The Beginner's Guide to Growing Great Vegetables

by Lorene Edwards Forkner

Overview

“A comprehensive guide for growing vegetables and herbs filled with hands on advice and time-tested techniques.” —The American Gardener

You can grow beautiful, healthy, delicious veggies and herbs right from the start—just follow the trustworthy advice found in The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Great Vegetables. Expert gardener Lorene Edwards Forkner shares all the information you need to create a thriving garden, from facts about soil and sun to tips on fertilizing, mulching, and watering. Regional planting charts show what to plant when, and a month-by-month planner takes you from January through December. Profiles of popular edibles explain exactly how to plant, care for, and harvest your bounty. Whether your garden grows in the ground, on a balcony, or in containers on a sunny patio, this is your guide to grow-your-own success. Your backyard bounty awaits!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643260853
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/16/2021
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	507,324
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Lorene Edwards Forkner lives, works, and gardens in Seattle, Washington. She is the former editor of Pacific Horticulture and the author of The Handmade Garden and The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest.
 

Table of Contents

Preface 6

Acknowledgments 7

Get Started 9

Welcome to Gardening in North America 11

Gardening 101 19

Garden Planning 39

Get Planting 53

January Plotting and Planning 55

February Gardening Under Cover 63

March Go Outside 73

April Control Issues 85

May Ornamental Edibles, Pretty Tasty! 97

June Cultivating Delicious 109

July Summer Is Here 121

August Relax and Reap 131

September Renewed Energy 139

October Putting the Garden to Bed 149

November Feast Days and Storm Season 157

December Gifts from the Garden 165

Edibles A to Z 173

Resources and Services 211

Further Reading 214

Metric Conversions 215

Photo and Illustration Credits 216

Index 217

Editorial Reviews

For new and novice gardeners who want a straightforward, unfussy guide to growing their own food.” —Library Journal

“Lorene Edwards Forkner offers a comprehensive guide for growing vegetables and herbs filled with hands on advice and time-tested techniques.” —The American Gardener

“A comprehensive guide to gardening that goes well beyond being appropriate for just beginners… a refreshing overview with an emphasis on nurturing vegetables and herbs in the ground or in containers.” —The Oregonian

From the Publisher

★ 04/02/2021

The past year saw a boom in amateur gardening, as people stuck at home sought to save money, compensate for food shortages, and relieve stress. The latest title from Forkner (Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest) offers these new gardeners practical advice and encouragement in a friendly, unpretentious tone. Forkner begins with an overview of basic principles: growing regions in the United States and southern Canada, temperature, light, water, soil, seeds, sustainable practices, garden planning and design, and a short glossary of common gardening terms. Next up is a month-by-month guide with gardening to-do lists by region and articles related to that month's tasks (e.g., sowing microgreens in January, water-wise gardening in July). The final section is an A—Z list of common garden vegetables; each entry includes a photo, suggested varietals, basic information on growing and harvesting, and a table of planting and harvesting dates by region. To cover so much ground in a short book, Forker has sacrificed some detail and specificity. More experienced gardeners and those growing in challenging or unusual conditions should consult books focused on their specific needs. VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended for new and novice gardeners who want a straightforward, unfussy guide to growing their own food.—Janet Crum, Northern Arizona Univ. Lib., Flagstaff

Library Journal