Amazon.com: Customer reviews: How to Grow More Vegetables, Ninth Edition: (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land with Less Water Than You Can Imagine

How to Grow More Vegetables, Ninth Edition: (and Fruits, Nuts,...

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4.7 out of 5

517 global ratings

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How to Grow More Vegetables, Ninth Edition: (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land with Less Water Than You Can Imagine

byJohn Jeavons

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Top positive review

Positive reviews›

Brilliant, Comprehensive Discussion on Design and Growing

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023

Some of the best writing on soil science and health as it relates to design and growing. The writing is both broad and in-depth and will appeal to novices as well as experts. He casts a seemingly set of dry topics with fascination. Just excellent! Thank you for what is now a classic text.

One person found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Not that applicable to home gardeners

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2020

I agree with what other people have said in that this is not very applicable to home gardeners as is advertised. It's not too technical or hard to understand, but I doubt if many people with small gardens have the ability to dig 24-36" into there beds every couple of years. There is only one method of creating beds illustrated in the book, and it's not going to work in small spaces, raised beds, or areas where you can't produce a bunch of compost (small garden).
One other problem I have is that there is a chapter heading for seed saving, which I would think would be very important to a self-sustaining garden. As far as I can tell nothing at all is mentioned about seed saving in the book, however, which was pretty disappointing. Finally, pests, which are my number one problem in the garden, aren't really addressed at all. For example, gophers, which would kill anything in a bed in my yard without hardware cloth underneath (definitely not 36" deep), get a brief few sentences stating they are easily deterred by dead gophers and/or smelly things. I've never tried to put a dead gopher in a gopher hole but I can tell you they would destroy any unprotected bed created under this methodology. Aphids, another major pest, are apparently to be fully deterred by repelling plants (ha ha ha). This book is great if you have tons of space and absolutely perfect garden soil...and you somehow have tons of material and extra soil for compost.
Side note: also very few citations: eg states beets and pole beans should not be grown together (good to know) but no source or other info. Charts are the best part if you spend the time to decipher them.

24 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Brilliant, Comprehensive Discussion on Design and Growing

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023

Verified Purchase

Some of the best writing on soil science and health as it relates to design and growing. The writing is both broad and in-depth and will appeal to novices as well as experts. He casts a seemingly set of dry topics with fascination. Just excellent! Thank you for what is now a classic text.

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book was really helpful to understand more complex gardening ideology. I would definitely recommend this book if you want to think deeply about your food choices and how to use your space well.

One person found this helpful

Florian Schipflinger

Valuable and practical info

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

First time gardener and glad someone recommended this to me. The double dig was laborious but seems very worth it with the potential yields you can achieve.

One person found this helpful

A wonderful way to grow your own food and start saving the world

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is a great resource for any who are seeking to be more self sufficient. It is also great to get into growing your own food at home without breaking the bank in investments. A few simple hand tools, and one initial purchase of amendments if you choose. That is all you need to get started. For us number people this is an amazing resource and having used this system as a part of my overall holistic self-sufficiency approach for years. It is a marvelous way to grow good healthy vegetables and get them on the table and simple enough almost anyone in decent condition can manage it into their schedule.

11 people found this helpful

Classic.. Recommended.

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

The earlier editions of this publication by Ten Speed Press (3rd? 1982) were more readable due to a better book design, more logical table design (eg seed propagation) and better illustrations. As the content grew over the years, the material just was not presented well like in the easily digestible first editions. The material is excellent, but if you can also find an earlier edition than 9th (yes get both books) it may be easier to understand. (Not the 1974 Ecology Action edition tho.)
Good book design is important for comprehension. I have all these books but was disappointed that the ninth edition's art and design is so clunky. I expected better from Ten Speed. Oh wait, it's now an imprint of Crown Publishing and used a whole different (inferior) design team. Bigger isn't always better.

Buy a Fiskar spading fork for the double dig! It’s the best. See my review of it.

15 people found this helpful

There's a reason this book is considered the farmer's bible

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

I was directed to this book because it's considered the "farmer's bible". After reading it, I can say that I am a full fledged follower, haha. This book covered everything from concepts to the techniques to step by step instructions on how to build or perform something. I thought this book would give me just the introduction to farming but instead it gave me everything I'd need to know in order to survive an apocalypes. Very highly recommend.

4 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023

Verified Purchase

…so much, I had to replace my old copy

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

Love this book. It is easy to follow but with detailed descriptions. Love the illustrations too. I like it so much I have recommended it to several people.

2 people found this helpful

Not that applicable to home gardeners

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

I agree with what other people have said in that this is not very applicable to home gardeners as is advertised. It's not too technical or hard to understand, but I doubt if many people with small gardens have the ability to dig 24-36" into there beds every couple of years. There is only one method of creating beds illustrated in the book, and it's not going to work in small spaces, raised beds, or areas where you can't produce a bunch of compost (small garden).
One other problem I have is that there is a chapter heading for seed saving, which I would think would be very important to a self-sustaining garden. As far as I can tell nothing at all is mentioned about seed saving in the book, however, which was pretty disappointing. Finally, pests, which are my number one problem in the garden, aren't really addressed at all. For example, gophers, which would kill anything in a bed in my yard without hardware cloth underneath (definitely not 36" deep), get a brief few sentences stating they are easily deterred by dead gophers and/or smelly things. I've never tried to put a dead gopher in a gopher hole but I can tell you they would destroy any unprotected bed created under this methodology. Aphids, another major pest, are apparently to be fully deterred by repelling plants (ha ha ha). This book is great if you have tons of space and absolutely perfect garden soil...and you somehow have tons of material and extra soil for compost.
Side note: also very few citations: eg states beets and pole beans should not be grown together (good to know) but no source or other info. Charts are the best part if you spend the time to decipher them.

24 people found this helpful

Don’t make this your first garden reference book

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

I used to own the 8th edition, but either loaned it out or got rid of it in a move. I decided I wanted it back in my collection mostly because of reminders about the book giving instructions about planting by moon signs.
It is a strange little book, which appears to have been written by committee. One of the major conceits is that it is possible to grow all of a person’s food requirements on about 4000 square feet of very specifically prepared ground. The assumption is that quite a few of those calories are coming from home grown wheat, and that we will use the straw from the wheat to build compost piles to improve the soil. The voice is a little strange- I think the book started as pamphlets, which were then compiled. I am not sure who the intended audience is. If you are a very beginning gardener, this might not be your best choice of book.
There are many pages of charts, which make the book worth it to me. The charts have planting spaces, time to maturity, and many other facts about many garden plants. I’m glad I have it back in my library.

45 people found this helpful

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