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Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens
Develop your green thumb as you learn to grow your own food. In this introductory guide to growing vegetables, Barbara Pleasant addresses common problems that first-time gardeners encounter. Using simple language and illustrated garden layouts, Pleasant shows you how to start, maintain, and eventually expand an organic vegetable garden in even the tiniest backyard. With handy tips on enriching soil, planting schedules, watering, fighting pests, and more, you’ll quickly discover how easy it is to enjoy your own homegrown vegetables.
590 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2010
79 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 30, 2019
My mother bought this book for me as a Christmas gift so I could start my very first vegetable garden this upcoming spring. Ever since my husband and I bought our house, I've been on the lookout for the perfect beginners guide so I could get started.
This is a fantastic, user-friendly playbook for the novice gardener. ‘Starter Vegetable Gardens’ is laid out very simply. Several basic plans are given: a border garden, a front-yard vegetable garden (with enough beauty so the neighbors will be glad you're gardening in the front yard), even a garden that has you starting out planting in opened bags of topsoil. Several other plans are given for different climates, or different specialty gardens (such as the Cajun Spice garden-- tempting-- and more).
Forget all those failed gardens and those hefty books filled with complicated garden designs that I would never be able to execute much less afford. This book truly simplifies gardening for the beginner (though there are a few plans for more experienced folk). The beauty of this book is that it's not overwhelming. This year, I finally have an understandable, workable garden plan, and I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit to put it into action!
This is a fantastic, user-friendly playbook for the novice gardener. ‘Starter Vegetable Gardens’ is laid out very simply. Several basic plans are given: a border garden, a front-yard vegetable garden (with enough beauty so the neighbors will be glad you're gardening in the front yard), even a garden that has you starting out planting in opened bags of topsoil. Several other plans are given for different climates, or different specialty gardens (such as the Cajun Spice garden-- tempting-- and more).
Forget all those failed gardens and those hefty books filled with complicated garden designs that I would never be able to execute much less afford. This book truly simplifies gardening for the beginner (though there are a few plans for more experienced folk). The beauty of this book is that it's not overwhelming. This year, I finally have an understandable, workable garden plan, and I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit to put it into action!
May 8, 2021
This is probably the most comprehensive, helpful gardening book I've ever read (and I've read a lot). It gives step-by-step instructions for all kinds of gardens with detailed illustrations, layouts, buying list for seeds and supplies for each, and even year-by-year plans of how to do each garden the first year and years thereafter. Some are small, some are simple, some use bags of soil to make it easier, and so on. I wish there were more photos of the gardens themselves (there are lots of photos of plants and close-ups for tutorials, but just colorful drawings of the garden plans) but it's still a book I can't really give fewer than 5 stars to in good conscience. Well recommended it you want a complete layout of exactly what to grow and how.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
February 11, 2022
It's almost Spring. Are you ready to get your garden started?
Whether you want a small herb garden or a full, large garden, this book has you covered.
There are multiple plans that you can use all or part of. They are layered by 3 years, meaning they tell you how to start Year 1, then add more for Year 2 and finally add even more for Year 3 to have a fully operational, sustainable garden.
You can adapt any of the plans for easier or more complex, whatever your need may be.
There are also great facts on when different things should be planted, if you want to grow from seeds in the ground, seeds inside that will be transferred, or small plants purchased at your local garden center. It even talks about those pesky critters and how to deal with them cleanly/organically.
A great book for every gardner!
Thank you to #StoreyPublishing and #NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Whether you want a small herb garden or a full, large garden, this book has you covered.
There are multiple plans that you can use all or part of. They are layered by 3 years, meaning they tell you how to start Year 1, then add more for Year 2 and finally add even more for Year 3 to have a fully operational, sustainable garden.
You can adapt any of the plans for easier or more complex, whatever your need may be.
There are also great facts on when different things should be planted, if you want to grow from seeds in the ground, seeds inside that will be transferred, or small plants purchased at your local garden center. It even talks about those pesky critters and how to deal with them cleanly/organically.
A great book for every gardner!
Thank you to #StoreyPublishing and #NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 26, 2023
I think I’m in the minority on this one so far. I think this is a good book with lots of great information for someone just getting started with vegetable gardens but I didn’t really like the way the phases are laid out. Maybe because I have a very “all in” style? I’m sure there’s are lots of people this would work for but I think I grew more on my deck when I first started vegetables than is shown in the year one garden. Like I said, it’s got a lot of information that’s useful it just wasn’t my all time favorite gardening book. I’d recommend it for someone who’s never grown anything before (which is probably who it’s marketed to anyway).
***I received an advanced review copy from Netgalley.
***I received an advanced review copy from Netgalley.
October 26, 2017
Great book to aid in home gardening and planning your veggie rotations.
January 29, 2023
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Starter Vegetable Gardens is a beginner accessible tutorial instruction guide for planning and executing an organic garden by Barbara Pleasant. Originally published in 2010, this second edition is due out in early 2022 from Storey publishing. It's 232 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
Storey is quite well known for high quality lifestyle, gardening, and sustainable living titles. This is a classic, and lives up to their standards. There's a logical progressive layout which takes readers through planning, siting, selecting, planting, soil improvement, harvesting and other necessary tasks using accessible, easy to understand language supported by good clear photography and schematics.
The book also includes several appendices: a glossary and definitions list, a metric conversion chart, an overview over the garden plans included in the book, as well as a short resource and seed vendor list. Vendors are slanted toward readers in North America, but with online vendors, availability shouldn't be problematic for readers living elsewhere.
Five stars. This would make a good choice for smallholders, gardening / allotment groups, public or school library acquisition, and for the home gardener.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Starter Vegetable Gardens is a beginner accessible tutorial instruction guide for planning and executing an organic garden by Barbara Pleasant. Originally published in 2010, this second edition is due out in early 2022 from Storey publishing. It's 232 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
Storey is quite well known for high quality lifestyle, gardening, and sustainable living titles. This is a classic, and lives up to their standards. There's a logical progressive layout which takes readers through planning, siting, selecting, planting, soil improvement, harvesting and other necessary tasks using accessible, easy to understand language supported by good clear photography and schematics.
The book also includes several appendices: a glossary and definitions list, a metric conversion chart, an overview over the garden plans included in the book, as well as a short resource and seed vendor list. Vendors are slanted toward readers in North America, but with online vendors, availability shouldn't be problematic for readers living elsewhere.
Five stars. This would make a good choice for smallholders, gardening / allotment groups, public or school library acquisition, and for the home gardener.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 9, 2021
This is such a well-done, thorough, and comprehensive guide to starting a vegetable garden! There is so much information from 4 different garden plans (with details for year one, two, and three), information on what you should grow, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting (and more)!
I really enjoyed this book; I think it's a great place to start when growing your own vegetables. It has a wealth of knowledge in it.
[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
I really enjoyed this book; I think it's a great place to start when growing your own vegetables. It has a wealth of knowledge in it.
[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
May 14, 2021
I've been reading a lot of beginner's gardening books, and this was one of my least favorite. Though it claims to be easy to follow for every level of gardener, including the beginning and the seasoned, I didn't feel like I received any insight into the process. It could have been the formatting of the e-book, which jumbled some passages, but the strictness of the outline felt confining. I wasn't really learning how to garden, I was learning how to follow this specific recipe.
June 22, 2023
Oddly done book. While there are many diagrams they aren't well detailed. Plants are mentioned but aren't always defined in the drawings. And since some of the plants may look the same as others those details would help since some are meant to be companion plants and some would use up the same resources making them competitive. And, oddly enough, many of these are meant to be decorative. Why? It can't be to please HOAs, they probably wouldn't let you plant food out front anyway because they're little dictatorships who don't care about anything but appearance. And food isn't as classy as lawns apparently. Even though humans can't process most grasses outside of bamboo. (Please tell me how self elected wannabes can tell you what to plant on property you own? To the point they can force you move or even take your home from you if you don't pay them $ on top of what you're already paying the loan holder.) The planting ideas are mostly bag gardens. Not growing bags, like for potatoes or peanuts. Nope. You literally cut the top off your potting soil bags and use them as planters. Hence my confusion over color coordination of plants via fruits and blooms. Because who cares how pretty what's growing is when you're looking at a plastic bag of soil that it's growing out of? So, yeah, some interesting ideas but only applicable if you don't live in a ridiculously run suburb nightmare ruled by an HOA.
A little more focus on the nutrition value of the plants you're growing would be more welcome than what looks better growing against this or that, too. As in: growing beans/peas, squashes and greens as staple crops for food vs tomatoes and flowers because they look nice together.
Also, tips for food storage and preservation wouldn't be amiss. Growing food is great but many are quickly perishable without long term storage ideas. Not everything has to be canned, either. As most people have ceramic cooktops and that cuts pressure canning completely out. And many items don't have enough acid for water bath canning. Simple freezer tips or dehydration tips would be good for greens (blanch first ) and herbs (after dehydrated many can be stored for 6mos to year in jars). Even for squashes. Many can be thinly sliced and drizzled with vinegars and lightly salted for dehydration to make delicious pickle like chips. Or battered then spread on cookie sheets to freeze for up to a year. They can then be baked, air fried or pan fried later. Vacuum sealers would help after they're prepared to keep them longer. There are absolutely no storage ideas for anything grown here. And no mention of seed collection (or which you can and which you can't) of flowers, herbs, fruits or vegetables. Example: you can collect marigold seeds and this create an endless supply of them. You can't collect squash seeds. They hybridize with others and you can end up with cucumber melon squash frankenfruits.
They have tips on mulching but it's kind of a general overview and don't mention important things like slugs love mulches. Which can be detrimental to strawberries and other sweet fruits.
A little more focus on the nutrition value of the plants you're growing would be more welcome than what looks better growing against this or that, too. As in: growing beans/peas, squashes and greens as staple crops for food vs tomatoes and flowers because they look nice together.
Also, tips for food storage and preservation wouldn't be amiss. Growing food is great but many are quickly perishable without long term storage ideas. Not everything has to be canned, either. As most people have ceramic cooktops and that cuts pressure canning completely out. And many items don't have enough acid for water bath canning. Simple freezer tips or dehydration tips would be good for greens (blanch first ) and herbs (after dehydrated many can be stored for 6mos to year in jars). Even for squashes. Many can be thinly sliced and drizzled with vinegars and lightly salted for dehydration to make delicious pickle like chips. Or battered then spread on cookie sheets to freeze for up to a year. They can then be baked, air fried or pan fried later. Vacuum sealers would help after they're prepared to keep them longer. There are absolutely no storage ideas for anything grown here. And no mention of seed collection (or which you can and which you can't) of flowers, herbs, fruits or vegetables. Example: you can collect marigold seeds and this create an endless supply of them. You can't collect squash seeds. They hybridize with others and you can end up with cucumber melon squash frankenfruits.
They have tips on mulching but it's kind of a general overview and don't mention important things like slugs love mulches. Which can be detrimental to strawberries and other sweet fruits.
April 21, 2019
One of my fellow Quest Scouters posted some photographs for her 50 Adventures a while back. She had several bags of topsoil in her backyard. She had cut the tops of the bags and directly sown seeds. I was intrigued and asked a few questions.
Backstory . . . I have longed been enamored with gardening. But I have no skills. I've tried a little of this, and a little of that, but no matter what I attempt, it all dies.
What I need is a gardening 101: do this! Then do that! I would settle for a friend who knew what was going on. Despite my research, I never found anything that quite met my needs.
Yet, I have all this space in the back. We cut down the "forest" a few years ago. Now we have a larg expanse of weeds . . . that is slightly uneven. Initially, I wanted to level it off, extend the sprinkler system, and lay sod. That was a bit pricier than I wanted, so it didn't happen.
Now that spring has sprung, I am outside and thinking through options again. I am getting ready to plant cucumber seeds for a Quest Scouts objective and a 50 Adventures (grow cucumbers, make pickles!). During the winter I did research on this, purchased some seeds, and bookmarked a page that explained everything.
So, the lady who had the pictures also posted the name of a book she was using. It was this book. Now that I am finally through all my Quest Scout reading, I thought I would change things up and read this before I move onto my next batch of books.
This is the book I needed a few years ago! This pretty much has plans for what I wanted to do then. I have moved on from those plans, however. I don't want a "complete" vegetable garden as we won't eat all that. I have become far more pragmatic about things. I want to plant cucumbers for pickles to accompany barbecue. It works for me.
I also want to plant rows of sunflowers.
And in the back of my mind, I've always wanted to grow watermelon and pumpkins. This hearkens back to my Tony Roma days when the new, young bartender came in. He had a plot of land somewhere and that's what he did: decided to give it a try. I thought that sounded kewl. It's been tucked away all these years. Since I am looking for a single-person activity that keeps me close to home that isn't going to break the bank, gardening seems like a good fit. This book has the kind of approach I need: split open some topsoil bags and sow.
Sure, there's a lot more here. But step-by-step planning, I can see this perhaps working out. I am at least willing to give it a shot.
So, while I was reading this, I decided to call up the web site I had bookmarked for the cucumbers. Don't you know, it was Barbara Pleasant's site. :) This was meant to be!
Backstory . . . I have longed been enamored with gardening. But I have no skills. I've tried a little of this, and a little of that, but no matter what I attempt, it all dies.
What I need is a gardening 101: do this! Then do that! I would settle for a friend who knew what was going on. Despite my research, I never found anything that quite met my needs.
Yet, I have all this space in the back. We cut down the "forest" a few years ago. Now we have a larg expanse of weeds . . . that is slightly uneven. Initially, I wanted to level it off, extend the sprinkler system, and lay sod. That was a bit pricier than I wanted, so it didn't happen.
Now that spring has sprung, I am outside and thinking through options again. I am getting ready to plant cucumber seeds for a Quest Scouts objective and a 50 Adventures (grow cucumbers, make pickles!). During the winter I did research on this, purchased some seeds, and bookmarked a page that explained everything.
So, the lady who had the pictures also posted the name of a book she was using. It was this book. Now that I am finally through all my Quest Scout reading, I thought I would change things up and read this before I move onto my next batch of books.
This is the book I needed a few years ago! This pretty much has plans for what I wanted to do then. I have moved on from those plans, however. I don't want a "complete" vegetable garden as we won't eat all that. I have become far more pragmatic about things. I want to plant cucumbers for pickles to accompany barbecue. It works for me.
I also want to plant rows of sunflowers.
And in the back of my mind, I've always wanted to grow watermelon and pumpkins. This hearkens back to my Tony Roma days when the new, young bartender came in. He had a plot of land somewhere and that's what he did: decided to give it a try. I thought that sounded kewl. It's been tucked away all these years. Since I am looking for a single-person activity that keeps me close to home that isn't going to break the bank, gardening seems like a good fit. This book has the kind of approach I need: split open some topsoil bags and sow.
Sure, there's a lot more here. But step-by-step planning, I can see this perhaps working out. I am at least willing to give it a shot.
So, while I was reading this, I decided to call up the web site I had bookmarked for the cucumbers. Don't you know, it was Barbara Pleasant's site. :) This was meant to be!
January 25, 2023
Really clear instructions. The plans are so helpful. As a first-time gardener, I appreciated the multitude of tips and knowledge she shares. I finished the book feeling inspired and energized to actually plan out my garden.
October 5, 2022
I enjoyed this book. As a former gardener (job) and a current at-home gardener (for fun), I did find this book useful and learned some new things. The garden plans all have illustrated layouts, almost like a blueprint, so following along is easy. The author, Barbara Pleasant, gives a step-by-step guide for each plan. There are small gardens, easy gardens and large gardens to choose from. Some even include flowers to make the garden more aesthetically pleasing, especially for those who need to plant in front of their house. Each layout gives information on how to expand or improve the garden every year x 3 years. I do think the book is a bit specific - it is not necessarily a general vegetable gardening book - it's focused on specific garden layouts. If interested, I recommend picking up a copy at your local bookstore and briefly reviewing the various layouts to see if one suits you.
May 1, 2021
Starter Vegetable Gardens (2nd edition) by Barbara Pleasant is a gem of a garden book for those who are ready for their first foray into vegetable gardening and a reference staple for those with a few seasons of experience. The format of the book is designed to provide just enough information in the first few chapters to prevent overwhelming the beginning gardener. The information becomes more comprehensive as the book progresses, yet is always clear and easy-to-understand.
I was particularly enamored with the tips, for example the recommendation to remove the bottom leaves of tomato seedlings and set the plants deep to allow ancillary roots to form on the buried stem. Also helpful were the myriad of facts, such as exposure to chilly temperatures may trigger flowering of herbs, such as cilantro,and cause it to go to seed rather continuing to produce abundant foliage. The chapters explaining local growing seasons will be invaluable, especially for those moving to new regions.
This is a book that any gardener will reach for again and again, whether beginner or advanced. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)#StarterVegetableGardens2ndEdition #NetGalley #Gardening
I was particularly enamored with the tips, for example the recommendation to remove the bottom leaves of tomato seedlings and set the plants deep to allow ancillary roots to form on the buried stem. Also helpful were the myriad of facts, such as exposure to chilly temperatures may trigger flowering of herbs, such as cilantro,and cause it to go to seed rather continuing to produce abundant foliage. The chapters explaining local growing seasons will be invaluable, especially for those moving to new regions.
This is a book that any gardener will reach for again and again, whether beginner or advanced. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)#StarterVegetableGardens2ndEdition #NetGalley #Gardening
June 24, 2025
I greatly appreciated having the ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing. It was the most ideal and comprehensive book that I could utilize for establishing a vegetable garden at our home which sits on 0.74 acres. We have a variety of terrains that make gardening difficult but this reference book has been one which I go back to when I need some inspiration for my garden just under 3 years in. It made planning and planting with our young children great fun, by showing them how to make different kinds of gardening beds, and having multiple year plans for them to see in action has made the difference in crop yields! We have recommended this book to so many - especially city friends who would benefit from even the simplicity of bag gardens. Highly recommend it!
April 6, 2022
I love this book so handy to have on your shelves
I was lucky enough to have a free copy to read from netgalley ( thank u 😁 )
It is American based and i am UK but i love the design amd thought put into it
I have my own UK allotment and the way the authors input into different months, tools needed, skill levels, accessibility ie front garden or family garden is amazing
I like how it does the 3 year rotation
Good advice in pest control
The diagrams are nice and clear easy to follow
I will defo be buying this full copy once realised in 2023
I was lucky enough to have a free copy to read from netgalley ( thank u 😁 )
It is American based and i am UK but i love the design amd thought put into it
I have my own UK allotment and the way the authors input into different months, tools needed, skill levels, accessibility ie front garden or family garden is amazing
I like how it does the 3 year rotation
Good advice in pest control
The diagrams are nice and clear easy to follow
I will defo be buying this full copy once realised in 2023
June 25, 2010
WOW! This book grows with you, plans for first, second and third year gardens! She assumes you will do all the work yourself, and that you actually want to eat what you produce.
I kept reading it going...WOW! WOW! Barbara Pleasant has written the book I need, she brought all of the ideas into a complete system.
I am stealing her "Family Food Factory" title (these are her big producing gardens in the middle of the book) for my own FFF!
I kept reading it going...WOW! WOW! Barbara Pleasant has written the book I need, she brought all of the ideas into a complete system.
I am stealing her "Family Food Factory" title (these are her big producing gardens in the middle of the book) for my own FFF!
April 8, 2011
This book lays out a very nice range of garden plans, including ones for beginners and very small gardens, to huge gardens for pros. Most are multi-year plans, a huge plus, so that you learn as you go. Includes detailed lists for supplies, seeds, and plants for every project, a timeline, and how-to info. Additional sections on organic gardening in general. A great resource if you don't know how to start, or if you need to have the possibilities reigned in (that's me!).
August 3, 2021
Where was this book when I started gardening? Starter Vegetable Gardens is all you need to start growing your own food in an organic and beautiful way. I do enjoy the info on planting things that are beneficial and beautiful when planted together. I learned many things even after gardening for more than half a century.
July 30, 2021
I found this so,interesting and I will be following this next year, I cannot wait. I’ll be getting the print copies for me and my mother-in-law and mom! It’s that good! If you want to garden, big or small, grab it!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 2, 2011
A beautiful book with lots of suggestions for different combinations of plants and a variety of layouts. I love that the book will grow along with my gardening expertise! I prepared my beds yesterday, and I'm planting today :-)
February 8, 2012
That's right. We're gardening. Great guide for those looking to dig a little deeper. (See what I did there?)
July 19, 2023
I love gardening [and pretending to be a gardener] I’m a beginner so I was very happy to read this book. Especially with the subheading: ’24 NO-FAIL PLANS for Small Organic Gardens’. No fail! I need this book.
The description states that the author, Barbara Pleasant, makes organic vegetable gardening easy, fun, and rewarding with detailed planning and care designs for beginner-friendly gardens. She does just that. This book is comprehensive and packed full of information. It is all inclusive: intended for new gardeners [that would be me], experienced gardeners - especially those helping new gardeners, and seasoned, more experienced gardeners.
I’d say there’s something here for everyone. I found it very easy to navigate my way through the book. The photographs are lovely too. There’s plenty of practical advice that covers everything you’d need to know about starting a vegetable garden. From soil to harvesting, planning to planting, nurturing and tidying, growing from seeds, preserving, recipes, and step-by-step instructions. I especially needed advice on growing peppers. I decided to experiment with growing pepper plants from the seeds inside bell-peppers and ended up with 72 seedling plants! Yikes! I planted rhubarb outside and have a giant harvest. I also experimented with cultivating apple and pear pips in damp kitchen-towels and food bags in the fridge… I ended up with 80 seedling apple and pear tree plants. Did I say that I’m a beginner and I have no idea what I’m doing? This book has helped me. I found some sound advice.
Some of the gardening books I own are very aspirational; they look nice on the shelf but in reality, that’s pretty much where they stay. Unopened. Unread. This one has been opened, read, and enjoyed. It is simple, easy to follow and useful. This is a keeper.
The description states that the author, Barbara Pleasant, makes organic vegetable gardening easy, fun, and rewarding with detailed planning and care designs for beginner-friendly gardens. She does just that. This book is comprehensive and packed full of information. It is all inclusive: intended for new gardeners [that would be me], experienced gardeners - especially those helping new gardeners, and seasoned, more experienced gardeners.
I’d say there’s something here for everyone. I found it very easy to navigate my way through the book. The photographs are lovely too. There’s plenty of practical advice that covers everything you’d need to know about starting a vegetable garden. From soil to harvesting, planning to planting, nurturing and tidying, growing from seeds, preserving, recipes, and step-by-step instructions. I especially needed advice on growing peppers. I decided to experiment with growing pepper plants from the seeds inside bell-peppers and ended up with 72 seedling plants! Yikes! I planted rhubarb outside and have a giant harvest. I also experimented with cultivating apple and pear pips in damp kitchen-towels and food bags in the fridge… I ended up with 80 seedling apple and pear tree plants. Did I say that I’m a beginner and I have no idea what I’m doing? This book has helped me. I found some sound advice.
Some of the gardening books I own are very aspirational; they look nice on the shelf but in reality, that’s pretty much where they stay. Unopened. Unread. This one has been opened, read, and enjoyed. It is simple, easy to follow and useful. This is a keeper.
January 31, 2023
It’s hard to believe but it is already time to be thinking of starting your kitchen garden. What you say? You have never had a garden before but are intrigued by the ease and environmental pluses of having your own small household garden? Look no further than Starter Vegetable Gardens.
Most garden books are intimidating with their talk of soil PH and bug controls. This book opens up the world of gardening to the laziest gardener. From picking seedlings at the local home center (or big box store) to using bags of soil as the planters, this book starts with the least amount of work possible. However, the author anticipates that you will soon have the gardening bug and scales up slowly each year until you are running a small family food factory in your yard by year 4, if you want. It is all very unintimidating.
While starting a first garden is the largest hurdle addressed here, all the other basics are also touched on in later chapters. In addition, there is a large selection of suggested plant varieties, based on your region’s weather, listed at the end of the book.
Starter Vegetable Gardens could be the answer to eating as close to farm to plate as possible. It could also save you some money, provide you with healthier food, and be fun all in one. I’m starting my own first food garden next month. Wish me luck! 4 stars for this easily accessibly gardening handbook!
Thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
Most garden books are intimidating with their talk of soil PH and bug controls. This book opens up the world of gardening to the laziest gardener. From picking seedlings at the local home center (or big box store) to using bags of soil as the planters, this book starts with the least amount of work possible. However, the author anticipates that you will soon have the gardening bug and scales up slowly each year until you are running a small family food factory in your yard by year 4, if you want. It is all very unintimidating.
While starting a first garden is the largest hurdle addressed here, all the other basics are also touched on in later chapters. In addition, there is a large selection of suggested plant varieties, based on your region’s weather, listed at the end of the book.
Starter Vegetable Gardens could be the answer to eating as close to farm to plate as possible. It could also save you some money, provide you with healthier food, and be fun all in one. I’m starting my own first food garden next month. Wish me luck! 4 stars for this easily accessibly gardening handbook!
Thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
January 18, 2020
Summary:
A really good feature of this book is how it provides a series of different garden designs, complete with timings, materials and great illustrations to help anyone get started and start producing food. It also caters for different gardening tastes from people looking for something aesthetically pleasing to those looking to eat as much as possible from their garden. It's information dense with lots of planting information and great tips, but I just didn't find it that engaging. I enjoyed looking at the garden designs, but didn't enjoy reading about them too much.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in gardening.
The main message I took from this book is to keep your soil covered to preserve its moisture and microbiology.
Some notable points:
- A great starting point for new gardeners is to just buy a bag of garden soil, cut it open and plant straight into it.
- Squash have broad leaves which can help keep your soil moist and smother out weeds.
- It's best to keep your nurturing instincts at bay and remove plants that are past their prime rather than waiting to get a bit more of a yield.
- Making a foil collar for seedlings can help protect them from pests during the early stages of their lives.
A really good feature of this book is how it provides a series of different garden designs, complete with timings, materials and great illustrations to help anyone get started and start producing food. It also caters for different gardening tastes from people looking for something aesthetically pleasing to those looking to eat as much as possible from their garden. It's information dense with lots of planting information and great tips, but I just didn't find it that engaging. I enjoyed looking at the garden designs, but didn't enjoy reading about them too much.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in gardening.
The main message I took from this book is to keep your soil covered to preserve its moisture and microbiology.
Some notable points:
- A great starting point for new gardeners is to just buy a bag of garden soil, cut it open and plant straight into it.
- Squash have broad leaves which can help keep your soil moist and smother out weeds.
- It's best to keep your nurturing instincts at bay and remove plants that are past their prime rather than waiting to get a bit more of a yield.
- Making a foil collar for seedlings can help protect them from pests during the early stages of their lives.
February 6, 2023
As someone who has read quite a few beginner gardening books, I found Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens to be refreshing and exactly what many homeowners need for starting a garden. Unlike some other books, the garden designs are designed for busy homeowners who need an easy-to-keep-up-with and aesthetically pleasing garden. While this may not be important to some, for those living in an HOA or strict community, this is extremely important, especially if you are using your front yard. I will likely use these designs in my yard since they will create a beautiful, practical garden I can enjoy the view of throughout the spring and summer.
I also love that the book has practical advice and detailed pictures to help you throughout every step of creating your garden. It also doesn’t hide that starting a garden isn’t cheap and labor-intensive but rewarding. It even has sections for more experienced gardeners like me, allowing you to incorporate new ideas into your garden, such as growing vegetables that you may not have considered in previous years. Overall, I consider this a must-have book for anyone looking to create their first vegetable garden.
I also love that the book has practical advice and detailed pictures to help you throughout every step of creating your garden. It also doesn’t hide that starting a garden isn’t cheap and labor-intensive but rewarding. It even has sections for more experienced gardeners like me, allowing you to incorporate new ideas into your garden, such as growing vegetables that you may not have considered in previous years. Overall, I consider this a must-have book for anyone looking to create their first vegetable garden.
February 19, 2022
It’s time to start planning for Spring gardens. Starter Vegetable Gardens is just the book to help you get started.
There are different plans for the amount of space you have and the type of vegetables that you want to plant. Then there is a starter plan, Year 2 plan and Year 3 plan. So you can start off more simply and then add more types and space each year, if you wish.
Having a successful garden year after year feels really complicated to me. So much to do and think about. I really liked how this book helped to continue planning over time.
The only issue I had with this is I didn’t see any zone info so I don’t know if I need to adjust the seasonal plans for my warm zone. Or if I need to adjust certain plants because of how warm it is here.
I think that’s a pretty important piece of info. Perhaps it’s there and I missed it but if it was overlooked then it should be added.
Thank you to #StoreyPublishjng and #NetGalley for this review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
There are different plans for the amount of space you have and the type of vegetables that you want to plant. Then there is a starter plan, Year 2 plan and Year 3 plan. So you can start off more simply and then add more types and space each year, if you wish.
Having a successful garden year after year feels really complicated to me. So much to do and think about. I really liked how this book helped to continue planning over time.
The only issue I had with this is I didn’t see any zone info so I don’t know if I need to adjust the seasonal plans for my warm zone. Or if I need to adjust certain plants because of how warm it is here.
I think that’s a pretty important piece of info. Perhaps it’s there and I missed it but if it was overlooked then it should be added.
Thank you to #StoreyPublishjng and #NetGalley for this review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2023
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
This is definitely a book for the serious gardener with a lot of yard space. As a novice gardener I learned a lot about what goes into planning a successful vegetable garden. I also really liked that the book covers not just starting a garden but maintaining and expanding it as well. The guides for when to plant different crops is also very helpful. This will definitely be a book I continue to refer to as I work on my own garden. My only wish for this book is that it had included more on using a raised bed and/or creating a garden in different types of yards. For example, the house I moved in to has an completely hardscaped backyard and I would have loved some advice on how to turn that type of area into a space capable of growing a variety of vegetables and flowers.
This is definitely a book for the serious gardener with a lot of yard space. As a novice gardener I learned a lot about what goes into planning a successful vegetable garden. I also really liked that the book covers not just starting a garden but maintaining and expanding it as well. The guides for when to plant different crops is also very helpful. This will definitely be a book I continue to refer to as I work on my own garden. My only wish for this book is that it had included more on using a raised bed and/or creating a garden in different types of yards. For example, the house I moved in to has an completely hardscaped backyard and I would have loved some advice on how to turn that type of area into a space capable of growing a variety of vegetables and flowers.
February 6, 2023
*4.5 stars*
A book for the newbie and the old pro gardener…
Have you ever wanted your hand held when you are trying something new for the first time? This author took my hand and expertly walked me through growing my first vegetable garden! From shopping lists to planning the patch, she never assumed I could become a pro the first time around. Instead, she encouraged me to take it slow, start small and you know what? I’m planning a move which includes a flower and vegetable patch and I feel, after reading this book, I can do it. Starting small of course…
But there’s more! This book offers something for everyone, not just for the new gardener. Helpful hints for all gardeners are offered here…
Whether a beginner or an expert, I think everyone will find something here!
*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you to NetGalley
A book for the newbie and the old pro gardener…
Have you ever wanted your hand held when you are trying something new for the first time? This author took my hand and expertly walked me through growing my first vegetable garden! From shopping lists to planning the patch, she never assumed I could become a pro the first time around. Instead, she encouraged me to take it slow, start small and you know what? I’m planning a move which includes a flower and vegetable patch and I feel, after reading this book, I can do it. Starting small of course…
But there’s more! This book offers something for everyone, not just for the new gardener. Helpful hints for all gardeners are offered here…
Whether a beginner or an expert, I think everyone will find something here!
*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you to NetGalley
July 8, 2021
Barbara Pleasant's Starter Vegetable Gardens is an excellent resource for the home gardener. It's designed to help beginners plan for their harvest over a few years, but I found it useful as well (I'm not exactly a beginner, but I'm nowhere near expert level by any means). I love that there are suggestions for plant placement, as I'm always looking for ways to best use my garden space, as well as tips for harvesting over each season, something that I definitely want to improve upon. I'm glad to have this in my collection and looking forward to finding a finishing copy. I highly recommend this--the text is quite easy to follow and really inspires you to get your hands in the dirt.
Thank you so much to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing this copy to review.
Thank you so much to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing this copy to review.
October 23, 2022
Buy Book !!!! Read, pick a plan, prepare soil, plant, water and harvest. What a great book.
I have been trying to build the confidence to start a garden at my house. This book does a great job of giving you options for a garden. Then provides you details in preparing the soil and setting up your garden. The book even gives you a diagram with dimensions and tells your what and where to plant.
The timing of reading this book should set me up to have a garden next spring. How exciting! The book even tells you what types of each vegetable to plant. Also talks about starting from seeds or small plants.
I have been trying to build the confidence to start a garden at my house. This book does a great job of giving you options for a garden. Then provides you details in preparing the soil and setting up your garden. The book even gives you a diagram with dimensions and tells your what and where to plant.
The timing of reading this book should set me up to have a garden next spring. How exciting! The book even tells you what types of each vegetable to plant. Also talks about starting from seeds or small plants.
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