The Berry Grower's Companion

by Barbara L. Bowling

Now available in a convenient paperback format, this berry growing reference is an essential guide for anyone growing them for pleasure or for profit. Berry fruits have long been used and appreciated in the kitchen, but the aesthetic appeal and practical benefits they bring to the garden landscape are all too often ignored. Whether using strawberry plants for ground cover, enjoying the colorful autumn foliage of blueberry bushes, or training a grapevine to climb a trellis, gardeners will find that berry plants can make highly versatile contributions to a range of environments. Backyard gardeners, as well as small fruit growers and nursery people, will find an abundance of valuable, practical information in this volume, including plant lists and tables, cultivation tips, and color photographs for plant identification.

Genres: Gardening, Reference, Nonfiction

308 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bowling's career revolves around the commercial use of these crops, so she gives information that is appropriate for both large-scale and small-scale operations. At some times I found that more discouraging, because the large scale needs seem insurmountable, but they also might not come up for my yard.

Also, she gets a little bit precious (illustrious consort, noble beast, etc.).

I think there could be a more down to earth guide focusing on just berries for your yard, and for personal use, but there nonetheless is a lot of information in this book, and I did learn things.

[Steven Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter would describe this as a "Boring book on a boring subject for boring people." I concur; but sadly, I am one of those "boring people." My blueberries are doing beautifully and I have now spread to kiwis and raspberries. Yawn

The information I found in this book has contributed stretch to my gardening success.


Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Laurla2]

skimmed most of this, it was terribly dry and droll. too much unnecessary boring information, and not enough clear precise directions on how to plant and prune and grow.

[Faith High School · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers a reasonably sized spectrum of fruits that people enjoy. It shows the reader how to grow and care for the plant, and it also gives a history lesson of the plant as well. It contains the basic berries that everyone loves, plus a few different ones that are not so common to the average person. I would recommend this book to people who are getting into gardening and know very little about the basic berries. DV

[Lise Petrauskas]

Fantastic reference. All the techniques I've tried, especially her pruning techniques, which often seem counter-intuitive, have increased productivity and, most importantly, my enjoyment of harvest season.