Grow Great Vegetables in New York

by Marie Iannotti

Get the Inside Dirt, New York!

Grow Great Vegetables in New York is the ultimate guide to growing food in the Empire State! This must-have guide to growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs provides you with insider advice on climate zones, average frost dates, and growing season details. Information includes details on sun, soil, fertilizer, mulch, water, and the best varieties for your region. A garden planning section helps with design and crop rotation, and monthly lists explain what to do from January through December. In-depth profiles of fifty best edibles help ensure a can’t-miss harvest.
 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2019

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written and informative book, with plenty of gorgeous photos. Iannotti covers everything you could possibly want to know about growing plants in New York state or city. She explains the different climates in each zone of the state and how it affects the plants, she provides tips for gardeners in every situation from a pot balanced on a fire escape to an entire field, and she includes helpful guides on adjacent topics (how to compost, how to dry herbs, how to make your own pesticides, etc). The majority of the book is divided into two parts: a month by month yearly calendar that explains what to do in each month (when to plant, when to harvest, and so on) and a list of fifty vegetables each with their own specific tips on how to grow them and recommended varietals. It's a fantastic book that will have something useful for everyone, from the absolute beginner to the old pros.
I read this as an ARC via NetGalley.

[Renee(Reneesramblings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great guide, as gardening in NY can be anywhere from hardiness zones 3-7. There are even differences among zones, for example, Long Island ( where I live) has the western end which is hotter and dryer than the east end with the ocean breeze. Too many books rely on a one size fits all approach, but Grow Great Vegetables in NY lays out a ton of useful information.
This book is broken with a general introduction to NY gardening, then by month with ideas for what will work in your zone. Fact: Every year, I start seeds in February, but I have found that the conditions of spring( hello, the 99th day of January)does not equate ideal planting temperatures, and this year I am going to wait.
March, for example, tells you what you should do ( based on your zone), preparing beds, having frost protection available, and building a hoop house. You won't be sorry you read this guide as it covers slugs, beneficial insects, what you should plant, starting seed indoors, supporting your plants.....just basically everything you need to know to grow a garden! I have been gardening for several years, and learned something new every month! A very comprehensive guide.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been to the Northeast and I can't afford to travel, so I like to look at books about what life is like in the Northeast. I love gardening and I am totally unfamiliar with the climate of the Northeast (apparently they have real winters there?? Thank God the Pacific Northwest avoids those things...) so I checked out Timber Press's whole series from Marie Iannotti, Growing Great Vegetables in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

Funny story, each of these books contain the same information with only a few variations. Still, lots of great info about gardening in the Northeast, I place I will probably never visit. Some great tips about vegetable gardening in general, regardless of where you are (especially if you need help maintaining your garden during the winter). So if you live in the region, these books will be very useful. If you're just an armchair traveler / gardener, then you'll find some great info.

Also no way am I ever living in any of those states. First frost in September? SEPTEMBER??!?! No thank you. I'll stay in the West, where by September most of the west is still on fire.