Desert Gardening [Paperback]

Brookbank (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 1991

An illustrated guide to growing plentiful fruits and vegetables in the driest of American climates.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Brookbank started his professional career as an Agricultural Officer in Tanganyika Territory in Africa. Since 1971 he has been Extension Agent, Urban Horticulture, at the Extension Garden Center of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He writes a weekly column for the Tucson Daily Citizen, has a Saturday morning radio show on stations KFLT and KGVY and a weekly television program on Channel 4 KVOA, and has a monthly call-in program on radio station KNST.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Revised edition (April 22, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555610021
• ISBN-13: 978-1555610029
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, April 17, 2001

By 

R. Eichner "Toy Fiend" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desert Gardening (Paperback)

This book fooled me at first glance. I browsed the bookstore and purchased several other books on gardening for hot, arid climates and passed on this book. The lack of color and the obviously amateur photographs in this book led me to believe that the text would be amateur too. This assumption was complete in error! After reading the other books I still didn't feel satisfied that I had received the knowledge I was seeking so I took a chance on this book. This book is very detailed and is really the only book I should have purchased. The author is conversational in his writing style which makes it easy to understand and to the point.

If you have tried gardening in Phoenix or other hot places you know that, with our very short growing seasons, the timing and preperation is critical. This book addresses both these issues and more. It tells you exactly how to prepare our basically "crappy" soil and goes week by week on the gardening activities such as planting, fertilizing, pruning, etc... Buy this book and you will soon realize that it is all you need to get started. The only other thing you need is your own practical experience.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding insight to gardening in a desert environment., March 31, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Twentynine Palms, CA (Mojave Desert)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desert Gardening (Paperback)

If you thought that only cactus grew in the desert, then this book will show you how to overcome that myth. This book goes over the fruits and vegetables that can be grown in the desert and will help you use the four seasons so as to make the most of your garden. The book goes into great detail of the makeup of the desert soil and how to improve it for your use. It explains how to make a compost pile, how to use the compost, and detailed information on the types of fertilizer to aid you in your quest of fresh and vegetables. The author gives advice on when to plant crops so you can grow vegetables and herbs year round. He explains why and how to take care of your fruit and citrus trees. This book is well worth the money to buy it, the time to read it, and the avoidance of frustration when gardening in the desert.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally sufficient knowledge for desert gardening, June 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Barstow CA The "high desert"!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desert Gardening (Paperback)

This complete desert gardening guide is the finest I have ever encountered. After trying to grow veggies and fruit in this dry high-desert for over 40 years, I have confidence that it will happen now. I highly recommend this for desert dwellers and as a much appreciated gift.