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Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home
Dig into vegetable gardening―a beginner’s guide to growing-it-yourself
Growing your own vegetables is a rewarding venture that’s both affordable and appetizing, but the beginning gardener may find it difficult to weed through an overwhelming landscape of resources. Whether you’re new to gardening or interested in saving costs, Vegetable Gardening for Beginners offers easy-to-follow steps for starting and sustaining your very own vegetable garden.
Learn the basics of starting your dream garden, including tips on choosing between in-ground or raised bed gardens and creating a full-season garden plan. Discover how to make your own soil mix, transplant seedlings, and maintain and harvest a thriving vegetable garden for seasons to come.
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners includes:
* Beet-by-beet gardening―Get the lowdown on planning, prepping, and planting―including building and filling garden beds, watering, mulching, and more.
* Garden variety―Choose the right seeds with 30 in-depth profiles on popular vegetables and key decisions, like choosing companion plants.
* Weed out problems―Troubleshoot plant problems, including bitter carrots, blight, and even pests like the squash vine borer.
Go from greenhorn to green thumb with Vegetable Gardening for Beginners.
Growing your own vegetables is a rewarding venture that’s both affordable and appetizing, but the beginning gardener may find it difficult to weed through an overwhelming landscape of resources. Whether you’re new to gardening or interested in saving costs, Vegetable Gardening for Beginners offers easy-to-follow steps for starting and sustaining your very own vegetable garden.
Learn the basics of starting your dream garden, including tips on choosing between in-ground or raised bed gardens and creating a full-season garden plan. Discover how to make your own soil mix, transplant seedlings, and maintain and harvest a thriving vegetable garden for seasons to come.
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners includes:
* Beet-by-beet gardening―Get the lowdown on planning, prepping, and planting―including building and filling garden beds, watering, mulching, and more.
* Garden variety―Choose the right seeds with 30 in-depth profiles on popular vegetables and key decisions, like choosing companion plants.
* Weed out problems―Troubleshoot plant problems, including bitter carrots, blight, and even pests like the squash vine borer.
Go from greenhorn to green thumb with Vegetable Gardening for Beginners.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
154 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2020
533 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 5, 2023
A great book for anyone who wants to dip their digits into gardening. Suitable for both tiny balcony gardens and home gardens. It has info on the best plants for beginners, care tips, spacing tips, compost and soil guidelines, and ideas for planning out your space. I have this book on Kindle, but I’ll definitely get a hard copy as well; it’s just so useful to have around when I’m in the garden pondering my next moves. Most importantly, it’s not TMI.
The only thing I wish was covered more is pests and diseases and what NOT to consider a disease.
The only thing I wish was covered more is pests and diseases and what NOT to consider a disease.
January 16, 2023
Great book with really cute illustrations throughout. I rather enjoyed them instead of the normal photos.
This is a fabulous book for beginners. Very informative.
I think this would also be a great book for non-beginners as well. Your garden is never the same year after year. And there are surely different problems that can arise.
I read it cover to cover and will keep for reference. Great resource.
This is a fabulous book for beginners. Very informative.
I think this would also be a great book for non-beginners as well. Your garden is never the same year after year. And there are surely different problems that can arise.
I read it cover to cover and will keep for reference. Great resource.
April 13, 2020
I was given an opportunity, via the publisher, to read Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home. I chose to review this publication and my opinion is freely given.
This is an excellent step-by-step guide, separated out into sections with valuable information like planning, building, planting, maintaining and harvesting. The second part of the book is sectioned out into cool weather and warm weather vegetables, plus a section for alliums and herbs.
My favorite part of the book is actually the introduction. 7 Things to Know Before You Grow has practical advice such as: grow what you eat; don't be afraid to experiment; be patient; understand that not everything will grow well in your climate; embrace failure; mother nature has the last word; and take it easy and take it slow. There is also a glossary of common terminology, which is helpful to those just starting out with vegetable gardening. The author then goes through the different types of gardens, essential tools, and how to be successful using the tips in this book, as well as a handy chart on companion planting combinations.
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home has everything from starting seeds indoors to reading a seed packet. I particularly liked the section on common problems and pests, especially the practical tips on how to solve them. Sections on the different types of vegetables are well laid out and give all of the information necessary for success, from planting to harvest. I liked the illustrative way the vegetables are presented, as the pages are colorful and inviting. I would definitely recommend this book, as it is a handy reference guide to vegetable gardening.
This is an excellent step-by-step guide, separated out into sections with valuable information like planning, building, planting, maintaining and harvesting. The second part of the book is sectioned out into cool weather and warm weather vegetables, plus a section for alliums and herbs.
My favorite part of the book is actually the introduction. 7 Things to Know Before You Grow has practical advice such as: grow what you eat; don't be afraid to experiment; be patient; understand that not everything will grow well in your climate; embrace failure; mother nature has the last word; and take it easy and take it slow. There is also a glossary of common terminology, which is helpful to those just starting out with vegetable gardening. The author then goes through the different types of gardens, essential tools, and how to be successful using the tips in this book, as well as a handy chart on companion planting combinations.
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home has everything from starting seeds indoors to reading a seed packet. I particularly liked the section on common problems and pests, especially the practical tips on how to solve them. Sections on the different types of vegetables are well laid out and give all of the information necessary for success, from planting to harvest. I liked the illustrative way the vegetables are presented, as the pages are colorful and inviting. I would definitely recommend this book, as it is a handy reference guide to vegetable gardening.
July 7, 2020
This book does everything it set out to do. It is an excellent resource for beginners that is easy to understand and follow. It will teach you how to decide what kind of garden you should work with as well as how to plan out your garden. I also appreciated the growing guides in the second half of the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2020
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners, Simple guide to growing vegetables at home by Jill McSheehy
This book starts with a dedication page and then table of contents where all aspects of vegetable gardening are included.
Introduction is included and the author makes it very easy for anybody to use this book. Starts out with a plan, what to grow and why you want to, how to make it raised or in the ground, compost, seeds, etc.
Love the companion charts as it shows what will help control pests from accompanying plants.
There are pictures of items throughout the book, love seed packet and it's explained.
Love section on cool season plants as this is the locale i am living in.
Each vegetables has its own title and tells you which container it's suited for, family name, season, spacing, indoor or direct start, soil temperature and so much more information. Also more details about starting, growing, harvesting and storing and common problems.
Index, acknowledgements and about the author are listed at the end.
A KEEPER because there is so much information all in ONE place about crops I want to grow.
I received this review copy from The Callisto Publisher's Club and this is my honest opinion.
This book starts with a dedication page and then table of contents where all aspects of vegetable gardening are included.
Introduction is included and the author makes it very easy for anybody to use this book. Starts out with a plan, what to grow and why you want to, how to make it raised or in the ground, compost, seeds, etc.
Love the companion charts as it shows what will help control pests from accompanying plants.
There are pictures of items throughout the book, love seed packet and it's explained.
Love section on cool season plants as this is the locale i am living in.
Each vegetables has its own title and tells you which container it's suited for, family name, season, spacing, indoor or direct start, soil temperature and so much more information. Also more details about starting, growing, harvesting and storing and common problems.
Index, acknowledgements and about the author are listed at the end.
A KEEPER because there is so much information all in ONE place about crops I want to grow.
I received this review copy from The Callisto Publisher's Club and this is my honest opinion.
April 21, 2020
“With the help of this book, you’ll work toward creating the vegetable garden of your dreams,” Jill McSheehy writes at the beginning of her informative book, Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home.
~ What ~
This one-hundred-and-sixty-six-page paperback targets those who want to learn more about planning, planting, and maintaining a vegetable garden. After an introduction, the book is divided into two sections with a total of eight chapters that cover the topic. It ends with a zone map, resources, references, index, acknowledgments, and the author’s biography.
Divided into two sections, the first part of this read focuses on explaining how to plan, build, plant, maintain, and harvest a vegetable garden. The second part has descriptions, tips, and requirements for both cool and warm-season vegetables along with alliums and herbs. With light green highlighted sections, tan-colored charts, and explanations of when, where, and why to plant over thirty home-grown foods, there are colored illustrations throughout.
~Why ~
This is a very to-the-point book that any gardener-wanna-be can pick up and start immediately. I liked that it covers the tools needed, planting combinations, how to read a seed packet, and common problems and pests. The simple writing on how to grow arugula, broccoli, green peas, spinach, eggplant, melons, okra, cilantro, mint, and thyme and others was informative and concise.
~ Why Not ~
Some may not be interested in books that promote growing your own garden. Others may wish there were more illustrations showing plants, beds, and planting techniques. A few may consider the book rudimentary in detail, which is why it concentrates on beginner gardeners.
~ Wish ~
Although I thought the illustrations were beautiful and detailed, I wish photographs were included instead for a more accurate visual description of the plants, how to plant them, and landscaping suggestions.
~ Want ~
If you are looking for an elementary book on starting a veggie garden, this is a delightful source book.
Thanks to Callisto Publisher’s Club and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.
Rated 4.5 of 5 stars
~ What ~
This one-hundred-and-sixty-six-page paperback targets those who want to learn more about planning, planting, and maintaining a vegetable garden. After an introduction, the book is divided into two sections with a total of eight chapters that cover the topic. It ends with a zone map, resources, references, index, acknowledgments, and the author’s biography.
Divided into two sections, the first part of this read focuses on explaining how to plan, build, plant, maintain, and harvest a vegetable garden. The second part has descriptions, tips, and requirements for both cool and warm-season vegetables along with alliums and herbs. With light green highlighted sections, tan-colored charts, and explanations of when, where, and why to plant over thirty home-grown foods, there are colored illustrations throughout.
~Why ~
This is a very to-the-point book that any gardener-wanna-be can pick up and start immediately. I liked that it covers the tools needed, planting combinations, how to read a seed packet, and common problems and pests. The simple writing on how to grow arugula, broccoli, green peas, spinach, eggplant, melons, okra, cilantro, mint, and thyme and others was informative and concise.
~ Why Not ~
Some may not be interested in books that promote growing your own garden. Others may wish there were more illustrations showing plants, beds, and planting techniques. A few may consider the book rudimentary in detail, which is why it concentrates on beginner gardeners.
~ Wish ~
Although I thought the illustrations were beautiful and detailed, I wish photographs were included instead for a more accurate visual description of the plants, how to plant them, and landscaping suggestions.
~ Want ~
If you are looking for an elementary book on starting a veggie garden, this is a delightful source book.
Thanks to Callisto Publisher’s Club and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.
Rated 4.5 of 5 stars
April 22, 2020
I love gardening and seeing the fruit of your hard work. Digging in the dirt and getting your hands dirty and watching the plants sprout is satisfying.
This book is a user friendly format. The book breaks down garden simply and yet has all the information to be successful. There is a nice introduction going over basics like organic gardening benefits, tools, growing zones, companion planting combinations, spacing, crop rotation, succession planting, and pest issues. The book goes over some basic garden terminology, planning, indoor seed starting, planting, up keep of the garden, harvesting, and storing your vegetables. The author takes you through a whole season of gardening up to preparing for the next season.
The books covers some basics of container gardening, raised bed gardening, and vertical gardening. The book even offers some basic building plans for container and raised bed.
If you want to grow in the ground it has a section that goes over soil pH and balanced nutrients, loamy soil mixture, draining, slopes, and planting away from trees. There is information on making your own soil and compost and mulch.
I really like the Vegetable and Herb section. Each page has an illustration with a more in-depth profile of each one. It covers growing zones, planting time-frame, spacing, direct or indoor sowing, water needs, suggested varieties, and other tips like some common problems.
This is a nice book for beginners that won’t overwhelm you and make gardening look complicated but more enjoyable.
I received a copy of this product from Callisto Publisher's in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.
This book is a user friendly format. The book breaks down garden simply and yet has all the information to be successful. There is a nice introduction going over basics like organic gardening benefits, tools, growing zones, companion planting combinations, spacing, crop rotation, succession planting, and pest issues. The book goes over some basic garden terminology, planning, indoor seed starting, planting, up keep of the garden, harvesting, and storing your vegetables. The author takes you through a whole season of gardening up to preparing for the next season.
The books covers some basics of container gardening, raised bed gardening, and vertical gardening. The book even offers some basic building plans for container and raised bed.
If you want to grow in the ground it has a section that goes over soil pH and balanced nutrients, loamy soil mixture, draining, slopes, and planting away from trees. There is information on making your own soil and compost and mulch.
I really like the Vegetable and Herb section. Each page has an illustration with a more in-depth profile of each one. It covers growing zones, planting time-frame, spacing, direct or indoor sowing, water needs, suggested varieties, and other tips like some common problems.
This is a nice book for beginners that won’t overwhelm you and make gardening look complicated but more enjoyable.
I received a copy of this product from Callisto Publisher's in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.
March 25, 2020
Thank you Callisto Publisher's Club and Rockridge Press for this free ARC! This was perfect timing as my family and I were in the planning stages of a container garden when we received this book. (This is only the second time we have attempted a backyard garden; the first attempt was successful during its first season, but we moved shortly before the season ended.) The following review contains my honest opinions.
This is a great resource for either a beginner or a hobbyist. This book is great for getting you started and I, personally, found that it inspired me to do further research when a topic didn't delve deep enough for my curiosity. If you are looking for a highly technical how-to, this may not be the book for you. I will say that when "frost dates" or "soil-testing" is referenced, the author has included resources in the back of the book to assist with these actions.
I liked the organization: the meat of the book is within the first five short chapters, followed by vegetable and herb profiles.
My favorite part of this book is the illustrations! There are illustrations throughout the entire book, not just in the plant profiles. In addition to the illustrations being beautiful, they are also informative.
This is a great resource for either a beginner or a hobbyist. This book is great for getting you started and I, personally, found that it inspired me to do further research when a topic didn't delve deep enough for my curiosity. If you are looking for a highly technical how-to, this may not be the book for you. I will say that when "frost dates" or "soil-testing" is referenced, the author has included resources in the back of the book to assist with these actions.
I liked the organization: the meat of the book is within the first five short chapters, followed by vegetable and herb profiles.
My favorite part of this book is the illustrations! There are illustrations throughout the entire book, not just in the plant profiles. In addition to the illustrations being beautiful, they are also informative.
April 16, 2020
In the introduction the author says that this is the book she wished she'd had as a beginning gardener. While my husband and I are not beginning gardeners,we are fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants gardeners, knowing that there is much to learn in order to increase our yield and to discourage pests. This book is wonderful for both types of gardeners. Some features that I found especially helpful are: the chart on companion planting, the full-season garden plan, the instructions for making your own soil mix, and the suggestions for maintaining your garden including ways to deal with common problems and pests. In the second part of the book, McSheehy provides specific information for growing thirty-five different food-producing plants.
I highly recommend Vegetable Gardening for Beginner. I will use it as a valued resource for years to come, and am very grateful to have received a copy from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.
I highly recommend Vegetable Gardening for Beginner. I will use it as a valued resource for years to come, and am very grateful to have received a copy from RockRidge Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.
April 19, 2020
A big thank you to NetGalley and Callisto Media/Rockridge Press for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a great beginners guide! I am about to start a garden and this was perfect for me. I live in the Marshall Islands and so some of this didn't apply but I have other issues! To much salt causes many things not to grow. Anyway, good advice in this book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the friends/for table. 4 stars
April 1, 2020
ARC: I just started getting into gardening and when I received this book I was ecstatic. This book goes over everything you need to know when starting a vegetable garden. I live in Arizona and tend to forget about a lot of plants but after reading this book I have a plan and know what I need to do to have a successful vegetable garden!
January 17, 2021
Great guide for beginners!
I've been gardening for 3 years now and I found this book to be very helpful and it completely removes any intimidation someone may have when it comes to gardening. It covers EVERYTHING you will need to know in order to grow your own vegetables successfully.
I've been gardening for 3 years now and I found this book to be very helpful and it completely removes any intimidation someone may have when it comes to gardening. It covers EVERYTHING you will need to know in order to grow your own vegetables successfully.
March 30, 2021
great book for a beginner
She goes into really good detail and is very explanatory. Only thing I would recommend is a glossary for gardening terms added for those of us who have no idea what bolting is lol. people new to gardening may have no idea what some common terms mean.
She goes into really good detail and is very explanatory. Only thing I would recommend is a glossary for gardening terms added for those of us who have no idea what bolting is lol. people new to gardening may have no idea what some common terms mean.
April 13, 2024
This is the best beginner's gardening book I read to date! Easy to read, lots of good info, and I really like how the information for each plant is broken down. Great reference book--I borrowed it from the library but might huva copy myself!
June 7, 2020
This was FINALLY a book simple enough to help me grasp the basics of gardening. Very engaging, friendly tone as well. Could have used even more entries in the guide to specific plants!
September 4, 2020
Its good but could cover so much more. Its very basic.
January 18, 2021
Excellent for a beginner.
This is an excellent reference for any beginner. Even a pro might learn something new. Get this book and get into the garden!
This is an excellent reference for any beginner. Even a pro might learn something new. Get this book and get into the garden!
January 21, 2021
Very basic but very well done book
Enjoyed reading about the plants specifically
Enjoyed reading about the plants specifically
February 1, 2021
Excellent Teaching
Easy to understand with wonderful guidelines. Boosts reader’s confidence to start gardening. Get ready to grow and save some money.
Easy to understand with wonderful guidelines. Boosts reader’s confidence to start gardening. Get ready to grow and save some money.
January 13, 2022
I knew enough about gardening to be dangerous to plants, but this book has remedied that, introducing me to the gardening year and the requirements of plants. I am very thankful I purchased a copy.
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March 11, 2022It was quite informational especially as a plant enthusiast was nice to now more about different things
April 10, 2022
Great for us beginners!
And a good reference for all. I am excited to start using Jill's advice on planting, maintaining, dealing with issues and harvesting.
And a good reference for all. I am excited to start using Jill's advice on planting, maintaining, dealing with issues and harvesting.
April 15, 2024
I’m starting my first garden ever this summer and I couldn’t have picked a better book to learn from!
April 20, 2024
Love Jill's podcast and love her book! Great information!
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January 2, 2025Very helpful
April 19, 2025
Very beginner level gardening info. She is based in NC so some of the information is location limited and not especially helpful to us Northerners.
July 24, 2022
Whether you’re a beginner or not this book is great. Even as an experienced gardener this book offered many pieces of advice on how to make my garden even more productive next year and tips on planning. I enjoyed it so much I bought the ebook after reading on KU.
June 23, 2020
amazing book for beginner gardeners! Has everything you need to know. I have recently gotten into gardening over quarantine, and this is definitely a Must read if you want to start your own veggie garden!
March 1, 2023
This was a very good beginners book. Written simply it’s very easy to see options and how to get started.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews