Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening: Rare Varieties * Unusual Options * Plant Lore & Guidance

by Matt Mattus

Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening is your "201" level course in cultivating produce. Expand your knowledge base and discover options that go beyond the ordinary!

Prepare to encounter new varieties of common plant species, learn their history and benefits, and, most of all, identify fascinating new edibles to grow in your own gardens. Written by gardening expert Matt Mattus, Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening offers a wealth of new and exciting opportunities, alongside beautiful photography, lore, insight, and humor that can only come from someone who has grown each vegetable himself and truly loves gardening.

More than 200 varieties of vegetables and herbs from the 50 most popular groups are featured in hands-on profiles that tell you how, where, and why to grow each one.

Take artichokes for example: They are far from the most common edibles home growers choose, but when and if you choose to grow artichokes, you'll be fortunate to find more than one seed option, even at the better nurseries. In truth, there are nearly a dozen varieties of artichoke that are suitable for home growing in just about any climate, and each has its own unique benefits and characteristics. In Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening, you will find 10 types of artichoke described in through, loving detail—along with helpful tips on where and how to acquire seeds for each. And artichokes are just one item in this field-tested garden basket. Other popular and fascinating vegetables include: celtuce, Asian greens, cowpeas, carrots and parsnips, potatoes, parsley, and of course the tomato—you'll find over two dozen varieties discussed.

If you are one of the more than 800,000 folks per year who has begun growing vegetables at home, Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening is the reference you need to pursue this rewarding activity to a whole new level of excellence, satisfaction, and success.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Food

272 pages, Hardcover

First published December 25, 2018

About the author

Matt Mattus is an American horticulturist and visual designer. Author of Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening and the popular award winning gardening blog GROWING WITH PLANTS, Matt's gardens, greenhouse and plant collections have been featured in both lifestyle publication like Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes and Gardens as well as in many plant society journals. A popular speaker on many gardening topics,

Matt is the past president of the North American Rock Garden Society, the past editor of the American Primrose Society Journal and is an officer in many specialist plant societies.. He currently sits on the Board as a Trustee of the Tower Hill Botanic Garden and is Vice President of the 175 year old Worcester County Horticultural Society in Massachusetts.

Before turning to his horticultural passions in 2017 full-time, Matt was a futurist/principal designer for 28 years at toy and entertainment giant Hasbro, Inc., in their top secret Innovation Lab.

Today he spends much of his time botanizing and studying plants at remote botanic hotspots around the world such as Yunnan and Patagonia, as well as writing about his many plant projects. He lives, writes about his garden and home greenhouse in central Massachusetts where the snow is deep in the winter.

Reviews

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intermediate level book on vegetable gardening. Assumes that you know the "basics", and concentrates on a more advanced level of growing. Really hits the different types of vegetables that you can grow. Covers many of the more common varieties, but also includes rare or unusual strains of vegetables.
Beautifully photographed.
As it's the time of year when I'm poring over the latest garden catalogs, planning this year's gardens, it really helped me to decide what to plant!

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

#MasteringTheArtOfVegetableGardening #NetGalley

Many vegetables are covered in this book including many rare ones. What separates this book from most of the others are the sections on care and processing. This book gives you a reference on how to process immediately for eating and how to process for storage, which is invaluable! The book takes you step by step from what kind, to how to plant, to how to pick and how to process. This is a great step by step guide for a newbie or seasoned gardener. It also has beautiful pictures but encourages people to have the size of garden that best suits their time and family need.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening is a comprehensive book that details everything you need to know about growing different veggies. An added bonus is the photography, which is just beautiful.

In the introduction, Mattus is positively inspiring. I think he could actually motivate someone who had no intention of starting a vegetable garden!

What you grow is a personal choice. Be creative. Treat your vegetable garden as your own private fantasy supermarket. Make it the most amazing farming experience you can imagine. Grow things you can’t buy at any vegetable stand or find at any store. But also grow the things you use most or find yourself buying every week. Be inspired not to just sow something and let it grow, but to truly master growing it.

The book goes through every step in growing different vegetables. There is every vegetable I could think represented in this book, including kale, garlic, swiss chard, broccoli, okra, parsnips, carrots, beans, tomatoes and more. There are even some herbs included like parsley, dill and cilantro.

Mattus holds your hand through growing each vegetable but not in an arrogant way. The treatment of each vegetable is extensive and very thorough, including varieties, raising from seeds, transplanting to the garden, pests/disease, staking and pruning, and pollinating. He talks about the best kind of containers to use when growing your seedlings and advises on temperatures for both seedlings and plants. Also, Mattus discusses fertilizer, watering and mulching.

I am so glad I found this book because I want to start a vegetable garden this spring. And I found it at the perfect time since he recommends starting tomatoes by ordering seeds and seed trays in late winter, which it is now!

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond your basic or average gardening book, this one is real wealth of in-depth information on seeding, growing, fertilizing, harvesting and addressing issues like pests, diseases and growing problems. Focusing on common species from artichokes to zucchini, Mattus gives quick rundowns on the history of each as well as a list of his favorite varieties. Really inspiring, informative and well done!

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening
Rare Varieties * Unusual Options * Plant Lore & Guidance
by Matt Mattus


Gardening may sound easy...take a seed, stick it in the ground and water it...voila...a plant. Well, it is often much more difficult than that! Knowing which plants will thrive where you live may not be enough because there are always pests or amendments or any number of other things to take into consideration. This book provides the novice and the master gardener with information that will assist in creating a beautiful vegetable garden with the additional information of how to avoid foibles the author encountered in his years of gardening.

The photos of the plants are gorgeous and made me almost want to take up a shovel and do some planting but as that is my husband’s domain I instead shared some of what I learned with him. There are several unusual varieties I had not seen before of vegetables I eat weekly and I might look for some of those seeds to gift my husband with in the future.

Definitely a book I could sit and read in greater detail and one I would consider gifting a gardener with in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Elysian Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an intermediate gardener this book was such a joy to read, in-depth information and beautiful pictures help create a wonderful book that will be a staple in my library for years to come. This book has much more than the basic information in every beginning gardening book, it’s in-depth with information for the immediate processing, eating and storage of all of your vegetables.

This book is comprehensive with each step a gardener needs in the process of vegetable gardening. Step by step the author takes you from the best way to start your garden (seeds or starts) to the best place to plant all the way through to how to harvest, eat and store.

I loved that the author was encouraging in how to have a garden no matter the size of land you have. It was nice to see that I could still have a very nice garden in a small place and that the author talked about how to get the most out of your land. The author walks the reader through the process of choosing the best plants for both their garden and their climate. Bugs, diseases and weather are all topics that are discussed, and this is valuable information for any gardener.

The typical and common plants are talked about here, but there are also some unique plants that get this gardener’s heart beating a bit fast. It is always fun to discover new and interesting plants! If you think that cover is stunning, just wait until you see the photographs inside. This book will get you in the mood for spring and get you excited for the new growing season. I received an ARC via Net Gallery and am leaving an honest review.

#MasteringtheArtofVegetableGardening #NetGallery

[Hilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic gardening book. Matt Matthus covers the history of vegetables, how to choose them, how to grow and which pitfalls to avoid. Many useful tips and an abundance of beautiful photographs.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book - even the only one you need to have a productive, healthy veggie garden.
Although there are plenty of wonderful photographs in the book, the information is the stuff that makes this book so good.
I too have been gardening for many years, and I remember at 4yrs old helping my grandfather, an Italian migrant, grow all the vegetables needed for our table. He continued to do so well into his 90s. Over the years I have read many book on growing vegetables, but none actually have been as good as this, answering sensible questions and explaining the "why and hows" as this book does.
The photos are truly amazing and consolidates the information on each variety. They also not only make me jealous, but offer inspiration that my next years crop will hopefully look as good (or half that good)
It all makes sense and it is quite simple when one understands.
Love this book

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is seriously fantastic. I’m coming up on my fifth season of gardening and the tips provided in here are absolutely what I crave.

Don’t get me wrong, introductory books about gardening have a time and place in a grower’s education. However, this book offers so much food history and growing advice about literally hundreds of garden fruits and vegetables—it’s awesome.

Last summer I struggled with white powdery mildew on all of my cucurbits, but this book easily offered a new watering practice that I never considered before! I’m looking forward to trying morning watering times versus evening watering times to protect my plants from mildew.

Thanks to #NetGalley, I had an advanced PDF to read and review.

*All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. *

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of information in this book. As noted in the synopsis above, Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening is not an entry level book. It’s a book for someone who already has the basics down. It is, though just chock full of information about all manner of vegetables.

There are lots of beautiful photos to make what is essentially a reference book a pleasant reading experience. The book goes in to a deep dive for each vegetable it profiles offering up all you need to know about the varieties and how to grow them.

It’s not a book that you read cover to cover. It’s a book that you keep on hand to be there to answer your questions when you want to know something about say, planting cruciferous vegetables. It’s an excellent addition for every gardener’s library.

[Patch405 (Shannon Barghols) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a relatively new gardener and already own dozens of books on the subject. How does one justify purchasing yet another one? By finding one that specifically addresses how to hone your craft! Matt Mattus does just that in Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening, and I am actually better prepared to garden because of reading this book.

In the introduction, Mattus writes, “For me, food quality isn’t a question of organic versus conventional, or no-till versus digging-in, or heirloom versus hybrid. It’s a question of what I want to grow, and what I should do to help each seed or plant become the best vegetable it can possibly be.”

Count me in!

Make no mistake, this is a book about growing strategies. He covers everything from artichokes to zucchini. Each section has a highlight box that provides “Mastering Techniques” that I found to be extremely helpful. Scared to start from seed? In some cases he will convince you it’s the only way to go. Been avoiding certain vegetables for one reason or another? He will give you the confidence to give it a try. He tells you what to do when, what to consider, and what to look for along the way. He provides information regarding varieties, but at the same time he encourages you to look around and see what you can find.

I loved this book and would be thrilled to receive a hard copy from the publisher. I received an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

For more about me and my gardening efforts, please follow my blog at www.patch405.com

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good vegetable gardening guide especially if you live in a colder climate. Emphasis on vegetables that grow well in cold climates. What I enjoyed most was Mattus’ musings on his personal interaction with seeds and vegetable plants. It’s clear he knows and grows all of these selections.

I also liked reading about gardening in an older garden space because they’re are difficulties in an older garden.

Because of the book I’m going to try growing onions from seed instead of onion sets.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book, for free, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is organized first by plant group (e.g. nightshades or allium) and then by veggie.
There is good information on why you'd grow that veggie and varieties to choose.
While there was good information on soil type, germination, etc. the depth/layout fell below my favorite gardening books. That being said, it was better than many gardening books so it's worth a looksie.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a gardener. Nothing feels as good as being outside in the sunshine working with your hands to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs. I have mastered the routines of planting but wanted to know more about varieties and soil prep to make the most of my time and money. I have been very impressed with the manner in which Mr Mattus has presented his knowledge and is encouraging the beginner gardener to become an expert. His book has now joined my small gardening reference library and I'll be using it often. I'm definitely growing artichokes!!!!!

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a book about gardening that doesn't pigeon hole why you do it, what you grow, how the pH of your soil is. This book is about growing vegetables for your table, vegetables you actually want to eat. The author gives you freedom of choice without feeling guilty. He is also keenly aware that today's families are not canning 60 quarts to put in a root cellar or that today's gardener is not making a victory garden as a matter of necessity and patriotic pride. The author suggests that you treat your garden like your fantasy supermarket. Ingenious! Loved the book and will be recommending it to my friends. Great job!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I love the depth of went into for each vegetable and how to plant them. The pictures are beautiful too! I can't wait to start my own garden now! Inspiring and informative read!

[Delacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to inspire your gardening adventure with beautiful photos. It also has a nice bit of information on a variety of veggies grown in North America with some unique veggies that you may not have considered for your garden. This book doesn't give you the latest hokey growing trend, but information that is tried and trued and tangible eg. soil acidity and what fertilizer should be used and when. Being in Canada I also appreciated that he acknowledges what does well in colder climates/shorter growing seasons. Overall, a nice solid gardening book for your collection. *I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos, helpful advice for growing, including soil quality.

[Tesha Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is great for anyone interested in starting their own vegetable garden. It has thorough explanations of a range of things like how to store, grow, plan for growing, and how to prepare before growing your selected vegetables. The book includes a massive range of vegetables and how to care for each one, include the alternative caring procedures for all varieties of each vegetable. It's great for a beginner gardener who wants the most information in one book.

I received a free ARC copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Misti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Matt's blog for years and was excited to see he was putting a book together. This is a beautiful and informative book on growing a wide selection of edibles. I was pleased to see some southern staples in the book, such as collards, cowpeas, okra, and growing more popular, luffa.

The only downside, and one I've just come to accept with most gardening books, is the slight skew to zone 7 and above or northern/cooler climates. I know by now to flip a lot of things around for a southern garden but a newbie might want to keep that in mind. I think he tried to cover the bases about that on some of the vegetable profiles and in others it was a bit skimpier. But I'm just being picky because this isn't something new in the gardening world, southern gardens getting a bit of the shaft.

Lovely book, will definitely reference for a few particular groups that I don't cultivate often!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book quite a bit. Matt Mattus writes with both authority and enthusiasm. This book is separated conveniently into vegetable families (i.e. Cucurbits, brassicas, nightshades, etc.) and he gives solid information on cultivation. I also appreciate, as a farmer in VT, how he mentions in particular some of the best farming methods for those of us raising gardens in New England (Mr. Mattus resides in Massachusetts). There are a lot of books out there these days on gardening/small scale farming, and it really serves the reader to find a writer who grows in their region of the country. Beautiful color photos round out the detailed information and tips.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been planning to plant a vegetable garden so I decided to give this book a try. I am a beginning gardener and found some helpful tips for successfully getting my garden going. I would say this is an intermediate level book, so it lacks some of the absolute basics you may be looking for. But for someone with even a little bit of experience, this book is a helpful tool.

The tone is confident without being condescending or bossy. Just valuable gardening advice that can help you grow a more substantial garden

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
"Mastering" is a bit of a stretch. A lot of this book focuses more on the history and genus/species/etc than growing or showing rare varieties. I found my attention waning every time I picked this book up. The photography is beautiful, though. If you have basic knowledge of most vegetables, this won't be anything new or exciting for you.

[Kirsten Lost 2022 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough look at various vegetables that you can grow. Very America-centric, unfortunately.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book if you are brand new to gardening and interested in a little backyard raised bed and have never heard of rare varieties of vegetables.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening by Matt Mattus


December 2018
Nonfiction, gardening
Rating: 5/5

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Beautiful colorful illustrations of seeds to seedlings to plants. The book covers rare varieties of vegetables with helpful charts and descriptions. A gardener can never have too many books or suggestions on growing the best plants. It’s winter and the vibrant pictures make me eager to start browsing the seed catalogs. This is a wonderful addition to any gardeners library.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for anyone who has been gardening before and whats to get into more detail. Stunning pictures and some really helpful and great information.

As a beginning gardener, this book didn't help with the basics, but once those are mastered, then it keeps on going and becomes a lot more helpful. I would keep a physical copy as a coffee table book as well since it is so interesting and pretty. 4 out of 5