Gardener to Gardener Seed-Starting Primer and Almanac: Hundreds of Great Ideas, Tips, and Techniques from the Organic Gardening Readers! (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) (Paperback)

by Vicki Mattern (Editor) "What do you need to create your dream garden?..." (more)
Key Phrases: last frost date, seeds indoors, keep the soil temperature, The Gardener's Year, North America, All-America Selections (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Ostensibly a guide to working with seeds, Mattern's comprehensive handbook goes beyond this most elemental of planting techniques to envelop an extensive range of associated topics. Part primary garden primer, part monthly garden almanac, it takes an organic approach to everything from planning a garden in January to cultivating peppers in May to garden cleanup in November. All material is presented in such easy-access formats as top-ten tips on conserving water, concise charts comparing compost, and handy tables of planting dates. Accompanying instructions on climate-specific garden activities are monthly "to do" lists helpfully arranged according to plant-hardiness zones. Delightfully unpretentious, Mattern and company have captured "reality-based" gardening by quoting actual gardeners who reveal their treasured tips, secrets, and advice on everything from deterring deer to cleaning carrots. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Organic gardeners reveal their best tips and tricks for starting seeds, creating healthy soil, tending the garden, and stretching the growing season in Gardener to Gardener¿ Seed-Starting Primer & Almanac. Compiled for gardeners just like you by the editors and readers of Organic Gardening magazine, you'll find month-by-month activities, timesaving gadgets, and wheelbarrow loads of garden-tested advice, such as how to:

* Increase yields by rounding the surface of flat garden beds
* Build a compost and soil sifter to fit on top of your garden cart or wheelbarrow
* Diagnose soil trouble by identifying which weeds are in your garden
* Turn leaves into fabulous fertilizer using a three-pronged approach
* Get your apples off to a strong start when planting rootstocks in five easy steps
* Use a small fan to help your seedlings develop sturdier stems and minimize the chance of fungal diseases

Gardener to Gardener
Best-Ever Seed Tape

It's difficult to space tiny seeds like those of carrots in the garden, so I make homemade seed tapes by prespacing the dark seeds over a white surface. Here's how to do it:

1. Unroll a strip of toilet paper on a table, mist it with a sprayer, and place the seeds along the center of the paper. (Alternate carrot seeds with radish seeds because when the radishes sprout, they help to mark the row and break the ground.)

2. Starting along the strip's long edge, fold a third of the paper over the seeds, then fold the other third over. Tamp the paper, misting it again to secure the seeds. Make as many of these strips as you need. Then fold the strips up and carefully carry them to the garden.

3. Make shallow furrows in the prepared soil, lay the strips down, and cover them. In a jiffy, your carrots will be planted and perfectly spaced.

Doris Ekblad
Prairie Farm, Wisconsin


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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (January 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875968848
• ISBN-13: 978-0875968841
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #315,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not much about actual seed starting here!, February 16, 2003

By	Lisa Richards "LisaNH" (NH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking for a seed-starting primer, like the title promised. Instead, I got probably one full chapter on seed starting, and eleven chapters on general gardening. I usually like what Rodale preaches -- I'm a dedicated composter myself. But if you title a book "Seed-Starting Primer" then I think it should be mostly about starting from seed.

I'm very disappointed and am now looking for an actual seed starting book.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my go-to gardening books, great for beginners, January 19, 2009

By	Le Jambon (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gardener to Gardener Seed-Starting Primer & Almanac: A Month-By-Month Guide for Planning, Planting, and Tending Your Organic Garden (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) (Hardcover)

I'm a seasoned gardener and this is one of my go-to books because it is easy to find information. Not very in-depth. But the personal tips from other gardeners are worth a million. Beginning gardeners can learn a lot without feeling overwhelmed. It's enough to get someone started. Good inexpensive addition to a garderner's library. I first checked this out at the library before deciding I had to own it!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for those who are just starting out, February 1, 2004

By	Ashley Chadwick (Salt Lake City, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This book is exactly what it says in the title: a PRIMER and an ALMANAC. It is perfect for those who are starting seeds for the first time and want to know more about preparing, planting and harvesting a garden throughout the year. I loved the monthly to-do lists for each USDA hardiness zone. Now I know what I need to do each month to keep my garden running smoothly. I love Rodale books and this one is no exception. I found this book helpful, informative and inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to start their own seeds indoors or just needing a good gardening book.