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Betty Crocker's Kitchen Gardens - Year 'round Guide To Growing And Using Herbs And Vegetables
Gardening preparation, herbs and how to use them and all sorts of useful info about gardening! The text is interspersed with Tasha Tudor's sweet illustrations. Book Club Edition.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
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104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 23, 2018
When I think of Betty Crocker, the first thing that comes to mind are cookbooks. For most Americans, it is hard not to find at least one version in the kitchen. So who knew there was a lovely year ‘round guide to growing and using herbs and vegetables? Certainly not me.
There are very few recipes. What is discussed are numerous vegetables and herbs in an easily read format with uses, planting and harvesting. Surprisingly, since it was published in 1971, the author steers clear of pesticides. But what makes the book so dear are the lovely graphic pictures -some are in color, some are not- by Tasha Tudor.
About Compost:
My bank boasts no president,
nor board of directors,
Nor books, nor bricks,
nor IBM correctors,
Nor debits, nor credits,
nor calendared statements,
Nor checks, nor interest,
nor audit statements.
But its treasury is rich,
in mineral savings,
Of egg shells and peelings,
and old garden shavings,
Of soil and toil and brown leaves and mold,
my compost pile
Is pure garden gold.
~Author Unknown
There are very few recipes. What is discussed are numerous vegetables and herbs in an easily read format with uses, planting and harvesting. Surprisingly, since it was published in 1971, the author steers clear of pesticides. But what makes the book so dear are the lovely graphic pictures -some are in color, some are not- by Tasha Tudor.
About Compost:
My bank boasts no president,
nor board of directors,
Nor books, nor bricks,
nor IBM correctors,
Nor debits, nor credits,
nor calendared statements,
Nor checks, nor interest,
nor audit statements.
But its treasury is rich,
in mineral savings,
Of egg shells and peelings,
and old garden shavings,
Of soil and toil and brown leaves and mold,
my compost pile
Is pure garden gold.
~Author Unknown
March 19, 2018
Loved, loved this book. A perfect read to get you excited about your spring garden, with good tips to boot. Definitely dated, but it’s so warm and cozy that it stands up.
December 14, 2023
This book is a little out of date -it was issued in 1972 and few of us have wood ashes to spread on our gardens now. This book is designed for people with small, little gardens so there aren't any of the mammoth plants that take over an entire yard. If those happen to be your favorite foods, this isn't for you.
For the rest of us, the beginning of the book is about creating a garden. What do you need? How do you prepare the soil (and what does "prepare" mean)? Who's the best resource - the local garden shop or your next door neighbor whose gardens are why you started your own version?
The plant section of this book starts with herbs. We all remember basil and rosemary and mint and dill. How many of us, right of the top of our heads, remember parsley, sage, thyme and tarragon? or even know some of the other ones lots of cooks like? The best part about this section (and all the plant sections) is that the book tells you about the plant - how to grow it, how to use it and what not to do. Mint, for example, will quickly over-run your entire garden so put it some sort of container. Bay is a problem child. You should always keep it in pot since as a tree it will go wild. Be sure that, as a plant, you get "sweet bay" - some of the other ones are poison. Basil goes with anything that has tomatoes in it. Mint is the herb for iced drinks. Parsley is a 2-year plant (basil grows for only 1 year).
Next move onto the main plant section of the book. That's the part about vegetables. Some you might use all the time, like onions. Some you may not be familiar with, like beets (or maybe you are). Lettuce grows very fast, so don't plant it all at once. Just keep planting it until your summer gets really hot. Cucumbers are vines so they're happy growing up trellises. Some vegetables we like are not suited to a small garden (corn). They're good and not hard to grow but take up lots and lots of room.
There is short section on gardens you can grow on patio or balcony - a lot of these are fine since you can grow them in pots anyway.
At the end - this is, after all, Betty Crocker - some recipes for exotic things like herb butters (pretty easy).
For the rest of us, the beginning of the book is about creating a garden. What do you need? How do you prepare the soil (and what does "prepare" mean)? Who's the best resource - the local garden shop or your next door neighbor whose gardens are why you started your own version?
The plant section of this book starts with herbs. We all remember basil and rosemary and mint and dill. How many of us, right of the top of our heads, remember parsley, sage, thyme and tarragon? or even know some of the other ones lots of cooks like? The best part about this section (and all the plant sections) is that the book tells you about the plant - how to grow it, how to use it and what not to do. Mint, for example, will quickly over-run your entire garden so put it some sort of container. Bay is a problem child. You should always keep it in pot since as a tree it will go wild. Be sure that, as a plant, you get "sweet bay" - some of the other ones are poison. Basil goes with anything that has tomatoes in it. Mint is the herb for iced drinks. Parsley is a 2-year plant (basil grows for only 1 year).
Next move onto the main plant section of the book. That's the part about vegetables. Some you might use all the time, like onions. Some you may not be familiar with, like beets (or maybe you are). Lettuce grows very fast, so don't plant it all at once. Just keep planting it until your summer gets really hot. Cucumbers are vines so they're happy growing up trellises. Some vegetables we like are not suited to a small garden (corn). They're good and not hard to grow but take up lots and lots of room.
There is short section on gardens you can grow on patio or balcony - a lot of these are fine since you can grow them in pots anyway.
At the end - this is, after all, Betty Crocker - some recipes for exotic things like herb butters (pretty easy).
June 30, 2022
Completely and utterly charming reading. Written in a very cosy, pleasantly chatty, and descriptive style, this is a wonderful book that provides warm comfort and encouraging inspiration for gardeners of all varieties. From absolute novices to seasoned gardeners, for those who only have space for windowsill herbs in small pots, to those with access to acres, this book addresses evenly and practically the multitude of access people may have when it comes to gardening. The author encourages the reader to take what is useful to the reader’s individual needs and situation. A wonderful push for conservation is noted with chapters on economy and recycling ‘waste’ materials that are perfectly suited for amending soil, fertilizer, mulch. The illustrations by Tasha Tudor really do enhance the cottage teatime feel of this book, but even without them (as much as I’d miss them!) this book would be a treasure. It is very informative and works through the most popularly useful herbs, planting/harvesting/uses/virtues. I wish this was more affordably and easily available because I’d love to gift it to kindred spirits. Definitely a worthy, good, true, and beautiful book!!
August 21, 2020
Published in 1971 and it's been on my shelf that long. I've used it over the years many times for reference but this time I read cover to cover. An absolutely delightful book! Full of valuable information but written as if I am sitting next to a wise and kind mentor for growing herbs and vegetables. Also, advice on making teas, vinegars, dressings, hors d'oeuvres, sauces - all fresh from the garden. A small beautiful book (170 pages) with hand-drawn pictures and quotes from past gardeners. I'm sure I will continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
July 21, 2025
Such a sweet book to read. It is illustrated by one of my favorite gardeners and illustrators, Tasha Tudor, which makes it even more lovely! I really enjoyed reading and learning about different gardening and harvesting tips, sketches of garden layouts, to details of each herb and several plants you are most likely to find in a garden. A lot I already knew from my many years of gardening, but I learned new tidbits as well. It’s a delight. I know I will pick it up each spring and summer. I am so glad to have this sweet book gracing my bookshelf.
April 24, 2021
A quaint read that makes one want to get out in the garden! Filled with sage advice, pun fully intended, it was a good read for rainy, cold spring days as we wait for planting to begin. And the illustrations are cute, especially the corgis!
May 18, 2017
Beautiful little book with gorgeous pictures.
April 30, 2020
Wonderful! I'm super inspired for the summer.
November 17, 2020
Tracked this one down for Tasha Tudor’s delightful illustrations.
May 19, 2021
Still an excellent primer on kitchen gardening, with the added bonus of adorable Tudor illustrations. This is by no means exhaustive, but it does make for a pleasing introduction.
May 26, 2022
Wonderful enough to own.
July 4, 2008
I can't imagine a better book for an armchair gardener (who plans on becoming a kitchen gardener one of these days).
There's a lot of how-to, but the information is conveyed in such a charming, circa-1971 tone. Regarding how to determine when it's safe to plant in your region: "...you may wish to consult your county agricultural agent, or the state agricultural college, or write to your Congressman in Washington for information on weather dates supplied by the United States Department of Agriculture."
It does presuppose more horticultural know-how than I possess, so I'll need to track down a gardening-for-dummies book of some sort. But it won't be nearly as delightful as this one.
There's a lot of how-to, but the information is conveyed in such a charming, circa-1971 tone. Regarding how to determine when it's safe to plant in your region: "...you may wish to consult your county agricultural agent, or the state agricultural college, or write to your Congressman in Washington for information on weather dates supplied by the United States Department of Agriculture."
It does presuppose more horticultural know-how than I possess, so I'll need to track down a gardening-for-dummies book of some sort. But it won't be nearly as delightful as this one.
August 16, 2010
This book has good advice on starting and maintaining a kitchen garden. It is a little dated, but it was also beyond its time (1971) as it promotes natural and organic methods over chemical.
More importantly, though, it's inspirational and charming. It makes kitchen gardening seem like a normal thing that everyone does, and why wouldn't you?
And Tasha Tudor did the pictures.
More importantly, though, it's inspirational and charming. It makes kitchen gardening seem like a normal thing that everyone does, and why wouldn't you?
And Tasha Tudor did the pictures.
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April 18, 2009I found this lovely little book at an antique store in Guthrie. HH and I were on a motorcycle ride, but I still bought it and put it in the saddlebag to bring home. Why? Because the illustrations were by Tasha Tudor. It turned out to be a very good little book on growing good things to eat.
December 27, 2010
Great "old" book. (Published in 1971) I enjoy reading older books on subjects that haven't changed, really to compare to recently published books. Most of the time you find valuable information that you didn't know. I especially like reading about medicinal properties of food and herbs.
July 16, 2010
I love this book and the illustrations in it are beautiful.
July 10, 2012
Loved this book when I was younger - I was ready to start planting my herb garden!
November 19, 2016
Library book sale find, charming with still useful information even today.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews