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From
Container to Kitchen by D. J. Herda
Reviewed by
Don Bacue, Executive Editor,
International Features Syndicate |
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I have been a garden writer for many years. As such, I have
read and reviewed far more books on the subject of gardening than I care
to admit. None, however, was more deserving of five stars than this
one from seasoned author D. J. Herda.
Herda, himself a master gardener, has been growing fruits and vegetables
(and herbs and ornamentals and grains and flowers) organically since
before it was popular to do so. Long before. So, it
only makes sense that his latest gardening-book venture would be heavily
laced with green growing tips, suggestions, and lots of emphasis on an
organic approach to growth.
Not that the author is adamant about using any other technique in a pinch.
If you need an inorganic fungicide to save the life of a favorite plant,
he's all for it, provided you use the chemical safely and responsibly.
But first, he'd rather you try a less invasive, more planet-friendly
approach. In fact, his two chapters on (a) bugs and (b) fungus,
bacteria, and other diseases are an encyclopedic marvel of alternative
approaches to handling your plants' most stubborn problems safely and
unobtrusively.
As if that weren't worth the price of admission in itself, each chapter
concludes with a section called "Recipes for Success" that highlights a
particular fruit or vegetable that is especially conducive to growing in a
pot--complete information about habits, planting tips, growing problems,
yields, health benefits, and savings for a typical family of four by
growing your own instead of buying it at the supermarket.
Is From Container to Kitchen the best all-around gardening book I
have ever reviewed? Quite possibly so. But then, from a
gardener with the history, background, experience, and integrity of Herda,
I would have expected nothing less. Highly recommended. Even
if you thought you hated gardening!
From
Container to Kitchen
by D. J.
Herda
New
Society Publishers
Paperback, $19.95
Rating: 5
out of 5 Stars
From
Container to Kitchen
Reviewed by Tina Wilson
In a few days I’ll be going from a yard in which I have been able to
grow whatever I want, whenever I want, and however much I want for the
last ten years… to a rented property in which I have been told that
anything that I plant into the ground at this temporary home will
become the property of the owners of the rental. I do understand the
stance of the owners of the property… truly I do.
…But gardening I
must be allowed to do! I love to garden! I long to garden! I love
greenery, I love flowers in bloom, I love fresh vegetables…you get the
picture… Love it! Love it! Love it!
So, how am I going to solve this temporary problem while I’m looking
for a permanent residence, and a yard in which I can dig, plant, create
gardens, and nurture plants to my heart’s content?
From Container to Kitchen:
Growing Fruits and Vegetables In Pots by D. J. Herda (New Society
Publishers 2010) to the rescue!
I suddenly find myself in the shoes of many folks that long to
garden, but whom find themselves in the “no yard” garden zone. Not that
the property we’ll be staying at does not have a yard, in fact it has an
entire acre of yard…I just can’t dig in it.
So, I’ll be utilizing as many of the wonderful tried and true tips
from D.J.’s book as I possibly can. Believe me, I have a feeling this
book came along at the perfect time for me, and for an avid gardener
that has a severe itch to get out in the yard and dig in the dirt, this
book is going to be my life saver while we search for a permanent home
with a yard to be able to garden in.
Container gardening to the rescue!
D. J. shares so many wonderful tips on how to grow everything from
lettuces, to tomatoes, to dwarf apples, to cucumbers, celery,
strawberries, and more in containers.
You’ll read tips on how much water you should give each variety of
plant, how to tell when your plants need water, when to transplant
certain varieties into larger containers, what types of pests to look
out for, how long it takes for the plant to be “harvest ready”, what the
average annual savings are per year by growing various plants on your
own, and more.
You’ll receive tips on the best types of containers to grow your
plants in, the best type of soil, how to create your own potting mixes,
how to create your own fungicides to prevent plant disease, and how and
when to harvest the fruits of your labors.
For those who find themselves in the “no yard” zone, but with a deep
desire to garden and grow your own food…this book is a “must have!
FIND YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK
HERE
Even homeowners with a decent amount of room for a garden can
appreciate the good advice in "From
Container to Kitchen: Growing Fruits and Vegetables in Pots." After
all, poor soil or the need to use the yard in a different way can get in
the way. And for those lacking adequate space, containers can be the
perfect solution to high bills for poor-quality vegetables and fruits from
the supermarket.
Author D. J. Herda starts with the basics of picking the right container
for size and location, and then, in succeeding chapters, shows how to
overcome a variety of obstacles, such as meeting the correct soil balance
and combating bugs, to raising specific foods, from tomatoes to peppers to
broccoli to dwarf figs. Each highlighted fruit or vegetable includes
information about growing seasons, time to maturation, diseases and likely
bugs, health benefits and estimated cost savings by growing your own.
His writing is clear and direct, organized to make reference easier, and
illustrated primarily by black and white photos, with a handful of color
images.
