American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening - (American Horticultural Society Guides) (Paperback)

About the Book

"The American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening is a comprehensive yet beginner-friendly handbook for growing edible gardens from the foremost authority in American gardening"--

Book Synopsis

From the foremost authority in American gardening comes a must-have handbook for home gardeners who want a productive organic vegetable garden.

In their first new book in over two decades, the American Horticultural Society offers indispensable insight into growing a modern edible garden at home, regardless of whether home is in the desert Southwest, the Midwestern plains, or on the shores of New England. Starting with a unique look at the history of vegetable gardening in North America, from indigenous cultures to Victory Gardeners to today's biodiversity-nurturing growers, AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening then digs into everything you need to know to cultivate a successful and productive vegetable garden without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

Includes advice on:

• Choosing the best design and planting style for your site, from raised beds and row gardens to matrix plantings and food forests
• Deciding which varieties to plant, from heirlooms and ancestral selections to modern hybrids
• Fostering resiliency in the face of weather extremes, invasive pests, and other challenges
• Nurturing the garden as an ecosystem to preserve and protect soil life, pollinators, and other wildlife
• Conducting at-home soil assessments for compaction, biological activity, texture, and drainage
• Caring for the garden using natural techniques and products, including pinching, pruning, staking, fertilizing, and pest and disease control

The new American vegetable garden is a place of beauty and productivity with a diverse selection of edible crops and flowers that create a haven for plants, pollinators, and people as they fill your kitchen with flavor and nutrition.Whether you're a new garden lover or a long-time veggie grower, AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening has the science-based information you need to overcome today's gardening challenges and cultivate success.

Also included in this series is AHS Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening and AHS Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening.

Review Quotes

"The Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening clearly explains the process of raising food products using organic fertilizers and insecticides. The information is organized in step-by-step, well-illustrated approaches that make organic farming seem simple. Even the best ways to store the harvested vegetables are provided in the book's conclusion."

--Christine Thomson, Triangle Gardener

"This guide offers substantial information to make growing one's own organic produce seem less intimidating...complemented by beautiful photographs, lists of recommended tools, and easy-to-read charts that explain everything from soil quality to pest control to cover crops. VERDICT This substantial guide will do well with readers looking to achieve organic gardening success. With its easy-to-peruse layout and accessible advice, expect high circulation for this resource."

--Elizabeth Majka, Library Journal

"AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening is one of those gardening books that won't gather dust on the bookshelf. Useful for either a beginner or an experienced gardener, it covers everything a home gardener needs to know about raising delicious and healthy organic vegetables from crop rotation to soil health, and natural methods for pest control to tips on maximizing harvests."

--Matt Mattus, author of Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening and Mastering the Art of Flower Gard

"From tips and tricks to detailed techniques for spaces big and small, this book is a trove of information. The pictures bring the information together in a beautiful and engaging way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for organic vegetable gardening insight."

--Marcus Bridgewater, author of How to Grow: Nurture Your Garden, Nurture Yourself and creator of Gard

"Gardening has enriched my life in countless ways. It's a meditative escape, a source of pride when growing edible food, and a constant reminder of nature's wonders. Watching my vegetables grow and attracting pollinators to my backyard fills me with delight and gratitude. As a long-time advocate for sustainable gardening practices, I wholeheartedly endorse the American Horticultural Society's Organic Vegetable Gardening. This authoritative guide distills the expertise of AHS into practical, accessible tips for cultivating healthy, thriving vegetable gardens."

--Loria Stern, author of Eat Your Flowers and an advocate of the garden-to-table food movement

"I didn't realize I was waiting for this book. Now that I've read it, front to back and more than once, it is my new, all-in-one, beats-all, terrific organic gardening book. It makes organic gardening seem effortless and addresses the where, when, why, and how to do it right. Delicious, healthy success is yours when you use the principles and methods outlined in this book! Thank you, AHS!"

--Mary Ann Newcomer, garden scribe, scout, and speaker from the Rockies

"If I was just starting organic vegetable gardening, I'd read this book. Throughout are inspirational photos and illustrations of vegetable garden types from containers to edible landscapes. And the gardening information is impressive in its depth and breadth."

--Charlie Nardozzi, horticulturist, radio and television personality, and author of The Complete Guide

"This book doesn't just thoroughly explain the hows, it also dives into the whys so that no matter the size, location, or style of your vegetable garden, you'll be able to make the best decisions possible for your space."

--Viveka Neveln, Senior Garden Editor for Better Homes & Gardens

"This is a fascinating guide to gardening. I've gardened for over 70 years and imagine I know everything there is to know about gardening. This book, however, takes a delightful approach to the entire philosophy of growing. Most such books teach a method that the reader is expected to follow. This one, though, gives not only the intriguing history of how we garden, but offers alternatives to long-held methods. This is excellent advice for anyone beginning to grow a garden, as well as those who are more experienced. I'm impressed with the approach and advice provided to the reader. It is a fascinating read!"

--Jim Long, herbalist and author

"Vegetable gardening can be complicated, because every crop has its own cultural needs and problems. Through practical text and lush photographs, this book guides readers through the ins-and-outs of creating and caring for a great food garden. Topics covered include site selection and design to planting, caring for, and harvesting popular crops. It is a useful reference for both new and more experienced gardeners alike."

--Barbara Ellis, author of Container and Small-Space Gardening for the South and Chesapeake Gardening

"Whether you're a brand-new gardener or a seasoned grower, AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening includes something for you to learn. Not only is this book authoritative and thorough, it's also thoughtfully organized and fun to read, detailing the practices that lead you to your most fruitful edible garden while explaining, in easy-to-understand language, why each practice is important. Full of beautiful, instructive photos as well as helpful charts and illustrations, this title is one every gardener will want on their shelves."

--Julie Chai, editor of Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden and former senior garden editor at Sunset maga

About the Author

Founded in 1922, the non-profit American Horticultural Society (AHS) is one of the most respected and longstanding member-based national gardening organizations in North America. The Society's membership includes aspiring, new, and experienced gardeners, plant enthusiasts, and horticultural professionals, as well as numerous regional and national partner organizations. Through its educational programs, awards, and publications, the AHS inspires a culture of gardening and horticultural practices that creates and sustains healthy, beautiful communities and a livable planet. AHS is headquartered at River Farm, a 25-acre site overlooking the Potomac River that is part of George Washington's original farmlands in Alexandria, Virginia. ahsgardening.org