Do you want to grow vegetables and herbs organically? This is a practical and inspiring guide to preparing, planting and growing vegetables and herbs in any space -- from small urban gardens to country smallholdings. Packed with practical advice, time-saving tips, step-by-step instructions and personal anecdotes, this book is for novices and gardening gurus alike. With over 200 photographs and detailed information on how to prepare your garden for planting and growing nearly 100 vegetables and herbs, this guide will enable you to feed your family and friends with wholesome, organic food harvested from your garden.

Fast, Fresh Garden Edibles shows homeowners how to use every square inch of available space to grow fresh vegetables in the shortest possible time. Guides to growing in small gardens, in containers, and in window boxes. How to select and plant the quickest growing varieties of vegetables.

Work in partnership with nature to nurture your soil for healthy plants and bumper crops - without back-breaking effort! Have you ever wondered how to transform a weedy plot into a thriving vegetable garden? Well now you can! By following the simple steps set out in No Dig, in just a few short hours you can revolutionize your vegetable patch with plants already in the ground from day one! Charles Dowding is on a mission to teach that there is no need to dig over the soil, but by minimizing intervention you are actively boosting soil productivity. In fact, The less you dig, the more you preserve soil structure and nurture the fungal mycelium vital to the health of all plants. This is the essence of the No Dig system that Charles Dowding has perfected over a lifetime growing vegetables. So put your gardening gloves on and get ready to discover: - Guides and calendars of when to sow, grow, and harvest. - Inspiring information and first-hand guidance from the author - “Delve deeper” features look in-depth at the No Dig system and the facts and research that back it up. - The essential role of compost and how to make your own at home. - The importance of soil management, soil ecology, and soil health. Now one of the hottest topics in environmental science, this "wood-wide web" has informed Charles's practice for decades, and he's proven it isn't just trees that benefit - every gardener can harness the power of the wood-wide web. Featuring newly- commissioned step-by-step photography of all stages of growing vegetables and herbs, and all elements of No Dig growing, shot at Charles’s beautiful market garden in Somerset, you too will be able to grow more veg with less time and effort, and in harmony with nature - so join the No Dig revolution today! A must-have volume for followers of Charles Dowding who fervently believe in his approach to low input, high yield gardening, as well as gardeners who want to garden more lightly on the earth, with environmentally friendly techniques like organic and No Dig.

Do you love living in the city but dream about growing your own wholesome fruit and vegetables? South Africas organic gardening guru, Jane Griffiths, shows you just how easy it is to achieve a flourishing food garden, no matter how small your space. This book is packed with inspirational ideas and practical information on all aspects of urban eco living. In her trademark sensible and easy-to-follow style, Jane provides a wealth of tips and suggestions for: Growing organic vegetables just about anywhere -- from containers to edible walls, from raised beds to rooftops, from community gardens to neglected pavements; Planting and maintaining a space-efficient urban orchard; Converting an existing lawn or tennis court into an instant edible oasis; Keeping urban bees, hens and aquaponic tanks; Harvesting rainwater and recycling grey water; Introducing solar power into your home; Converting a chlorinated swimming pool into a wetland-filtered haven. Illustrated with hundreds of beautiful colour photographs, this is essential reading for anyone wanting to live a more sustainable, productive and healthy lifestyle in the city.

Complete vegetable gardening system for busy people who want to grow fresh produce to save money and ensure their food is safe.

Most gardens have shady spots, but some gardens have a real shade ‘problem’. Whether it is caused by large or overhanging trees, tall buildings, or just being on the ‘wrong side of the street’, finding the best plants for a shady area can be challenging, particularly if the rest of your garden basks in sunshine all year round. Shade plants are not necessarily tropical, although many tropical plants thrive in shade. Some delicate leafy plants will scorch and burn in hot sun, some plants like shady conditions but not damp soil, while others grow happily in damp, boggy ground that receives minimum sunlight. Gardening in the Shade examines the different types of shade and the effect it has on plant growth. It presents solutions to common problems such as feeding, watering and mulching shade plants, and how to deal with exacerbating factors such as wind, frost and soil type. Popular shade plants, like clivias, bromeliads, fuchsias and ferns are given special features, and a directory of species lists plants under headings like ground covers, tropical-looking perennials, and succulents.

Fruit trees are delicate and need specialized care, especially when they’re planted in an urban environment, which comes with its own unique challenges. Whether you want to plant a single fruit tree or an entire orchard, this book will show you how to save time and money and be successful right from the start. A professional orchardist, Susan Poizner guides novices and experts alike through every step of the process. She describes which key elements are necessary in site preparation and offers a basic overview of the anatomy of fruit trees. Susan also explains how to select trees and covers critical concerns, such as cross-pollinating versus self-pollinating trees, bare-root versus potted trees, and whether the fruit will be for eating, cooking, or canning. Thorough instructions are provided for planting and staking, as well as pointers on how to care for both young and mature trees. From assessing soil to selecting the right fertilizer, from pruning trees to choosing the proper tools, and from boosting biodiversity to preventing pests and diseases, no leaf is left unturned. This vast wealth of knowledge is accompanied by illustrations and color photos, along with inspiring stories of orchards and tree farms.