Organic Gardening for Beginners: An Eco-Friendly Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs

by Lisa Lombardo

Overview

The ultimate starter guide to a naturally healthy home garden

Imagine cooking with organic tomatoes right off the vine or seasoning with fresh, homegrown herbs. Organic Gardening for Beginners shows aspiring home gardeners how to get started. Learn to raise dozens of fruits and veggies at home with sustainable and eco-friendly practices that protect the environment and produce safe, nutritious food—no grocery store required.

Discover what it means to keep a completely organic garden with tips, advice, and step-by-step instructions for planting the right plants at the right time, designing an efficient layout, and attracting the right pollinators to help every garden thrive. Organic Gardening for Beginners is a perfect recommendation for a summer activity or summer hobby.

Dig into organic gardening:

Getting started—Begin with an overview of the most popular types of organic gardening—from in-ground to containers—and decide which one works best in every space.

Natural growth methods—Find out how to choose soil, control pests with no chemicals, and combine the crops that grow well together.

Plant profiles—Get an explanation of each crop that breaks down what it needs to grow and what beginners need to know for success.

Grow your own thriving backyard ecosystem with expert advice on nourishing organic gardening.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648769658
Publisher:	Callisto
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

LISA LOMBARDO is a full-time gardener, homesteader, and author with a background in horticulture and landscape design. She grew up on a homestead and has raised her own food on urban, suburban, and rural lots for more than 30 years.

Table of Contents

Introduction x

Chapter 1 Growing a Naturally Healthy Garden 1

What Does Organic Mean? 2

The Root of a Productive Garden: Good Soil 2

No Pesticides, No Problem 3

Diversity Supports Garden Health 4

The Edible Garden as Part of a Larger Ecosystem 4

Let's Get Planning 5

Chapter 2 How Does Your Garden Grow? 7

Garden Setups and Landscaping Choices 8

Picking the Method That Works for You 15

Chapter 3 Soil, Glorious Soil 21

The Composition of Soil 22

Soil Preparation and Aeration 24

Soil Enrichment 26

Soil Mixes and Potting Medium 28

Composting 30

Chapter 4 Planning, Planting, and Tending Your Garden 33

Deciding What to Grow 34

Getting Started 36

Getting Enough Water 45

Getting Down in the Weeds 46

Harvest 49

Garden Cleanup 50

The Next Time Around: Crop Rotation 50

Chapter 5 Natural Pest and Disease Management 53

The Best Defense Is a Happy Plant 54

Building Your Garden's Natural Defenses 54

Natural Pest and Disease Control 58

20 Most Common Pests and Diseases 64

Chapter 6 An A to Z of Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs to Grow 73

Vegetables

Asparagus 74

Bean, String 75

Beet 76

Broccoli 77

Brussels Sprouts 78

Cabbage 79

Carrot 80

Corn, Sweet 81

Cucumber 82

Eggplant 83

Garlic 84

Kale 85

Lettuce, Leaf 86

Onion, Storage 87

Peas 88

Pepper, Bell 89

Potato 90

Pumpkin/Winter Squash 91

Spinach 92

Squash, Zucchini and Summer 93

Tomato 94

Fruits

Blackberry and Raspberry 95

Blueberry 96

Grape 97

Melon 98

Strawberry 99

Herbs

Basil 100

Chives 101

Cilantro 102

Dill 103

Parsley 104

Sage 105

Appendix 107

30 Insectary Plants to Protect Your Garden 107

30 Easy-Care Pollinator Plants 111

USDA Plant Hardiness Map 114

Glossary 115

Resources 118

References 119

Index 120

Editorial Reviews

Organic Gardening for Beginners does a fantastic job of covering all the things a beginner gardener needs to know to grow a productive garden to feed their family. Lisa shares from her vast experience of growing food to help the reader plan the garden, build the soil, deter pests, and harvest the produce using frugal, sustainable, and organic methods.” —Angi Schneider, author of The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables and Pressure Canning for Beginners and Beyond

“This is the introduction to growing food that every new gardener needs. Lisa Lombardo provides readers clear and concise information about site selection, soil health, and choosing crops, providing readers with the confidence to get growing. You’ll be enjoying fresh veggies from the backyard in no time!” —Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living

“I've used organic gardening methods my entire life and Lisa did an amazing job with this book! From natural pest treatments to the growing chart, there is something to learn for any level of gardener. For gardeners wanting to avoid toxic chemicals, the addition of companion plants to aid in natural pest control makes this book complete. A full comprehensive guide to organic gardening for beginners.” —Amber Bradshaw, My Homestead Life, author of The Beginner’s Guide to Chicken Breeds, Beekeeping for Beginners, The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats, and The Intermediate Guide to Raising Chickens

“Lisa's book, Organic Gardening for Beginners, takes the guesswork out of what methods do and do not work when establishing an organic garden. Lisa covers every aspect of gardening from the layout to soil management, what to plant based on growing zones, and how to naturally address pests and manage disease. You will learn to garden as your great grandparents once did, in partnership with the earth with natural options.” —Ann Accetta-Scott, founder of A Farm Girl in the Making and author of The Farm Girl's Guide to Preserving the Harvestand

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