How to Grow World Record Tomatoes: A Guinness Champion Reveals His All-Organic Secrets [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Charles Wilber (Author) "My parents owned a small farm, and like most farm boys I helped with the work..." (more)
Key Phrases: Better Boy, United States, General Sherman

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Patrons with a love of tomatoes and a competitive nature may enjoy these organic tips from Wilber, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by coaxing 1,368 pounds of tomatoes from only four plants. This octogenarian's delivery is folksy and no-nonsense as he relates advice on composting, seed selection, pruning, watering, and other basics of tomato gardening. Wilber readily acknowledges, however, that not every gardener is serious enough to get yields like his. This book offers sound advice (particularly for market gardeners), but public libraries may prefer Tantalizing Tomatoes: Smart Tips & Tasty Picks for Gardeners Everywhere (LJ 4/1/97), which has a broader audience and is more comprehensive, including historical background, a guide to cultivars, recipes, and a resource list. Still, Wilber is a remarkable man who has written a useful, reasonably priced book.?Bonnie Poquette, Shorewood P.L., WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Charles Wilber tells his personal story of learning to work with nature, and his philosophy and approach to gardening. He reveals for the first time how he grows record-breaking tomatoes and produce of every variety. There's no magic involved. Just a well thought out system that gives plants more than they could ever want, and makes it possible for them to reach their full potential. Wilber's compost is the cornerstone along with a wide circumference around plants layered with compost, alfalfa meal and mulch. Valuable pruning and watering details are given, too, as well as a new way of looking at seeds. As you will learn, growing awesome tomatoes integrates every aspect of gardening that you can imagine.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Acres U.S.A.; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911311572
• ISBN-13: 978-0911311570
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,960 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > By Plant > Tomatoes
  #17 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Fruit
  #32 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Vegetables

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN!, May 29, 1999

By	washbear (Apex, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This book deserves serious attention by a generation that is gradually poisoning its own food supply and misusing its agricultural resources. Mr. Wilber teaches a total gardening system that encompasses sound organic principles, including composting with kudzu, watering at the soil-line, using extra-sturdy cage supports, mulching, cover-cropping, observing problems, garden sanitation, etc.. His methods are not earth-shatteringly different from those found in other organic gardening books, but his success in growing record-breaking produce is dependent on the consistent and proven use of all of his collective techniques together. I really enjoyed reading his life's philosophy regarding our stewardship of the earth, i.e. the dominion rather than the domination of the earth ("If you take care of nature, she'll take care of you") and plan to implement his techniques in my own garden this season. One of its main goals is to help you grow the most produce from the fewest number of plants in the smallest amount of space. The fact that his vegetables are often record-breakers is an added bonus. The book is written in a non-technical, easy-going style. The chemical companies will hate this book, but to those of you who care for the earth and enjoy eating your own healthy chemical-free vegetables, I highly recommend this one. I only wish the photos in the book were in color. Thank you, Mr. Wilber, for your generosity in passing your life's work onto future generations!

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grow More Tomatoes Than You Ever Thought Possible, December 28, 2001

By	David Stone (Bucks County, PA) - See all my reviews

I read this book cover-to-cover several times before preparing my 2001 garden. This system works. While I didn't get 30 foot tall plants like Mr. Wilber, I probably quadrupled my previous best results -- and that was only my first try. Everybody who saw my plants commented that they had never seen such healthy, productive specimens. (Wait until they see my plants next year!)

Even if you don't follow his instructions to the letter, you will likely get much better results than you ever had previously. While the compost and mulching are super-important, I think THE most important advice to follow is to build large, strong cages per the instructions. Your plants will be so big that they will literally crush any "normal" tomato cage you can buy at a nursery.

Organic gardening is the ONLY method that makes sense, when you really get into it. I'll go head-to-head with anybody who gardens using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. My plants will be bigger, healthier, with bigger yields of better-tasting produce.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great advice and entertaining, May 15, 2001

By A Customer

Tomatoes are a passion of mine; I remember my grandfather growing some of the best. I thought of him often when I read this book. It has very practical advice---even if you don't want a world record it is very easy to understand, it makes sense, it's organice, and it's fun to read. My only caveats: I would love to have had a chapter on how to adapt to a more urban/suburban setting (though it does devote time to how to do this in a container) where land space may be limited, and more about the how's of setting up to use rainwater or how to de-chorinate tap water if you don't have another or plentiful enough alternative source. I adapted fairly well to my spot I think and believe I will get a good yield this year!