51
Disadvantages	p. 55
Getting Your Site Ready	p. 55
Plant Placement	p. 56
A Step-by-Step Garden Plan	p. 57
Vertical Gardens	p. 63
Things to Consider	p. 64
A Trellis	p. 65
Building Structures	p. 68
Living Walls	p. 71
Staking	p. 72
The Best Plants for Your Vertical Garden	p. 75
Container Gardens	p. 79
The Containers	p. 80
Container Soil	p. 81
What to Put in the Container	p. 83
Planting a Container	p. 85
Watering	p. 86
Fertilizing	p. 87
From Lawn to Garden	p. 89
Benefits to Front Yard Gardening	p. 90
Problems You May Face	p. 92
How to Get Started	p. 94
Steps to Making Your Garden Beds	p. 95
Choosing the Correct Plants	p. 97
Keep It Looking Good	p. 98
Backyard Gardens	p. 101
How to Get Started	p. 102
Are Raised Beds the Best Option?	p. 103
Building a Raised Bed	p. 105
Choosing Your Plants	p. 107
Vegetable Rotation	p. 108
Backyard Garden Design	p. 110
Reused and Renewed Spaces	p. 113
Reclaim an Old Garden	p. 114
Reinvent Your Flower Bed	p. 115
Straw-Bale Gardens	p. 117
The Tire Garden	p. 119
The Bag Garden	p. 120
Truck Garden	p. 122
Bathtub Garden	p. 123
Gardening High Up	p. 125
Balcony and Patio Gardening	p. 126
Window Boxes	p. 127
A Hanging Garden	p. 129
The Green Roof	p. 130
Rooftop Gardening	p. 133
Urban Gardening	p. 135
Community Gardens	p. 136
Collective Garden	p. 137
SPIN Gardening	p. 137
Community Shared Agriculture	p. 138
The School Yard	p. 139
Sidewalk Gardening	p. 140
Companion Planting	p. 141
Fundamentals of Companion Planting	p. 142
How It Works	p. 144
The Companion List	p. 145
Planting Your Companion Garden	p. 147
The Garden Plan	p. 152
Companion Garden Tips	p. 154
Veggies in Small Spaces	p. 157
Lettuce and Salad Greens	p. 158
Root Crops	p. 162
The Cabbage Family	p. 169
Peas and Beans	p. 171
Heat-Loving Veggies	p. 173
Everything Else	p. 181
Herbs for Small Spaces	p. 185
Growing Herbs	p. 186
Harvesting Herbs	p. 187
Drying Herbs	p. 188
Preserving Herbs	p. 189
Common Culinary Herbs	p. 189
Fruits and Berries for Small Spaces	p. 201
Is There Room to Grow Fruit?	p. 202
Fruit Growing Basics	p. 202
Berry Patch	p. 205
Grape Arbor	p. 209
Common Fruit Trees	p. 211
Tending Potted Fruits	p. 216
Bringing the Harvest to Your Table	p. 219
Tips for an Easy Harvest	p. 220
Knowing When to Pick Your Veggies	p. 221
Storage Tips	p. 226
Which Veggies Can I Freeze?	p. 228
Canning for Later	p. 229
Watering and Fertilizing	p. 231
Water: How Much Is Enough?	p. 232
Watering Methods	p. 233
Signs of Too Much or Too Little	p. 237
Is Fertilizing Necessary?	p. 240
How Much Is Needed?	p. 241
Water and Fertilizer Chart	p. 243
Choosing the Right Tools	p. 245
What Tools Do I Need?	p. 246
New Gadgets	p. 253
How to Stay on Budget	p. 253
Maintaining Your Investment	p. 254
Simple Solutions to Small-Space Problems	p. 257
Smart Plant Choices for a Healthy Garden	p. 258
What to Do with the Weeds	p. 259
Deterring Animals	p. 261
Common Pest Problems	p. 262
Plant Diseases	p. 264
Answers to Your Problems	p. 265
Gardening on a Budget	p. 269
Vegetable-Gardening Budgeting Tips	p. 270
Getting the Most Out of a $25 Garden	p. 275
Getting the Most Out of a $50 Garden	p. 277
Getting the Most Out of a $100 Garden	p. 278
Getting the Most Out of a $250 Garden	p. 279
Web and Book Resources	p. 282
Glossary	p. 285
Garden Vegetable Recipes	p. 288
Index	p. 298
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.