California Fruit & Vegetable Gardening: Plant, Grow, and Eat the Best Edibles for California Gardens

by Claire Splan

Overview

California abounds with edible selections to grow in the diverse conditions of the state. California Fruit & Vegetable Gardening addresses the critical elements of climate, soil, sun, and water that affects growing success. More than sixty fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers are highlighted, and helpful charts and graphs for planning and planting the garden are included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591865285
Publisher:	Cool Springs Press
Publication date:	04/23/2012
Series:	Fruit & Vegetable Gardening Guides Series
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	611,087
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.86(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Claire Splan is a gardener and freelance writer in Alameda, California. After buying her first house in 2002, she began taking horticulture classes and remaking the gardens at her home, writing about her experiences there and her growing interest in gardening and environmental issues at her garden blog, An Alameda Garden (alamedagarden.blogspot.com). A member of the Garden Writers Association, Claire has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Rosebud, and Firsts magazine and reviews gardening books for the New York Journal of Books (www.nyjournalofbooks.com). She has degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of San Francisco and has studied landscape horticulture at Merritt College. Claire is the author of Cool Springs Press' California Fruit and Vegetable Gardening (2012) and California Month-by-Month Gardening (due to publish in 2014).Blog: http://alamedagarden.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/AlamedaGardenerNY Journal of Books: http://nyjournalofbooks.com/reviewer/claire-splan

Table of Contents

Dedication 6

Acknowledgments 7

Where in California are You? The Usda Hardiness Zone Map 8

Gardening In California 11

Growing Tour Own: The Garden 15

How to Get Started 16

Starting at the Beginning with Seeds 34

Creating the Perfect Soil 42

Watering & Other Necessities 50

Pests & Diseases 61

Bugs 62

Diseases 76

Fruits, Herbs, Nuts & Vegetables 87

Almond

Apple

Apricot

Artichoke

Asparagus

Avocado

Banana

Basil

Bean

Beet

Blueberry

Brambleberry

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Carrot

Cauliflower

Celery

Cherry

Cilantro

Citrus

Corn

Cucumber

Eggplant

Fig

Garlic

Grape

Guava

Kale

Kiwi

Kohlrabi

Leek

Lettuce

Loquat

Melon

Okra

Olive

Onion

Parsley

Parsnip

Passion fruit

Peas

Peach

Pear

Pecan

Pepper

Persimmon

Pineapple guava

Plum

Pomegranate

Potato

Quince

Radish

Rhubarb

Spinach

Squash

Strawberry

Sweet potato

Swiss chard

Thyme

Tomato

Turnip

Glossary 226

Resources 233

For Further Reading 235

Photography Credits 237

Garden Notes 238

Index 248

Meet Claire Splan 255