Before it was a book, The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food was organic gardener Tanya L. K. Denckla's highly prized personal database, the distillation of years of careful research and hands-on, real-life, dirt-under-the-fingernails experience in growing her own vegetables, herbs, fruits, and nuts. Now available to all, this easy-to-read sourcebook offers much to gardeners of all skill levels, answering questions quickly and authoritatively so more time can be spent enjoying the garden. Six comprehensive chapters cover vegetables, fruits and nuts, herbs, organic remedies, and allies and companions. Within each chapter plants are arranged alphabetically, making needed information eminently accessible. Individual plant entries provide specific information on planting; temperature; soil and water needs; measurements; seed-starting dates; pests, diseases, allies, companions, and incompatibles, as applicable; when to harvest; how to store produce; and overviews of selected varieties. Fully half of the book is dedicated to organic remedies that can prevent or combat plant diseases and garden pests. Hundreds of common diseases and pests are discussed, as well as which plants are likely to be affected, how to recognize the problem, and tried-and-true natural remedies. The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food demystifies how to work collaboratively with the complex natural systems of the environment, making gardening a little easier and definitely more fun.
| ||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Denckla's guide to growing organic food covers 765 varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruits, and nuts. There are instructions on temperature, soil and water needs, planting depth and space between plants, propagation, harvesting, first and last seed-starting dates, storage requirements, and support structures when needed. With each entry is a list of selected available varieties. Denckla also tells gardeners how to control 201 pests and diseases organically. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“…a practical guide to growing fruits and vegetables the organic way.” – Seattle Post- Intelligencer
”Denckla’s guide to growing organic food covers 765 varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruits, and nuts. There are instructions on temperature, soil and water needs, planting depth and space between plants, propagation, harvesting, first and last seed-starting dates, storage requirements, and support structures when needed. With each entry is a list of selected available varieties. Denckla also tells gardeners how to control 201 pests and diseases organically.”
Booklist
"A great gift for any vegetable gardener who prefers Earth-friendly methods."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have owned my copy of Rodale's classic, Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, for well over 30 years. It has been my garden bible.
But times change. Denckla has created a much handier growers' resource. In this book, she catalogues 765 varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts and offers controls for 201 pests and diseases, but better than the numbers is the way she presents the information. For each species there is a clear, concise directory for every aspect of planting, culture and storage. It is really easy to use. The single best feature may be the planting charts for annuals that make it simple to calculate when to start the first and last seeds of the season, based on last and first frost dates. Rodale's classic will never be far away, but from now on I will pick up Denckla's first.
As an organic grower for nearly four decades and a garden columnist, I'm a pretty good judge of this genre (my own collection of garden writings came out in 2008, Garden My Heart: Organic strategies for backyard sustainability). The only place I take serious exception to Denckla's advice concerns moles, which she treats as a garden pest. Moles are garden allies, consuming vast quantities of beetle larvae and other members of the enemy camp.
But times change. Denckla has created a much handier growers' resource. In this book, she catalogues 765 varieties of vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts and offers controls for 201 pests and diseases, but better than the numbers is the way she presents the information. For each species there is a clear, concise directory for every aspect of planting, culture and storage. It is really easy to use. The single best feature may be the planting charts for annuals that make it simple to calculate when to start the first and last seeds of the season, based on last and first frost dates. Rodale's classic will never be far away, but from now on I will pick up Denckla's first.
As an organic grower for nearly four decades and a garden columnist, I'm a pretty good judge of this genre (my own collection of garden writings came out in 2008, Garden My Heart: Organic strategies for backyard sustainability). The only place I take serious exception to Denckla's advice concerns moles, which she treats as a garden pest. Moles are garden allies, consuming vast quantities of beetle larvae and other members of the enemy camp.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Gotarun26.2
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I would have given this book 5 starts except that the section on pest control, which is very important to an organic gardener names the pests and suggests control solutions but shows you no pictures of the pests so if you don't know what the various insects (or for that matter diseases) look like, that's not helpful.
Otherwise the book is well organized and contains a lot of useful information, especially in regard to what plants are allys and incompatible
Otherwise the book is well organized and contains a lot of useful information, especially in regard to what plants are allys and incompatible
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Bry Bry
Format:Paperback
Actually, this book is very solid. My only issue with it at the moment is with the blueberry section. She informs the reader to inoculate the roots "with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi". Almost all of the mycorrhiza available to the consumer is endo or ecto mycorrhiza, which forms a symbiotic relationship with most plants' root systems. Though, blueberries, and all members of the Ericaceae family do not respond to those mycorrhiza and require a specific Ericoid mycorrhiza for proper root inoculation. I almost made a $50 internet purchase of the endomycorrhiza before reading (in small type) that it would not work on blueberries. And, the Ericoid mycorrhiza is a bit hard to locate right now since it has just recently become available to consumers.
Aside from slightly incomplete information on the blueberries, the book is very well laid out. She lists compatible and incompatible plants for each fruit or vegetable. There is also a decent section on natural pest control in which a field guide to insects may be beneficial if you are not familiar with the creatures.
For the price, it is definitely worth getting.
Aside from slightly incomplete information on the blueberries, the book is very well laid out. She lists compatible and incompatible plants for each fruit or vegetable. There is also a decent section on natural pest control in which a field guide to insects may be beneficial if you are not familiar with the creatures.
For the price, it is definitely worth getting.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great reference book
Practical gardening book. Great book to use as a reference guide for all types of plants. Easy to read and follow.
Published 1 month ago by Lane Tipple
5.0 out of 5 stars
Organic Gardening Novice
I have always grown a garden and have done so without the use of pesticides, but there is so much about gardening that is still a mystery to me. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Joyce D. Simon
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Answer Book
The A-Z Guide to Organic Food is a handbook that gives you quick information on a wide variety of fruits, veggies, nuts, and herbs. Read more
Published 4 months ago by L. Caza
5.0 out of 5 stars
good read
I'm still only in the beginning pages, but I can tell that it's going to be an extremely helpful book! Now I just can't wait to buy my own house so I can start my own garden.
Published 4 months ago by LG
5.0 out of 5 stars
great referance book
I got this because we were tied of people telling us to add chemicals to everything. This book assist us in healthy organic growing and how to deal appropriately with pest
Published 8 months ago by Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This is a great general knowledge book. It is full of good information that you can actually use. I would recommend this book to any who is starting out their own home garden.
Published 10 months ago by Cheffrey
5.0 out of 5 stars
like new book
Bought the book advertised as "like new" and it was! Saved quite a bit and was extremely satisfied and I would recommend this seller to anyone!
Published on May 13, 2011 by johnnybkid
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE
I like to use books to refresh my memory before I start my garden each year. I was looking for a go-to book that would have information about my veggies including germination... Read more
Published on May 9, 2011 by MaryPei
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent for every area of gardening.
I love this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys gardening. It not only has excellent information about organic gardening, but it could easily be called "everything you... Read more
Published on April 17, 2011 by Joan K
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
I love this book, lots of info and well worth your time if you want to go organic and grow your own food.
Published on September 29, 2010 by Lisa Branning
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 59
books:
See all 59 books this book cites
- Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening by J I Rodale in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Designing And Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally by Robert Kourik on page 164, page 436, and Back Matter
- Nut Tree Culture in North America by Richard A. Jaynes on page 414, and Back Matter
- Knott's Handbook for Vegetable Growers by Donald N. Maynard on page 21, and Back Matter
- The Self-Sufficient Surburban Garden by Jeff Ball on page 21, and Back Matter
See all 59 books this book cites
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
So You'd Like to...
|
|
