Growing Shoots, Peas and Beans: A Directory of Varieties and How to Cultivate Them Successfully

by BIRD RICHARD

• ISBN13: 9780754813286
• ISBN10: 0754813282
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-05-01
• Publisher: Natl Book Network
• More Book Details
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Summary

Shoots, peas and beans are some of the choicest and most delicious of the many vegetable crops available to the kitchen gardener. Shoots have edible stems and include asparagus, celery, celeriac, globe artichokes, rhubarb and seakale. Peas and beans are legumes and include garden peas, runner beans, green beans and fava beans. These vegetables are particularly flavorsome if they are home-grown and eaten soon after harvesting. The main types of shoots, peas and beans are described and illustrated with useful information about the different varieties that can be grown, their history, cultivation requirements and cooking uses. There is key advice on improving your soil, making compost and preparing the vegetable bed. The section on practical cultivation details essential information on growing and caring for each type of vegetable, from sowing to harvest, including dealing with any pests and diseases that may occur. Finally, suggestions are given on how to store the vegetables if you have a large crop. A must for the novice grower, the book also provides reliable information for the experienced gardener who wants to experiment with new varieties. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Richard Bird has been gardening since childhood and maintains an extensive kitchen garden where his passion for fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit is very evident. He has contributed to many publications and has edited the magazines Focus on Plants, The Hardy Plant, Alpine Gardening and the Alpine Garden Society's Bulletin. He is also a full-time author on gardening and plants and has written nearly 30 books on subjects as diverse as alpines and rock gardens, lilies, perennials, organic gardening and window boxes

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 6
Types of Shoots, Peas and Beans	p. 8
Asparagus	p. 10
Celery	p. 11
Celeriac	p. 12
Globe artichokes	p. 13
Rhubarb	p. 14
Seakale	p. 15
Peas	p. 16
Runner beans	p. 17
French beans	p. 18
Broad beans	p. 19
Planning and Preparation	p. 20
Types of soil	p. 22
Improving the soil	p. 24
Compost	p. 26
Soil fertility	p. 28
Digging the soil	p. 30
Sowing in the open	p. 32
Sowing under glass	p. 34
Garden tools	p. 36
Pests and diseases	p. 38
Growing organically	p. 40
Cultivating Shoots, Peas and Beans	p. 42
Growing asparagus	p. 44
Growing celery	p. 46
Growing celeriac	p. 48
Growing globe artichokes	p. 50
Growing rhubarb	p. 52
Growing seakale	p. 54
Growing peas	p. 56
Growing runner beans	p. 58
Growing French beans	p. 60
Growing broad beans	p. 62
Index	p. 64
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