The Month-by-Month Gardening Guide: Daily Advice for Growing Flowers, Vegetables, Herbs, and Houseplants

by Franz Bohmig

“Bursting with useful advice, especially for new gardeners.” — Booklist  
 
To be a successful gardener, you need to know two how to do something and when to do it. Both concepts are thoroughly tackled in The Month-By-Month Gardening Guide . This comprehensive approach to gardening guides home gardeners—whether you are growing vegetables, flowers, or houseplants—through a year of growing. Throughout, the emphasis is on organic, wildlife-friendly techniques. By following the guidance detailed in this hardworking primer, you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful and bountiful garden that will provide pleasure throughout the year.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature

424 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2022

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a seasoned gardener and love to garden, but I found this book frankly overwhelming. This is the kind of book that would turn me off to gardening if I was new to it, just because it gives the impression that you have to do SO MUCH in order to be a successful gardener. I didn't read every month but I felt like throwing in the trowel by the end of June. I'm sure it will be a great guide for some, but it was not a good fit for me.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Katie Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a refreshingly practical guide to gardening. It's marketed to new gardeners but, as someone tip-toeing into the realm of outdoor gardening, I found the month-by-month format a little overwhelming. On the other hand, in the 1300+ tips, I found several useful pieces of advice about what I was doing wrong! (For example, I learned that we have been waterlogging our poor cucumbers and should cut off that plastic thing that we've been using to stabilize our tomato plants.)

If you're not afraid of the format and/or are a more serious gardener looking to dig in (pun absolutely intended), pick this up.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This excellent gardening compendium with over 1,300 tips for gardening throughout the year, is an English translation of Franz Böhmig's original work in German. Böhmig was a plant nursery owner and instructor for professional gardeners. This work can help the budding gardener, or someone more advanced in gardening skills, to learn new information, refresh one's knowledge, and successfully create the garden one wants - whether one's garden is for herbs and vegetables, or ornamental flowers and shrubs.

The format of the book is easy to follow, with concise and clear instructions or facts to help the reading gardener. Illustrations also enhance what the author shares, making it easy and demonstrable in a simple way. The set up is also pleasing and easy to read. Even just reviewing the book, I learned some information that I needed for my own garden. The book also contains a reference set of tables with a comprehensive guide about soil, herbs, vegetables, flowers - and how to improve growing conditions individually tailored to the plant. The reference also contains common problems and garden pests, and how best to solve these issues. My only criticism is that this book is very much targeted to gardening and growing conditions of the Northern Hemisphere, and for climates like those in Europe and parts of North America. It lacks a guide for adaptations to different climates, or for the Southern Hemisphere. It could definitely still be used in those contexts, but with perhaps another book or source to help.

This is an excellent addition to any gardener's book collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for this free eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty valuable gardening resource. It's divided into manageable segments, month-by-month and general, trees/bushes, vegetables, and ornamental plants, along with a lot of numerical information at the end detailing soil types, pH, and fertilization charts.

For the most part I would ignore any advice from this book on when to sow seeds/harvest vegetables since it cannot pertain to every climate/zone out there. For that you should get more local information, such as a farmer's almanac.

I did find a vast majority of the tips to be extremely helpful along with some tips I wouldn't have thought about before, such as building birdhouses, introducing ladybugs, or making a fishpond to kill potentially harmful insects. It also has great information on composting, building different garden structures, tool maintenance, and how to garden in greenhouses, rock gardens, and potted gardens.

The index is pretty detailed but it would be invaluable to have an electronic copy with a keyword search function. I think this is a gardening resource more for intermediate to experienced gardeners than it is for beginners.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book which would of great interest to gardeners, written for the Northern hemisphere, it can easy be used worldwide, with just a flip of the months and seasons. After all gardening is universal.
The first part of the book talks about the seasons with jobs and tips along the way. The second part of the book is more specific with plant and planting such as vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants such as trees, cacti, water plants and shrubs.. There a lots of list with all the information one needs to choose plants for any space.
There are no photographs to confuse the eye and head - just good solid information and hand drawings where necessary with explanation

[Kristena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very German lol

[Joan Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first thought as I skimmed the book was that my dad would have loved it! He was an avid gardener and taught me my love of plants. We’d plant peas in February then later tomatoes, cucumber, peppers etc.

It’s a very comprehensive book that encompasses everything from how to compost, making and planting vegetable beds in WINTER. Also reminds you to ensure you feed the birds.

SPRING covers herbs, vegetables, ornamental plants: annuals and perennials—-how to plant and even how to lay pavers or bricks and fencing. It also talks about indoor plants. Not to forget pests/insects (those good and bad) and how to handle them.

In SUMMER, you learn about proper watering and plant nutrients, weeding,and harvesting. Certain vegetables are planted in summer like lettuce, turnips, and Brussels sprouts. You will need to stake your tomatoes and beans now.

If you plant a big garden, it’s almost a full-time job.

FALL is the time for more harvesting. You can now divide flowering perennials and prepare your plants for the coming cold weather. It’s time to plant bulbs. Pot some herbs for use in the winter.

The end of the book has handy TABLES that tell you about soils, fertilizers needed for which vegetables, and so much other information (Latin names) that was too much for me to take in.

This is MUCH MORE than a month-by-month gardening guide. This is a detailed reference guide (of over 400 pages) to the world of botanicals meant for instructors in gardening or advanced horticultural amateurs.

I received a copy of this book for my opinion.

[Chelsea Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the colors! Such vibrant colors that are clean yet calming.

Talks about gardening as a way to relax. I think people are having a garden as a chore sometimes. It definitely isn’t easy! But you can find such peace when working with dirt and plants.

Gardening isn’t just a spring/summer activity. There is work to be done year round to ensure a healthy, successful garden. This books discusses how best to use your time to make all aspects of your garden work. Full of info on top quality items from the soil to the tools to the plants you select. I’m so excited to reread each month’s chapter as a new month begins.

One of my favorite things about gardening is seeing the wild life react around it and get involved. I’m not one that complains when a critter has gotten some of my plants because they are there to be enjoyed! This book gives a lot of information of taking care of birds. It shares that having birds near your garden acts as a natural pest control! So true!

This book is so full of helpful tips. I think I need to invest in a physical copy so I can really take advantage of all it has to offer and keep near my gardening supplies. This would make a perfect gift for plant lovers in your life!!
Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy. I have written this review voluntarily.

[Dotdala_reads (Sam R) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there ever was a book I never knew I needed- this is it. I won't even begin to understand the time that it took to compile this guide- it. is. EXTENSIVE! I have a lot of friends who share their plant trials and tribulations and I cannot wait to share this gem with them.

I won't go into much detail- it would take forever and a day (a massive nod to the author who did it in less!) but the way the first part is laden with tips that are organized based on what MONTH YOU'RE IN (WHAT?) was radishly rad! The second part is set up specifically plant by plant (and categorized) with EVERY. SINGLE. THING you would ever need to know and again, sorted by season/month!!
Holy crow is the second half full of a plethora of goodies if you're a numbers gal, such as I am! Charts, lists, tables- OH MY! I cannot say enough about the attention to detail and overall quality of this Gardening guide, I'm honestly not sure if there is a better book on the market for someone who is new to gardening, or even someone with a seasoned green thumb who could definitely learn a thing or two from this.
(Note: it's over 400 pages- so eat your wheaties and do some pull ups before you attempt to pick this baby up!)

*I was allowed access to this title through Netgalley and the publisher and all thoughts are my own, HOWEVER- I WILL BE PURCHASING THIS- that's how rad it is!

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a gardener by any means but I wanted to give it a try this year. The Month-by-Month Gardening Guide covers a lot of basics from growing vegetables to plants and flowers. Every month and season is mentioned with a numbered list of tips and tricks for whatever you are planting. Some of them include little diagrams of what to do like if you wanted to make a homemade garden pond. If you are overwhelmed by a new topic I think this guide does a great job of breaking down information into bite sized pieces and the visuals help a lot. With every season and month you get a breakdown of what is best to plant according to what climate you are in. For example April is the best time to sow carrots for harvesting in the fall. Even if you turn out to not fall in love with gardening This books makes a really great coffee table book because you can learn so much from just a glance. It's a very helpful book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an impressive gardening book with a very old-fashioned feel, obviously written by a world class gardener, meant for the very serious home gardener and other professionals. Very much an amateur, I found it rather overwhelming and only somewhat useful. I would definitely refer to it again for its helpful information on making paths, fences or trellises, as well as certain tips on growing vegetables and houseplants, but much of it I could skim through since I doubt I’ll ever grow salsify or dittany. Another problem is it is written for a cold climate European environment and I live in the very dry, very hot Southwestern United States. His tips for when to plant are wasted in West Texas, as are his tips on making hedgehog habitats (I wish!) I enjoyed the illustrations and found them very helpful. The organization of the book into month-by-month tips I felt would make things a little difficult to find if you wanted to reference something later. In summary, I found this a charming book with a very limited audience.

I read an eArc from NetGalley in return for a review.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book on the New Books shelf at our local library and checked it out to learn more. Since it is November, I only read that month after reading the Foreword & About this Book pages. It was full of short tips and images with little description which I found confusing & overwhelming. There was nothing saying what zones (areas, states, countries) these things should be done in, and most of the tips didn't pertain to anything I'm growing.

I also thumbed through the second section of tables and charts which was also overwhelming. I think as a refence book in one's personal library the book could be a valuable asset. A more invested gardener could read each month section through once, nearing or in the month it pertained to, and use the charts and tables in the back as needed throughout the year. For a beginning or just dabbling gardener, the book is very overwhelming, especially when the internet exists and is full of blogs and information on everything and more that is contained in the book.

[Macaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This month-to-month guide for gardening is packed with information. The first part of the book is separated by months, giving tips about what you can do each month to have your garden go smoothly. The second part has tables. Tables 1-3 are about soils and additives that can be used. There is also a table about when to plant and sow vegetables. And tables for the different types of trees that can be used in your garden and yard. This book is packed with information. I would hand this off to someone who is a gardener and looking to expand their space or their vegetation. I’m a recent gardener and I think it’s a bit too much information for me, but it is a great resource. The monthly section is great with over 1000 tips spread throughout the year. And the tables have a lot of information on different issues from planting to pests.

Thanks to NetGalley and Timber press for the advanced copy.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone interested in gardening will enjoy this book. It's a great resource which is full of tips to help your garden thrive. The author includes tips on how to help your garden thrive throughout each month. The author also includes specifics on growing requirements for vegetables and ornamental plants. As an active gardener myself, I found the information very useful and will be a book I refer to throughout the year. It's a great resource that would be a great addition to any gardener's library. This coupled with your regional gardening book will definitely help your garden flourish.


Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing a free electronic copy of this book for my honest review. Am incredibly grateful.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

The author obviously knows his stuff when it comes to gardening, and the tips and month-by-month chronology of the organization of the information is good. IF you live in a region that is “general.” I live in Texas, and there’s no explanation or “conversion” of dealing with the tips and topics if you live in a hot (or rainy (ie Pacific Northwest) or dry (ie Arizona)) region. Nor are all the soils included (such as my soil, clay). This makes it only useful to some undefined region. An index would also have been helpful, as it may have allowed those outside the “general” region to find information that applies to them in an “atypical” month.

[Caiti_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this gardening guide, it may be my favorite to date. The number of tips may be overwhelming but they are broken down into concise points that are easy to read and understand. The month-by-month guide takes away the stress of knowing when to plant what and where. A beginners guide I will absolutely be gifting.

The index of plants in the back is impressively extensive and gives incredibly helpful information. A go-to reference for almost everything one would need to know about gardening and plant care.

The simple layout and artwork provide a beautiful aesthetic that was surprisingly calming.

Thank you NetGalley and Timber Press Inc for an eArc for review.

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I read this book cover to cover in one sitting? Yes.

Does one have to? No, I do not believe you need to read it cover to cover, all at once.

I think this is a good book to have for a newish gardener. I would recommend reading the current month with both the preceding and the following months.

It’s a lot to take in for sure.

If you require photos, be warned there are only some simplistic illustrations. Even though I’m an avid reader I love actual photos for these types of books. So that was a let-down.

The book will prove useful. It is not the definitive gardening book but it is a great accompaniment.

[Katie McNall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this guide to be super helpful, but also a little overwhelming. As a recent gardener, it is a great resource, but who knew there were so many things to do each month?! Probably avid gardeners, I know…

I appreciated how the sections were broken out each month, so I could just turn to vegetables if I wanted to know what to do with those for the month. I really liked how it gave you specific action items for specific plants, instead of just lumping groups together. If I wanted to know what to do with radishes every month, I could find information specific to them, rather than all root vegetables, which seems to be more common in most books I’ve seen.

My one complaint would be that the numbers got very high in this book, and I wish that they had restarted every month or coordinated across the months. But I still really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it for purchase at my library and getting myself a copy!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Month-by-Month Gardening Guide is a phenomenal source for any gardener. There is a treasure trove of wealth in useful and actionable information that make this book an important part of any gardener's library. Many books out there have isolated or highly specialized content which has its own value. This book is like sitting down with your great-grandma who used to live off the land and who knows a lot about everything.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a beginning gardener. I either saw this book or a similar one being recommended on Tiktok so when I saw an eARC for this I knew I had to grab it. It gives great, simple instructions for you to follow. As a second year gardener I would recommend only starting out with a couple of varieties of plants. Don't get too ambitious having a book to guide you.

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

[ChapterNook · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid gardener myself I enjoyed re-learning what I forgot, refreshing my memory on things I already do and finding new tips and tricks to use on my garden and every day habits. It is for a broad and generalized spectrum but can be utilized quite easily throughout different zones and climates. This will be one I personally reflect on and go back to throughout the year!

[Meg]

I can’t rate this because I can’t evaluate the content well enough. I chose this from the library online based on title (looking for gardening books). Although fascinating, it is far more advanced gardening and techniques than for your average at home gardener/houseplant grower. However, I guess it’s great to know that horseradish roots should be at a 30° angle rather than vertically.

[Rather.be.reading1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am really into sustainable gardening and thought this would be a great tool to use.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Very informative book! I can't wait to go back and read more about this book. Hight recommend!

[Pattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book for the avid gardener or want to be! Very complete!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, informative guide! I would 100% purchase this gardening guide and will continue to reference in the future for all of my gardening questions.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great gardening guide: informative, plenty of information and easy to follow.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most comprehensive gardening reference book I have ever seen, with diagrams and over 1300 tips in the month-by-month section and over 30 tables about various plants, diseases, etc. in the back.

[Antaraagni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a well articulated book with a lot of visuals for people who forget easily.
The doodle format of illustration is especially adorable.

[Juli Anna]

This book was a bit to sprawling and strangely organized to be very useful.