The Edible Garden (Sunset) [Paperback]

Editors of Sunset Books (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0376031700 | ISBN-13: 978-0376031709 | Publication Date: November 1, 2004 | Edition: 1

Putting delicious food on the table doesn't get more fulfilling-or fresher-than this!Whether you have a tiny rooftop plot or a serious chunk of dirt, The Edible Garden is packed with practical advice for designing a horticultural haven that's as tasty as it is beautiful-just think of it as art you can eat! This appealing text covers tried-and-true methods as well as more avant garde approaches to growing herb gardens, vegetable plots, fruit trees, edible flowers, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sunset Publishing Co.; 1 edition (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0376031700
• ISBN-13: 978-0376031709
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent addition to any gardening library, July 8, 2006

By 

gemflint "gemflint" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edible Garden (Sunset) (Paperback)

Whether you are a master gardener or a beginner, this book would make a fine addition to your library. It is an excellent "how-to", with many color photos (distant and close-up for detail) and nicely-done illustrations.

No, this is not a "hoity-toity" book that is out of most working peoples' price range - it covers the spectrum of gardeners out there, from the most independent "do-it-yourselfer" to those who want to give ideas to their contractor or hired gardener.

The topics cover not only traditional "in ground" gardening but also touch on urban gardening, raised bed and container gardening, not to mention cold frames and overwintering non-zoned plants. Speaking of traditional gardening, this book also covers innovations for traditional beds; my favorite being
a grid-shaped trellis for keeping the Asparagus bed neat.

The book also touches on:

* Making a "formal" garden with edibles;

* Edible flowers and scented edibles;

* Beneficial insects;

* How to make chidrens' garden spaces (and how to get the kids involved);

* Making attractive but still very functional critter-proof fencing (deer and groundhogs, to name a few); and

* How to overwinter non-hardy plants and trees, especially in regards to growing container citrus trees.

If you're just starting out into gardening, this would be a "must-have" book for you. If you've some gardening experience under your belt, this is still an excellent book to have as it has innovative but still very useful and functional ideas for your garden and yard.

All in all, five stars for the book. I just wish it was longer - 192 pages was just a teaser.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best food gardening book I've seen, June 5, 2006

By 

E. Bradley "edbradl" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Edible Garden (Sunset) (Paperback)

I've looked at a lot of gardening books in my day, and this one is the best I've seen for growing herbs, fruits and vegetables. It's thin and not a page is wasted.

The bulk of the book is profiles for different types of fruits/herbs/veggies, telling you when to plant, how to plant, how to maintain, and how to use in cooking. It also includes useful tips on everything from extending your growing season and getting rid of pests, to how to arrange plants and espalier your apple trees.

Fascinating and easy to use with beautiful pictures! I read the whole thing in one sitting!

---------------
UPDATE 2/5/2011

After four years, this book is still a part of my collection! The gorgeous photos of vegetables, fruits, garden organization, trellises & teepees are very inspiring. It also has information about dealing with common garden pests and diseases. However, as I've learned more about gardening, I can see that this book is more appropriate for the beginner gardener. I still refer to it for planting dates and seed spacing, but I'm beginning to need other books with more detailed information about composting, organic methods and information on certain varieties.

Ho

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A practical, easy guide to growing fresh fruits & vegetables, June 10, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edible Garden (Sunset) (Paperback)

The Edible Garden is a practical, easy guide to growing fresh fruits and vegetables. There are a host of unusual ideas here, from kid-friendly projects to different techniques, streamlining gardening processes, and handling diseases, crop rotation needs, and special care. A fine beginner's guide.