Vegetable Gardening For Dummies [Paperback]

Charlie Nardozzi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2009

A hands-on guide to the ins and outs of raising and using vegetables

Want to grow your own vegetables? You can do it the fun and easy way with this practical guide. From selecting the right spot to preparing the soil to harvesting, Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition shows you how to successfully raise vegetables regardless of the size of your plot or your dietary needs.

You'll discover how to plot your garden and get the soil in tip-top shape; select the types of vegetables you want to grow; plant the seeds properly; and care for them as they grow. You'll also know the right time to pick your vegetables and the best ways to enjoy them. Plus, you'll get tips on preserving foods grown at home.

• Expert advice on planting, caring for, harvesting, and enjoying the fruits of your own vegetable garden
• Features environmentally friendly ways to combat pests in your garden
• Charlie Nardozzi is senior horticulturist and spokesperson for the National Gardening Association; he's also been the gardening expert on such programs as HGTV's Today at Home and Way to Grow and the Discovery Channel's Home Matters

Whether you have a green thumb or you've never grown a plant before, Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition has all the information you need to create a healthy garden.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The ubiquitous For Dummies series, while not known for pretty illustrations or lush photography, does manage to pack the maximum amount of information into an easy-to-read format--something that gardeners with an eye on the financial bottom line love. For vegetable gardeners, the right information is especially important, because if you don't end up with edible food on the table, you've failed. Charlie Nardozzi and the National Gardening Association editors seem comfortingly aware of this fact, but they also want to make vegetable gardening fun and interesting, and to that end there's a lot more here than just the standard tomatoes and zucchini. Bok choy, fingerling potatoes, kabocha squash, daikon radishes--they've included just about every vegetable you might be able to think of, with pithy recommendations of the tastiest and easiest-to-grow varieties.

The book's first three chapters deal with deciding what to plant, where to plant it, and when. Nardozzi then turns the bulk of the book--nine chapters--over to the vegetables themselves: the tomato (the most popular vegetable for the home gardener); the pepper and eggplant; root crops; legumes; vine crops; cole crops, such as broccoli and cabbage; greens; and sweet corn and unusual vegetables. A special chapter goes to nonvegetables like herbs and berries. The book's third section is devoted to gardening techniques, which more experienced gardeners may want to turn to immediately. There's good, solid information here on irrigation, mulching, reading a fertilizer label, companion and secession planting, and much more. As with all For Dummies titles, the resources listed in the appendix are comprehensive and up to date, and the index (without which any reader might be lost) is complete and useful. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Now updated — your guide to growing fresher, healthier food at home

Want to start a vegetable garden but don't have a green thumb? No worries! This practical, hands-on guide gives you the tools to grow and enjoy your own vegetables, from selecting the right spot for your plot to preparing the soil to harvesting and preserving. You'll confidently plant your veggies, give them the care they need, and pick them at the right time!

• Go ahead and veg out — from carrots to cabbage and from peppers to potatoes, discover the best varieties of vegetables to grow and the specifics on how to grow them

• Enjoy other edibles — grow berries and herbs to add flavor to your garden

• Get down and dirty — review the latest techniques for proper watering, mulching, fertilizing, succession planting, interplanting, and container gardening

• Say goodbye to pesky pests — keep your plants pest-free and healthy using the newest, safest methods

Open the book and find:

• A new 8-page color insert

• Updated illustrations

• The benefits of growing vegetables

• Ideas for different garden themes

• A garden-planning guide

• Different varieties of vegetables

• All you need to know about seeds and transplants

• How-tos on techniques for increasing your bounty

• The best tools of the trade

• Practical tips on harvesting and storing veggies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470498706
• ISBN-13: 978-0470498705
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > Vegetables

More About the Author

Charlie Nardozzi is a nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 20 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. His energy, exuberance, and love of the natural world also make him an exciting public speaker and presenter. He has spoken at national venues such as the Philadelphia Flower Show, Master Gardener conferences, and trade shows.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative March 27, 2000

By kerridv

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Like the rest of the books in the Dummies series, this book takes a light-hearted approach to a heavy topic such as gardening. By focusing on vegetables the content remains helpful and informative. The book was divided into sensible sections--the basics, what to plant, how to plant, and so forth. I appreciated the instruction on gardening beginnings such as constructing a bean pole and what tools a novice needs. The last half of the book talks about specific vegetables, and has handy information on what grows best where. I believe this makes a good first-time gardener book or a companion to a book with more pictures.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Any Gardener's Must-Have Book April 5, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I have other gardening books, but none of them are as easy-to-follow or as comprehensive as this one. The text is so much fun, it's easy to read cover-to-cover. Yet, if you need specific information on a certain type of vegetable or technique, the index is very easy to use. The appendix gives the dates and growing seasons for every major (or minor) city in the U.S., as well as additional resources and catalogs to consult. A wonderful resource for a novice or an experienced gardener.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for every gardener! February 2, 2001

By Troy Morgan

Format:Paperback

This is a great book for any vegetable gardener. It is easy to follow and you don't have to read it from start to finish. It is laid out so you can go to the sections that interest you the most. I am a first year gardener, and I got many, many compliments on my first ever vegetable garden, thanks mostly to the help of this book. A must have!