Customer Reviews

Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Total Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Other Edible Plants the Natural Way

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are intending to grow vegetables in Central Texas, you MUST buy this book! It is the only book out there that realistically tells you how (and WHEN) to grow vegetables in this, very difficult part of zone 8. ALmost tropical...and yet, so dry......and hot.....and such awful soil we have here! (Well, for the most part.)

It has been THE most useful Gardening book in my collection for the last eight years, and though I buy many gardening books, no other book can begin to touch it (mainly because what they have to say just doesn't relate to Central Texas!)

Howard covers the essentials of Basic Organic Gardening as well as the how to's. I bought the book at Rohde's for about the same price before shipping. If you can't get to Garland; but it here. We just completed our 20'x20' raised bed garden. Our front yard is the lushest greenest yard in the neighborhood with NO CHEMICALS. We have been a fan of Howard for a few years now.

Grant Wiscour Irving, TX

This book has been indispensable to me!!! This book, along with The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, have been my "text books" in starting a garden. Without them, I wouldn't have such a great garden. These books take the guess work out of what to do. Thanks Mr. Garrett and Mr Beck!!!

I have checked out many Howard Garrett books from the library and had to buy several for myself and for gifts. The photos are beautiful, and he tells you what he thinks of the different species. Howard Garrett writes great books for people wanting to establish beautiful landscapes and gardens. He explains why healthy, organic soil with native plants and bugs works really well if it is done right.

My only complaint with most of his books is that he lists the specimens in alphabetical order. That is what indexes are for. If he would group them with similar specimens, then between the photos and his descriptions, the books would be great for identifying species I find on my property. As it is, I have to get a separate field guide to tell me the names to look up in his books; but, I am willing to do that.

Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening covers much more than just vegetables. It also includes fruits, nuts, and herbs; with lists of recommended varieties for different regions. And it includes preparing the soil, planting dates, troubleshooting, and recipes for homemade pesticides.

I loved this book. It was very easy to read and organized in a way that was so helpful. I thought it was to late to plant this season but after reading this book I was able to sit down and pick all the fruits and vegetables that would grow well in our area and chosen season and plan a large scale garden. I felt much more prepared! Highly recommend this book for experienced and beginner alike!

Although my gardening has been going on for some time and although I've already been using some of the author's tips I got off the internet with great results on numerous gardening sites, it was time to get more information to help keep things going well and help solve any problems that crop up. (yes, I used the word "crop" intentionally. Sorry.)

I had been comparing other organic veggie garden books before I made my decision to finally order this one from Amazon but I never came across another one, locally or on the 'net, that was as highly recommended or had the amount of information I needed compiled into one place so succinctly as this did...and I shopped for awhile before I ordered this one. This is as enjoyable to read as it is informative.

I've become rather fanatic lately about our backyard. I've joined the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower center as a member, attended classes, read voraciously on the subject, and this author is always noted as the guru wherever I seem to go. The tips and instructions I am using have all resulted in great success both in my vegetable garden and my entire backyard which is chemical-free and growing like crazy in beautiful bloom with low-maintenance from me thanks to good organic gardening to start with.

The book ensures you do EVERYTHING right from the get-go, or are able to correct it now if you didn't. It has everything you'd plant in your bed or container that I can think of (at least everyhthing in my own each season and ensures you do it right every season, from veggies, to fruits, to herbs, to edible plants. It's written clearly and will help even a novice understand every step in beginning or correcting your garden naturally and beating any pests easily the natural way.

You can look up whatever veggie you have and instantly see a photograph of how it will look grown in the garden, tell you how far to space it, how deep to plant, what problems you might see (pests or growing probs) with it and how to correct them, and it gives you this info for both planting seeds or the plant so you know going in what to expect and do correctly either way.

The book is full of photos and info on the growth habits of all things veg.

Years ago I ate from a fertilized and chemically treated garden. There is no comparison in how much better organic tastes even if you don't consider the health benefits, if you ask me. (and I do consider those too, personally)

In a nutshell, I consider this my organic veggie garden bible. I have notebooks full of information but I keep turning to this...it's all here.

and yes, I really do read it by the garden. That was part of my goal for my landscaping and garden seating...it makes me relax and read every night now after work if I am not working in the garden, which is equally relaxing to me. It's my daily "staycation" and it is good advice like this that ensures looking at it doesn't stress me out in the least. It really doesn't...everything is growing and blooming so well and I swear to you I was a total novice who killed everything before I began this journey! My thumb was nowhere close to green!

p.s. It is a huge bonus to me that this focuses on Texas vegetable gardening. Our seasons, soil, and sun are quite different than many other places so its focus is doubly helpful

This book has been really helpful as it details a multitude of crops indicating both botanical and common names, when to plant, sun or shade, uses, common pests and how to handle them organically. The book includes soil ammendments including what not to use. It helps you identify what is wrong with your crop and what to do about it. My garden has been far more successful using this information.

Anyone interested in gardening organically should own this book. Easy to read, great pictures, homemade recipes for natural fertilizers, pest control, etc.

This is an awesome book, more than what I expected! I can not believe all of the information in this book, I have been looking every where for this information and came across this book and to my surprise all of the information that I was seeking is located in this one book! I am so happy, the zones, and regions are included along with the gardening charts and what and when to plant and so much more! This book is worth the price, I found a good used copy and I am very happy with the results of my purchase... I have other gardening books and have never seen one so well put together and with so much information.... I will purchase from this author again!

Well off to preparing for my spring gardening!

******UPDATE 8/27/2011*****************
Well how did my garden turn out? Great thanks to all of the information in this book! I used this book as a reference and guide as we planted our garden and as we watched every thing grow..

Today we have several watermelons and even one that has grown on our trellis. We have zucchini Squash, which this plant has grown so wide and tall, the leaf's are so big and beautiful and so are the flowers that it has bloomed and continues to bloom. We have many other veggies in our back yard garden and we are very proud..

Thanks again to this book for all the information that we needed to get to this point. We are very proud and happy about our beautiful very green producing garden.. We plan to eat as much as we can and give the rest to family and friends.

We believe that this book was and is the resource you will need to have good returns on your garden and to continue to educate yourself on the journey of gardening.

Well back to our harvest, as we must continue to harvest and eat!

Happy gardening!

I have referred back to this book several times when getting ready to garden. It makes for excellent info, budgeting practices, and such. Highly recommended. Austin, TX