The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening: All the know-how you need to grow veggies, fruits, herbs, and other edible plants in pots (Volume 4)

by Pamela Farley

“Straightforward instructions, matrices, photos, and illustrations make this one of my new favorite gardening books.”  —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

Growing your own fresh, organic food in containers is a great way to begin your gardening journey! This friendly guide includes everything you need to know to get started.

What’s holding you back from growing your own food? Are you nervous about having enough space? Do you question whether or not you have the time to make it happen? Are the growing conditions you have a little questionable? Is your budget at a bare-bones minimum? Then container gardening is the answer to all of your concerns! With a minimal investment in time, money, and space , and The First-Time Container Food Gardening at your side, start your very first garden in containers, instead of in the ground. You just may find you’re capable of growing fantastic yields in spite of all your initial hesitations.

Container gardens can take up as much or as little room as you’d like. They’re portable, so you can locate them wherever conditions are optimal for plant growth. And, you can grow just about any veggie in pots , as long as you have the right container , the right soil blend , and the right care tips . In these pages, author Pam Farley of BrownThumbMama.com lines the path to container food gardening success in clear, simple steps .

Not only will you learn how to get started , you’ll also   Plus, find a dozen fully illustrated planting plans for themed container food gardens, including a Smoothie Greens Garden, a Spring Stir-Fry Garden, a Spaghetti Sauce Garden, a Salad Greens Garden, and many others.

No room? No problem. Lousy soil? Nothing to worry about. Not enough time? Think again. Growing food in containers is fun, easy, and perfect for beginners.   This book is part of The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Raised Bed Gardening , The First-Time Growing Plants and Flowers , and The First-Time Growing Vegetables . Each book in The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that’s presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening is the perfect book for starting out with container gardening. This book has everything you need to know such as the right types of containers to use, types of plants, types of soils, watering, insects, sunlight, insects and things to watch out for and be aware of too. I loved the themed planters that were included in this book such as Salsa, smoothies, kids and sauces. Such a fun idea and would be really lovely in any garden. This has given me some great ideas to do my own this year in my new home.

[Tove R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love container gardening, and this is a perfect book for anyone interested in the subject. It gives all the dos and don'ts of container gardening, and tells the full story of how to do it and be successful. This with great pictures makes it the perfect read!

[Bethea Scovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started my first container garden last year with only mild success. Looking up gardening tips on the internet brought a mixed variety of results. So, I was happy to find this book that is all about container gardening and is written for a beginning gardener.

This book is divided into chapters covering everything from types of containers, types of soils, types of plants, amount of sunlight, watering plants, good versus bad insects, and issues to watch for. There is a glossary at the end of the book along with an index so it's easy to find information specific to your needs. The author also shares her website so that you can message her with any additional questions about container gardening you may have. There are pages of pot designs focused on different themes so that you can plant based on your interests. For example, there is a container design for kids, one for salsa, one for tomato sauce, one for smoothie vegetables, and many other fun combinations.

I learned a lot from this book and have a much better idea of how to set up my container garden this spring. I was blessed with an eARC of this book via #NetGally and #CoolSpringsPress and will be looking to buy a hard copy of the book as soon as it is published so that I have it for regular reference. If you are looking to start a container garden, I highly recommend this book. It is well-organized and easy to follow.

[Kris Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to anyone’s gardening library! It covers the full scope of container gardening, from what to look for in pots and seeds to planting guides, soil guides, and troubleshooting. This might seem small, but my favorite parts were the detailed photo instructions of both transplanting seedlings and direct seeding into pots. It struck me that, for a beginner gardener, there are not many books that show a photo progression for the steps of actually putting a plant in a pot. There are lots of descriptions with sparse illustrations, but the process remains obscure unless you SEE the steps either working alongside an experienced gardener or very detailed photos. Excellent book and would highly recommend for anyone starting a container garden. Also! Definitely Kid-friendly/Homeschooler-approved!

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great resource for people wanting to start container gardening. It’s packed with inspirational photos and info. My concern is the same one I always have with these books and I’ve yet to find one that adequately addresses it. This is yet another book that claims most containers are safe for growing food.

I’ve looked this up often and there are so many concerns with containers used for gardens. Plastics degrade, especially when exposed to heat and light. Those chemicals are taken up by roots. Some plastics are especially toxic. One article I read listed the four numbers of plastics that were generally more food safe and it said the plastic flower pot tested was not one of the safe types. This book says any flower pot you buy is automatically food safe. It also recommends grow bags and growing in fabric grocery bags. I looked it up and those bags are generally made of a fabric that is made of plastics and often high in lead and a bunch of other contaminants. They break down in a season or two and all those chemicals are breaking down into your soil. Other toxins mentioned for containers included BPA and other endocrine disrupters, pthalates and more. I look at the pictures of plants growing in cans and I think of BPA and aluminum. I look at the beautiful glazed pot and I wonder about the lead and cadmium contents. I’ve just never felt comfortable growing in the majority of the kinds of containers these books recommend. I have yet to read a container gardening book that even addresses it past saying “make sure you choose food safe containers” and pretty much “they’re all fine.”

I know I’m an outlier and other than this, this is a great book. Container gardening is not a great choice for my needs for other reasons in addition to this, but if you want to start container gardening this will be a good resource.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Container Food Gardening" is a gardening book for beginners. It started with basics like step-by-step illustrated instructions for planting a seed or transplanting a seedling. The author also provided the basics for container food gardening, like what size of container to use for different plants, what types of fruits and veggies grow well in containers, how much soil is needed for the various sizes of containers, and the different types of container materials. She also suggested different plant combinations for a larger container, like an herbal mix or a "spaghetti sauce" or "salad greens" garden. She then covered preparing repurposed containers (disinfecting, adding drainage holes, etc.), where to put the containers (considering sun, wind, buildings creating microclimates), how and when to water (with troubleshooting tips), what type of potting mix to get (or make your own), choosing and using fertilizers, mulch, and soil amendments, and troubleshooting plant, insect, and animal problems. A least half of the book was pictures of various container gardens, demonstrations of how to do something, or illustrations of the suggested gardens, mulches, etc. Overall, I'd recommend this book, especially to first-time gardeners interested in container gardening.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Susan Bewley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has read quite a few gardening books, I have to say that Pam Farley does a fantastic job making food gardening easy for beginner growers. Unlike many gardening books, she makes gardening approachable no matter your living conditions, allowing you to have a lucrative garden in your apartment, condo, or home. Not only is the book filled with step-by-step instructions that are great for beginners, but gorgeous pictures and helpful charts make the entire process approachable for anyone. If you want to start your food garden, The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening: All the Know-How You Need to Grow Veggies, Fruits, Herbs, and Other Edible Plants in Pots is the right book for you!

[Macaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re new to gardening and don’t have a lot of space this could be the book for you. It’s good to read gardening books in the fall and winter, giving you hope for spring during those colder nights. Also, it gives you time to plan what you want to grow. Chapter one starts with some of the basics. A group of container recipes, growing things in the same container that make something, I like the salsa one myself. Also, a good chapter on the kind of containers you may want to use. The book has a glossary of terms. And a great chapter on troubleshooting container garden problems. I think this is a good book for guidance as you work on your container garden. May your plantings be plentiful.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a novice gardener and have not been successful with containers to date. There is so much information on the internet that it can be overwhelming. So I appreciated the simple, straightforward content and layout of this novel. It covered everything one needs to try container gardening but not too much information. I also appreciate recommendations for what foods to try.

Please note that I read and reviewed this title in January/February in Minnesota. So I have been unable to actually practice the strategies and directions contained therein. But I have renewed confidence to try come the spring and summer.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well laid out book about container gardening, suitable for the complete beginner. There are clear photos and interesting tips. I particularly liked the section on fertilisers, as this is something I don't tend to do. Also the watering section was helpful. The planting guides would be very helpful to beginners. The 'Planting Recipes' section was really interesting, I'm definitely going to try a few of those!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mrs Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being basically a first time container gardener this past summer, I really enjoyed learning new advice, tips and tricks for this coming garden. I loved the descriptions and information from container size suggestions to dirt/soil recommendations to placement. I am excited to try out what I have learned this summer!

Thank you to Pamela Farley, Quarto Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing my to read an advance copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

[Critter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC.

I have been container growing for a few years and have some great success. This book seemed interesting, and it never hurts to see if I can learn something new. I think this book is great for those who are just starting out or those who have been gardening for a while. This book is easy to read with some great images. It is easy to navigate and has some great information.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is comprehensive in what problems can arise for veggie gardeners. My favorite aspect of this book is the photo representation of various problems, so we can visualize and recognize specific issues, such as what pest could be causing harm and what the damage might look like. This is a must read for new gardeners!

[T Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book, filled with practical and down-to-earth (in pots) information for anyone interested in producing their own food. Great disposition, layout and illustrations.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband wants to try container gardening this year, and I plan to purchase this helpful guide for his birthday. A great resource especially for new gardeners.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC of this book via Netgallery. This book is so great, I wish it was a paper copy that I received. It has great pictures and it really simplifies gardening. It has topics for beginners like how to plant a seedling or larger plant. It has a quick planting guide which tells you things like when to plant, how much sun is needed and when it will be ready to harvest. It gives tips such as protecting your plant from the wind and what time of day is best to water your plants. Absolutely great book for a beginner gardener. Congrats Pamela

[S Tondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction into container gardening. It is full of useful information and helpful guides to get you started.