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the bountiful container
With few exceptions-such as corn and pumpkins-everything edible that's grown in a traditional garden can be raised in a container. And with only one exception-watering-container gardening is a whole lot easier. Beginning with the down-to-earth basics of soil, sun and water, fertilizer, seeds and propagation, The Bountiful Container is an extraordinarily complete, plant-by-plant guide.
Written by two seasoned container gardeners and writers, The Bountiful Container covers Vegetables-not just tomatoes (17 varieties) and peppers (19 varieties), butharicots verts, fava beans, Thumbelina carrots, Chioggia beets, and sugarsnap peas. Herbs, from basil to thyme, and including bay leaves, fennel, and saffron crocus. Edible Flowers, such as begonias, calendula, pansies, violets, and roses. And perhaps most surprising, Fruits, including apples, peaches, Meyer lemons, blueberries, currants, and figs-yes, even in the colder parts of the country. (Another benefit of container gardening: You can bring the less hardy perennials in over the winter.) There are theme gardens (an Italian cook's garden, a Four Seasons garden), lists of sources, and dozens of sidebars on everything from how to be a human honeybee to seeds that are All America Selections.
Written by two seasoned container gardeners and writers, The Bountiful Container covers Vegetables-not just tomatoes (17 varieties) and peppers (19 varieties), butharicots verts, fava beans, Thumbelina carrots, Chioggia beets, and sugarsnap peas. Herbs, from basil to thyme, and including bay leaves, fennel, and saffron crocus. Edible Flowers, such as begonias, calendula, pansies, violets, and roses. And perhaps most surprising, Fruits, including apples, peaches, Meyer lemons, blueberries, currants, and figs-yes, even in the colder parts of the country. (Another benefit of container gardening: You can bring the less hardy perennials in over the winter.) There are theme gardens (an Italian cook's garden, a Four Seasons garden), lists of sources, and dozens of sidebars on everything from how to be a human honeybee to seeds that are All America Selections.
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First published February 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
December 16, 2013
This is THE book to get if you want to plant edible plants in a container. It doesn't have *everything* like weird strains of heirloom tomatoes, but it's a good general book telling you when you should plant something, how big the container, how much sun, etc. It's also full of helpful tidbits and even a list of places where you can order seeds in the back.
January 25, 2016
Great beginners guide to small space gardening. I am ready and inspired to grow some urban balcony herbs.
May 20, 2021
full of great information! tips on growing container plants in general, which was incredibly helpful, as well as great in-depth information about each plant individually. i’m taking multiple pages for each one, not just a little blurb. and there’s tons of personal touches to it, anecdotes and real-life experience that makes it feel like these ladies are just chatting with you about all the awesome plants they grow. fun themed garden ideas, recipes, tricks they’ve learned along the way, and cut-to-the-chase seriousness about why some plants or processes just don’t work for a container garden. very excited to use this as a reference for specific plants!
UPDATE: so i’ve been trying to use this as a guide this year for how to grow quite a few potted veggies, and i’m struggling with finding truly valuable information in this. it does have the basics for sure, so for a beginner, it was definitely helpful. but now as i’m trying to troubleshoot what i did wrong last year, or figuring out the growing pattern for choosing the right pot, or pruning or whatever, it’s just not specialized enough. it’s a good start, but it really isn’t very usable for me anymore.
UPDATE: so i’ve been trying to use this as a guide this year for how to grow quite a few potted veggies, and i’m struggling with finding truly valuable information in this. it does have the basics for sure, so for a beginner, it was definitely helpful. but now as i’m trying to troubleshoot what i did wrong last year, or figuring out the growing pattern for choosing the right pot, or pruning or whatever, it’s just not specialized enough. it’s a good start, but it really isn’t very usable for me anymore.
December 10, 2010
A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for
April 7, 2019
An excellent resource for anyone looking to eat what they grow. It's largely encyclopedic, but written in a way that it's still readable cover to cover.
August 10, 2020
I like this book. And I’ll be a great reference in the future if there’s any new plants I want to try or any tips I need. I feel like it’s very thorough and answered all the questions you might have about putting a vegetable or fruit in a container.
I did start to breeze through the end of the book especially around the fruit trees, fruit, and edible flowers because I didn’t care as much about those plants. So I didn’t read every detail of the last chapter or so just because I knew what she was going to say about them and I didn’t really care about those particular plant. So again I’ll be a great reference.
It’s easy to read. It is a detail. It seems to cover all the bases of container gardening. The only thing I would say that it like that I want to know was information about Harding his sounds and or light requirements. I feel like I didn’t get enough of that information but everything else was there from the size of the pot to the nutrients to the planning and the germinating or buying a whole plant.
I did start to breeze through the end of the book especially around the fruit trees, fruit, and edible flowers because I didn’t care as much about those plants. So I didn’t read every detail of the last chapter or so just because I knew what she was going to say about them and I didn’t really care about those particular plant. So again I’ll be a great reference.
It’s easy to read. It is a detail. It seems to cover all the bases of container gardening. The only thing I would say that it like that I want to know was information about Harding his sounds and or light requirements. I feel like I didn’t get enough of that information but everything else was there from the size of the pot to the nutrients to the planning and the germinating or buying a whole plant.
October 8, 2007
This is another favorite on my gardening bookshelf. This is a great book for those that love gardens but don't have lots of space. Warning: those containers need to be watered more than plants that are in the ground but if you're short on space this book is a must-have!! There are recipes sprinkled throughout the book and their are suggestions on different types of gardens (example: herb garden, hummingbird garden,etc.) I love this book and it will another one that I will be re-reading this winter to get excited for spring even though I will likely be doing most of the planting in a small garden bed on the side of my house rather than in containers... it's just I love this book and it's like being with an old friend. This would be great for those that want to have a great kitchen garden (with flowers, herbs, edible flowers, fruits and/or veggies or love that Tuscan look of window boxes and an entryway lined with gorgeous blooms (and veggies too).
August 5, 2008
This is a wonderful book that covers all the basics of container gardening. It includes some diagrams/instructions for large containers with multiple plantings, as well as information for how to grow a single type of plant by itself in a container.
In addition to the general info on container gardening, the authors have drawn up an extensive section with information that simply covers how to grow different types of veggies - all the basic info (varieties, sun/shade, how much water) etc, useful both if you are container gardening and if you just don't know anything about tomatoes.
It didn't take more than a quick perusal of this for me to decide to buy it. I'm looking forward to using it to plan out an expanded container garden next year (hopefully I will still have a space to do this!).
In addition to the general info on container gardening, the authors have drawn up an extensive section with information that simply covers how to grow different types of veggies - all the basic info (varieties, sun/shade, how much water) etc, useful both if you are container gardening and if you just don't know anything about tomatoes.
It didn't take more than a quick perusal of this for me to decide to buy it. I'm looking forward to using it to plan out an expanded container garden next year (hopefully I will still have a space to do this!).
July 25, 2018
Honestly, as a new gardener, I was a bit overwhelmed and blown away by McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers. Before I go any further, I want to make clear that I was overwhelmed in a good way by this book. Rather than think of it as a book you can easily read front to cover about gardening, think of it as a gardening encyclopedia of knowledge. When ti comes to growing edible plants, this should be your go to book. It is a very down to earth, easy to understand book when it comes to anything about gardening, making it a great reference book for gardeners of all experience levels. If you can only buy one gardening book (for those on a budget), I would easily choose McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers!
March 14, 2010
This book was invaluable for me this year as I put in my little container garden. The authors lay out all the information in a thorough, yet condensed, manner, allowing for easy reference and practical application. It is divided up into four different sections: vegetables, herbs, fruits and edible flowers. McGee and Stuckey both write clearly but with an enjoyable amount of humor. Reading the book was almost like having a conversation with someone who knows a lot more about gardening than I do. I suppose the real proof of the book's usefulness will come later in the spring when my garden either fluorishes or perishes, but I have great confidence than the "Bountiful Container" has set me up for success.
July 14, 2016
Great introduction on how to garden even if you have no space or money. Fun to read; not just "here are the rules for keeping various plants alive in containers" but really "growing stuff you can eat is easy and fun, here's how." First section has useful DIY guides and cost-/space-saving ideas as well as organizational and aesthetic suggestions, while the second section has more detailed species-specific guidelines and includes recipes and sample plans for "theme" gardens (with all the basic spices and vegetables of a particular cuisine). Nothing in terms of the technical side of gardening that an experienced gardener wouldn't already know, but perfect for the novice gardener and a helpful resource for anyone on getting the most out of a container garden.
April 12, 2020
Highly recommended. You get two expert guides to help you find your own path in container gardening with edibles. I loved the two-author commentary throughout. Lovely illustrations, and it's easy to find and read only what you want or read it straight through like a novel.
January 22, 2016
actually good for READING as opposed to reference!
May 16, 2017
Excellent reference for someone like me who is just beginning my container gardening habits. Very readable and understandable, though I would like a more updated version I think.
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May 7, 2020I would trust these grannies with my LIFE
August 15, 2020
My go-to book off the shelf for my container garden needs.
July 3, 2025
This book on container gardening consists of three parts. One part on your garden, the second part covers the basics and the third part lists all kinds of plants you could grow in your garden. Most appreciated were parts on varieties that work well in container pots.
I actively planted some plants while reading this book. It is contagious.
I actively planted some plants while reading this book. It is contagious.
June 12, 2021
A great resource! My go-to whenever I need to look up information on putting a plant into a pot. I just moved and this was invaluable in helping me convert from a traditional garden to a container garden (and everything is doing great).
May 22, 2017
Not too many new tips here
August 15, 2019
I have learned so much so fast in this one book! I’m hooked! So much more fun than a regular garden and i has been doing those my whole life.
February 23, 2020
This book was a lot of information for anyone who is beginning the sincere delvitudinals of gardening. It’s the main backbone to my research on container gardening. Thanks Rose Marie and Maggie.
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May 29, 2022this is a great reference to have!
May 21, 2025
Good information and fun stories
April 13, 2011
Just trying to get a head start on our deck garden this year. But, just because I'm reading a gardening book doesn't mean I'm tired of winter. Let it Snow!
Now that it's mid-April and I've already got my first crop of spinach, carrots, basil, and beets in the yard garden I can start concentrating on the deck containers. I'm going to plant pole beans on the railing planters and let them vine their way up some fencing attached to the roof. This will create a nice, natural shade for sitting on the deck and for the other plants as well. I'll be doing two pots each of the following "succession gardens."
#1
Spring: mustard spinach, bush snap peas, and pansies.
Summer: tomato, kale.
Fall: plant tulip bulbs
#2
Spring: looseleaf lettuce, chervil, and calendula.
Summer: hot pepper, cilantro.
Fall: arugula, scallions.
#3
Spring: spinach beet, Asian radish, and a few nasturtiums.
Summer: summer squash
Fall: mesclun
Overall, I find the information in the book very helpful and clear. However, the organization is not methodical. It jumps around a little bit and certain informational items are not listed in the table of contents and the index isn't always accurate. The text is interspersed with things that should all be in one chapter, such as thematic gardens. These are difficult to locate in the book if you're looking for some specific information from one of these items. Other than this little gripe, the book is excellent.
Now that it's mid-April and I've already got my first crop of spinach, carrots, basil, and beets in the yard garden I can start concentrating on the deck containers. I'm going to plant pole beans on the railing planters and let them vine their way up some fencing attached to the roof. This will create a nice, natural shade for sitting on the deck and for the other plants as well. I'll be doing two pots each of the following "succession gardens."
#1
Spring: mustard spinach, bush snap peas, and pansies.
Summer: tomato, kale.
Fall: plant tulip bulbs
#2
Spring: looseleaf lettuce, chervil, and calendula.
Summer: hot pepper, cilantro.
Fall: arugula, scallions.
#3
Spring: spinach beet, Asian radish, and a few nasturtiums.
Summer: summer squash
Fall: mesclun
Overall, I find the information in the book very helpful and clear. However, the organization is not methodical. It jumps around a little bit and certain informational items are not listed in the table of contents and the index isn't always accurate. The text is interspersed with things that should all be in one chapter, such as thematic gardens. These are difficult to locate in the book if you're looking for some specific information from one of these items. Other than this little gripe, the book is excellent.
March 5, 2008
I am planning to move within the next six months. I didn't want to give up having a kitchen garden, but I also didn't want to leave it behind if we moved in the middle of the summer - so I am planning a garden I can take with me, if needed. Containerizing will also allow me to get plants up off the ground, where critters are less likely to eat my lettuce and spinach down to the ground as soon as it is established!
I got this from the library, but now I need to buy it for my bookshelf. Too much information to digest in the short-term, and I need to be able to refer to it. As an example, there is a box on one page with tips for fertilizing pepper plants - by putting a match in the hole when you plant (sulphur), sprinkling crushed eggshells (calcium), and spraying with dissolved Epsom salts (magnesium). That alone was worth the book.
I got this from the library, but now I need to buy it for my bookshelf. Too much information to digest in the short-term, and I need to be able to refer to it. As an example, there is a box on one page with tips for fertilizing pepper plants - by putting a match in the hole when you plant (sulphur), sprinkling crushed eggshells (calcium), and spraying with dissolved Epsom salts (magnesium). That alone was worth the book.
October 27, 2008
Good book with essential information for gardening in containers, including what to have in your potting mix (essential nutrients), good organic fertilizers, savings seeds, and information about different plants. I might add that a good potting mix would be using all or part compost, with a few added nutrients that she mentions (greensand & superphosphate). Add crushed eggshells (she explains how to dry them) to bottom of planting hole, add plant & cover with your soil. Dribble liquid seaweed arund rim of pot and water well. For flowering plants, add extra phosphorus (like bone meal) for leafy plants like lettuces, add extra nitrogen (like blood meal). When plants start actively growing, apply complete balanced fertilizer (like liquid seaweed or fish emulsion, 1/2 strength (add water), once a week. Also spray epsom salts (dissolved in water) onto plants when blossoms appear.
June 16, 2009
I have just started the process of learning more about gardening--vegetable gardening in particular. This book was wonderful for me. They give you ideas for questions to ask yourself as you go through the steps of planning a good container garden. My one problem is that I live in Arizona which makes general books like this to follow to the letter--our summers are not like the ones typically discussed in this book. So I am still looking for information about vegetable gardening in Arizona in particular. But for what I needed--general information about vegetable gardening in containers--this book was spot on.
March 9, 2012
I've been reading this book to set up a small garden using some space that's available in my NJ residence. The container approach is probably the only viable technique for me, considering that deer can and will eat about anything, especially edibles.
The writing style is fun and readable, and offers a good overview of most vegetables that are viable for containers. I get the feeling some details are more specific to varieties of each vegetable, but that is what the seed packet and for the internet are for.
The last star is in escrow until after I start the garden and see how the advice holds up, although it seems everyone else is happy with it.
The writing style is fun and readable, and offers a good overview of most vegetables that are viable for containers. I get the feeling some details are more specific to varieties of each vegetable, but that is what the seed packet and for the internet are for.
The last star is in escrow until after I start the garden and see how the advice holds up, although it seems everyone else is happy with it.
Currently reading
January 17, 2008Haven't even made it a fourth of the way through this one. I bought it because I want to fill my apartment with edible plants, and I've gained some interesting tips and insights (kale is easy to grow indoors because it doesn't need a lot of light, for example), but it seems to actually be tailored to people who actually have balcony or some sort of outdoor space. Which I don't. If anything though it's been inspiring me to continue my indoor gardening project, and it does have a lot of useful information about container gardening, so I'll keep referring back to it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews