Customer Reviews

Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am not a novice to organic gardening, but I have never focused on growing vegetables before. I bought this book thinking it would be a good reference book to get started. It is that and more.

The book is extremely easy to navigate; everything is arranged alphabetically. Under each vegetable there is a section on crop basics; site, soil, timing of planting, planting method, crucial care and harvesting. I was also very pleased and surprised to find information on growing each vegetable in containers, with the size of the container often mentioned. There is also sections for secret to success, regional notes, preventing problems and troubleshooting (diseases, pests, etc.)

If you are looking for a specific pest, these too are alphabetically arranged. There is a pest profile, pictures of the various stages, control methods and a control calendar. Under diseases, there is a description, crops at risk, etc.

The book also contains information on crop rotation, companion planting, composting and many other topics - all organized alphabetically.

I am sure that I will be using this book often during the growing season. I am now looking for a book just like this for growing organic fruit.

In "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver", lifelong organic gardener Fern Marshall Bradley has knowledgeably compiled and skillfully organized a wealth of practical, applicable, 'user friendly' advice and instruction on dealing with pests, diseases, weeds, and other problems that beset the vegetable garden. The solutions to these diverse issues that vegetable gardens must commonly deal with are based on the cutting edge of horticultural research and offer gardeners hundreds of organic and natural solutions for plant disease, pests, and weed problems. From polytape and mesh fences, to deer repellents, to flea beetle infestations, "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver" offers safe, effective remedies that will enhance a vegetable garden's performance producing healthy, bountiful, 'bumper crop' yields. If you have a vegetable garden of your own, you need to avail yourself of the "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver", Fern Marshall Bradley's essential 'how to' manual.

I like the fact that it's just about vegetables and doesn't go into turf or roses. There's just about every veg you can think of in here. Some of them are covered in great detail.

However, Rodale, like so many gardening authors are located "up north". I'm in Florida. I wish They had written exactly this book for the Southern gardener. A goodly amount of space is taken with problems specific to northern climes.

Still, there's a lot of stuff in here to know and being arranged the way it is, one stands a fine chance of getting right to what you need to know when you need to know it.

I'd like to have seen more information on the virtues of various soil additions. For instance, I know that cottonseed meal is about 7-1-1 and as it breaks down it acidifies the soil. I love the stuff. If I had not learned that elsewhere but knew that my soil was bursting with P & K, a little low on nitrogen and rather to alkaline --- this book would not have told me.

Over all well done.

This is not a book you read from cover to cover. It is interesting to browse the topics though. Some of those are: beneficial insects, cut worms, companion planting, soil, composting, planting and transplanting, row covers, slugs and snails and many more. I would buy it again. When you want information, you look up tomatoes or whatever and find good information on growing and solving problems related to that plant. It has gardening ideas like making a cold frame from straw bales and old windows.

I have 6-8 gardening books by various authors- all good - but this gives the most specific information for each vegetable crop. This will be my ready reference for all my garden problems. This is a good book for both the novice and the experienced gardener. A great resource for those wanting to try growing new varieties.

This is a very good book. Very easy to read. This book covers just about every problem in the garden. It is easy to understand. It covers preventing problems to troubleshooting problems. Just about everything you need to know about problems in your garden is in this book.

I got this book in a used book store (the price here is only a few dollars more for a new one) and had a little buyers remorse after buying it (I don't like clutter or spending money). I sat down and started reading the book a little more in depth to decide if I wanted to take it back or not and I will not be taking this book back. I'm actually very impressed with the amount of information that is in this book. It has the basic info that a typical gardening book or the little dirt tag that is in a veggie plant when you buy- plus lots of other info on trouble-shooting problems with the plant/diseases/ and pests. It has every vegetable I'm interested in growing in it (which is a lot) and all of the common bugs, ect. It's a pretty thick book and it's all veggie. : ) This book is a very strong addition to my bookshelf and I'm glad I got it. It will be of a great use to me. I've read many vegetable gardening books and this is one of the best that I have come by.

This should be in every ones hands that grows a vegetable garden. It truly is a Problem Solving Book.

This is the BEST vegetable gardening book ever! I have one and bought this one as a gift. I highly recommend it for anyone trying to raise vegetables the organic way without chemicals.

I hope my title sums my review up neatly!
Bought this book on a whim figuring it couldn't possibly be horrible with Rodale's name on it.
Wow! Am I amazed at the bargain I got! This is possibly one of the best, most concise but comprehensive, well-illustrated gardening books I own.
The book is EXACTLY what it says...Vegetable Garden Problem Solver...and then a whole lot more.
Love having a section on each vegetable with very, very detailed information on pests and diseases for that vegetable.
On top of that there is information on beneficial insects, companion planting, proper plant rotation for the garden and a whole lot more.
This book is a fabulous value for anyone with a vegetable garden. Even if you have many, many other reference books this one is worth it's value just for it's organization and quick-to-find information.