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Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening: How to Grow Like a Pro, Save Money, and Eat Well by Turning Your Back (or Front or Side) Yard Into An Organic Produce Garden
Are you tired of throwing away time, energy, and money on a perfectly manicured, water-guzzling, weed-producing lawn? Are you longing to feed your family in more healthful and eco-friendly ways but shocked by organic produce prices at the grocery store? Do you fantasize about growing your own food but hesitate to take on more than you can manage?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time for you to get down and dirty—and take the plunge that will please your taste buds and your pocket-book! In Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening , Sal Gilbertie and Larry Sheehan will help you turn your sprawling suburban acreage or postage stamp–sized plot into a low-impact, all-organic, totally sustainable produce garden.
You’ll learn about the most effective natural fertilizers, drought-resistant cultivation methods, pest-repellent companion plantings, trends in heirloom herb and vegetable varieties, and raised-bed techniques for achieving maximum productivity in a limited space. You can even add a cutting garden so you’ll always have fresh flowers on a kitchen table that’s groaning under the weight of incomparably fresh vegetables seasoned with a variety of home-grown herbs.
Whether you’re filling a 10’ x 10’ sandbox or digging up your 3,000-square-foot tennis court, any yard has the potential to produce a multi-crop bonanza. And anyone with a little soil and a lot of heart can do it!
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time for you to get down and dirty—and take the plunge that will please your taste buds and your pocket-book! In Small-Plot, High-Yield Gardening , Sal Gilbertie and Larry Sheehan will help you turn your sprawling suburban acreage or postage stamp–sized plot into a low-impact, all-organic, totally sustainable produce garden.
You’ll learn about the most effective natural fertilizers, drought-resistant cultivation methods, pest-repellent companion plantings, trends in heirloom herb and vegetable varieties, and raised-bed techniques for achieving maximum productivity in a limited space. You can even add a cutting garden so you’ll always have fresh flowers on a kitchen table that’s groaning under the weight of incomparably fresh vegetables seasoned with a variety of home-grown herbs.
Whether you’re filling a 10’ x 10’ sandbox or digging up your 3,000-square-foot tennis court, any yard has the potential to produce a multi-crop bonanza. And anyone with a little soil and a lot of heart can do it!
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
8 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 24, 2011
This book is kind of interesting. I'm a small-plot gardener trying to eek out maximum productivity from smallish spaces, so I though I would be crazy for this book in the same way I am about all those small space/urban gardening books. While this book has some interesting ideas, the author is kind of a hateful jerk. I mean, he hates a lot of stuff. Like, "Here are eleventy thousand ways you are a moron for using mulch and all the reasons why, except for this one particular way that I recommend and BTWs if you do anything besides this, wow, you are an idiot and you probably are wasting money and time trying to garden, you fool!" I started to make a list of all the things that Sal Gilbertie despises and you are an idiot if you do them, but it got too boring. You water wrong, you fertilize wrong, you grow the wrong seeds, and you plant them wrong. It's kind of weird, because he doesn't look hateful, right? Don't be fooled.
Also, wow, I almost never get to write this in a garden book review -- he is kind of a misogynist! I actually photocopied the page where he refers to "men's gardening clubs" as the place to learn about growing vegetables and "women's gardening clubs" as the place where they compete to grow the best flowers. I photocopied it to help me stay angry. But don't worry. It's just "his experience" so it's totally fine to make statements like that!
So, I'm super stoked that my library had this book so I could learn (without buying it) that the author is kind of a misanthropic chump and doesn't really have that many original ideas about small-space gardening. Blah blah, succession plant, being a smart gardener, extend the season, use resources wisely, build good soil. I like the idea of "growing a gardener" where the beginner is on a three-year "improvement plan" to learn a little at a time, but ol' Sal doesn't seem to know about different climates when he writes his prescription for success: year one gardeners grow peppers and tomatoes so they experience early success, year two gardeners grow "harder" things, like peas. Sal has clearly never gardened in the PNW, where a veteran gardener can still fail an entire season of tomatoes and peppers, but a child can grow peas year-round.
In short, I recommend that you skip this book. If you need other recommendations for more helpful, interesting, supportive books, let me know.
Also, wow, I almost never get to write this in a garden book review -- he is kind of a misogynist! I actually photocopied the page where he refers to "men's gardening clubs" as the place to learn about growing vegetables and "women's gardening clubs" as the place where they compete to grow the best flowers. I photocopied it to help me stay angry. But don't worry. It's just "his experience" so it's totally fine to make statements like that!
So, I'm super stoked that my library had this book so I could learn (without buying it) that the author is kind of a misanthropic chump and doesn't really have that many original ideas about small-space gardening. Blah blah, succession plant, being a smart gardener, extend the season, use resources wisely, build good soil. I like the idea of "growing a gardener" where the beginner is on a three-year "improvement plan" to learn a little at a time, but ol' Sal doesn't seem to know about different climates when he writes his prescription for success: year one gardeners grow peppers and tomatoes so they experience early success, year two gardeners grow "harder" things, like peas. Sal has clearly never gardened in the PNW, where a veteran gardener can still fail an entire season of tomatoes and peppers, but a child can grow peas year-round.
In short, I recommend that you skip this book. If you need other recommendations for more helpful, interesting, supportive books, let me know.
February 18, 2014
This would be a great guide for a truck farmer but is not of much use for the home hobby gardener.
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March 8, 2022A lot of info here and some of it is overwhelming in volume. My approach to vegetable gardening the past few years has been to read a variety of books and absorb approximately 10% of the knowledge from each one and then combine it together in a hodge-podge of practices that may or may not be correct!
A tip I took away from this book involves hilling beans, eggplants, and peppers as they grow to support them and give them better access to nutrients. This will be a new/added technique for me this summer.
A tip I took away from this book involves hilling beans, eggplants, and peppers as they grow to support them and give them better access to nutrients. This will be a new/added technique for me this summer.
May 12, 2019
This one was super helpful, and I may need to purchase my own copy. I particularly liked his plans for inter-planting and successive crops. Almost all of the sample plots shown are a little too big for my space, I think, but they are adaptable.
March 6, 2010
MCL.
I might buy this book. It's a good complement to The Square-Foot Garden, although he does not plant with quite that method. This book has more background knowledge information about soil and compost and plants, and more details about the work and time involved, including a break-down for starting slow the first year with easy plants and transplants to starting your own transplants indoors by year 3 or 4. His idea of "small plot" is still pretty large for a typical suburban yard. His primary plan is a 2,000 sq. ft. plot, and the smallest plan he includes is 20x20.
His book is about organic gardening, but he doesn't come across as a greenie. His argument for gardening with organic amendments rather than chemical fertilizers is that organic practices build your soil and grow more nutritious vegetables; chemical fertilizer methods, he says, are short-sighted methods based on science that is too simplistic. After reading In Defense of Food, which expands that exact same argument, I saw his point. Besides, adding a scoop of manure or compost around a plant instead of finding the correct fertilizer formula for the different plants actually seems much easier!
I might buy this book. It's a good complement to The Square-Foot Garden, although he does not plant with quite that method. This book has more background knowledge information about soil and compost and plants, and more details about the work and time involved, including a break-down for starting slow the first year with easy plants and transplants to starting your own transplants indoors by year 3 or 4. His idea of "small plot" is still pretty large for a typical suburban yard. His primary plan is a 2,000 sq. ft. plot, and the smallest plan he includes is 20x20.
His book is about organic gardening, but he doesn't come across as a greenie. His argument for gardening with organic amendments rather than chemical fertilizers is that organic practices build your soil and grow more nutritious vegetables; chemical fertilizer methods, he says, are short-sighted methods based on science that is too simplistic. After reading In Defense of Food, which expands that exact same argument, I saw his point. Besides, adding a scoop of manure or compost around a plant instead of finding the correct fertilizer formula for the different plants actually seems much easier!
March 23, 2014
First the author is quite arrogant. The things he says really makes me annoyed bc he could lead beginners to failure by using his methods. Also, apparently rabbit poop is the best thing ever. Apparently you need to have rabbits to get rabbit poop. He acts like it's cheaper but doesn't account for the time you spend feeding and cleaning out those darn cages. time is money too. plus what happens when those rabbits get out and eat your poor garden? He is against mulch which is crazy. The list goes on and on of the problems I have with what he talks about in the book. skip this book and go read something else.
June 10, 2014
This book did have quite a few helpful hints and pieces of advice.
However, what bothered me about it was the tone of the whole thing. It was almost as if I was getting a scolding on every page. Not just the feeling of being lectured but also the general tone of 'this is way harder than you think people, don't even TRY it unless you're sure you're gonna work your ass off." It didn't exactly make gardening seem exciting, fun or fulfilling.
I gleaned the knowledge, ignored the attitude and got through it.
However, what bothered me about it was the tone of the whole thing. It was almost as if I was getting a scolding on every page. Not just the feeling of being lectured but also the general tone of 'this is way harder than you think people, don't even TRY it unless you're sure you're gonna work your ass off." It didn't exactly make gardening seem exciting, fun or fulfilling.
I gleaned the knowledge, ignored the attitude and got through it.
April 26, 2010
Okay, so first of all, his version of "small-plot" is SO different from mine! We've squeezed in a 3'x 8' raised bed in our tiny yard...He thinks small plot is 3500 sq. ft or so! YIKES! Also, this book had a SHOCKING lack of pictures! As in, there were none! It had a few sketches but I would have expected a lot more visual help. It also seemed to have an East Coast slant...quite a few gardening books do. I'm sure this book will help someone (with an acre+), just not me.
September 12, 2011
So this book has no pictures and the guy doesn't believe in mulch. I kinda couldn't get into it. Plus, no mulch? Seriously? He may be a good garden guy in Connecticut, but try that no mulch idea in Northern California and you will be in a heap o' trouble - water loss and weeds will ruin your best gardening intentions. There are better gardening books out there, especially geared towards my climate (Nor Cal, zone 9).
May 11, 2018
This was an encyclopedic list of what not to do. There was a lot of information. I did learn a few things, and I wondered why there weren't more pictures. Then I realized that it's basically impossible to have photos of everything you shouldn't be doing. A strangely negative approach to gardening. Don't even get me started on the "men's gardening clubs"!
August 20, 2023
Not off to a great start. The intro talks about how Yankees and Italians are believed to have the proverbial green thumb and a couple paragraphs later writes that “obviously, vegetable gardening is not, cannot be and should not be a contest among races, religions and creeds.” This struck me as such an odd comment and thoroughly turned me off.
December 19, 2017
Great reference book to have on hand. I wasn't a fan of the garden layouts but the topical section on how to time your plantings and the idiosyncrasies of each plant and it's preferred environment were very valuable.
March 25, 2021
A great book to give the encouragement and confidence to grow well if yu only have a small garden like me and many others.
January 18, 2020
Summary:
I didn't enjoy this book too much. It mostly felt a bit dated and was quite dry to read through. However, it is filled with some timeless wisdom and practical tips, including key planting dates to help you develop a constant flow of fresh produce. It's also geared heavily towards an American audience so some of the information is not readily applicable to a broader audience.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in gardening.
The main message I took from this book is that with proper planning and implementation you can get fresh produce all year round and save money while doing it.
Some notable points:
- If you garden has a rich soil, your plants are properly spaced, and they get plenty of sun, each of your tomatoes plants should provide you with 60 to 90 tomatoes, minimum.
- Onions and other alliums are great perimeter plants for your garden as they repel pests.
- The author is all about keeping rabbits due to their yield of natural fertiliser.
- Plant short rows, but close together.
- Water in the morning, water only when the garden needs it, wait until plants have just begun to wilt before you water, water thoroughly when you do water and water at soil level.
- It's best to harvest lettuce on early and take the whole head and replace with a new one rather than harvesting bit by bit over the season.
I didn't enjoy this book too much. It mostly felt a bit dated and was quite dry to read through. However, it is filled with some timeless wisdom and practical tips, including key planting dates to help you develop a constant flow of fresh produce. It's also geared heavily towards an American audience so some of the information is not readily applicable to a broader audience.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in gardening.
The main message I took from this book is that with proper planning and implementation you can get fresh produce all year round and save money while doing it.
Some notable points:
- If you garden has a rich soil, your plants are properly spaced, and they get plenty of sun, each of your tomatoes plants should provide you with 60 to 90 tomatoes, minimum.
- Onions and other alliums are great perimeter plants for your garden as they repel pests.
- The author is all about keeping rabbits due to their yield of natural fertiliser.
- Plant short rows, but close together.
- Water in the morning, water only when the garden needs it, wait until plants have just begun to wilt before you water, water thoroughly when you do water and water at soil level.
- It's best to harvest lettuce on early and take the whole head and replace with a new one rather than harvesting bit by bit over the season.
July 19, 2011
Very informative but overly fussy, Gilbertie has written a garden manual worthy of Martha Stewart (who used to visit his garden store!).
Great features:
--detailed planting calendar including information about each vegetable
--2 pages on how to grow garlic
--garden maps for various sizes and types of gardens
He raises rabbits just for the manure--to add it to his compost/garden. I guess I raise rabbits too--maybe I should go out there and rake up their nests to get the benefit!
He did inspire me to plan out my planting days more carefully to get as much of a head start as possible.
I am also seriously considering a cold frame and starting seeds myself to get early vegetables w/o paying for plants. He has very detailed instructions for that, too.
However--I will still use mulch! (Despite his recommendations.)
Great features:
--detailed planting calendar including information about each vegetable
--2 pages on how to grow garlic
--garden maps for various sizes and types of gardens
He raises rabbits just for the manure--to add it to his compost/garden. I guess I raise rabbits too--maybe I should go out there and rake up their nests to get the benefit!
He did inspire me to plan out my planting days more carefully to get as much of a head start as possible.
I am also seriously considering a cold frame and starting seeds myself to get early vegetables w/o paying for plants. He has very detailed instructions for that, too.
However--I will still use mulch! (Despite his recommendations.)
July 6, 2015
what a great book! i picked this up in the large gardening section at the library yesterday and read most of it through and after lunch. unlike most gardening books, this book is more of a reference-- there are no photos and only a very few, specific diagrams. even so, the information in here is great! he explains everything in a really conversational and easy-to-grasp way, helping both novice and experienced gardeners tackle an assortment of gardening issues. i learned a lot in just a quick read, and will look through again a bit more carefully. i don't know for sure if it's one i'd want to own, because once i know the info i don't know if i'd really need to reference it again, but i could see myself checking it out once a year or so. also some great planning diagrams in the appendix for large scale home gardens.
May 25, 2010
Hey guys, I'm Sal and I'm going to give you a step by step guide on how to garden in a small-plot while still maintaining high-yields.
All you need is 3000 sq ft of land.
:\
Good book though, chalk full of information-
planting in succession seasonal guide,
interesting take on mulch,
great for beginners
I read this among Square Foot Gardening, as did everyone else apparently.
Sal is great with defining some key gardening terms/ideas.
I haven't honestly put any of his words into work in my own garden, but this is definitely a book that I'll have to trace back to when I need some help with my compost pile.
All you need is 3000 sq ft of land.
:\
Good book though, chalk full of information-
planting in succession seasonal guide,
interesting take on mulch,
great for beginners
I read this among Square Foot Gardening, as did everyone else apparently.
Sal is great with defining some key gardening terms/ideas.
I haven't honestly put any of his words into work in my own garden, but this is definitely a book that I'll have to trace back to when I need some help with my compost pile.
April 20, 2010
At first I was disappointed to see there are barely any pictures in this gardening book. To me it was like a cookbook with no photos; but the more I poured through this I realized it wasn't at all lacking in great tips, witty quips and a strong opinion about gardening. I like Gilbertie's "I know what's best" attitude and even sans photos, it's easy to read with a helpful index. Great resource for this first-time gardener.
July 30, 2011
Some good information, but small-plot is rather misleading, given that the smallest garden plan in the book is for 750 sq ft. (Our backyard is MAYBE 100 sq ft, and half of it is a patio.) There is a small section on container gardening, but that's about it. Otherwise it's a pretty good reference guide, with a lot of information on how to get the most production out of each individual plant.
January 25, 2011
Not my favorite gardening book, but still contained great basic info. Other books I've liked more have included more photography (this book doesn't have any, other than some diagrams and a few graphics) and this book was all technical and didn't focus on the artistic side of gardening as much as some of the other books I've read recently.
April 21, 2012
Very useful garden plans in the back.
Beginning gardeners can expect to learn the basics over a 3 year period. Start with easy varieties and soil improvement, add a little space or variety each year.
One rabbit : manure for 500 sq. ft. garden
Beginning gardeners can expect to learn the basics over a 3 year period. Start with easy varieties and soil improvement, add a little space or variety each year.
One rabbit : manure for 500 sq. ft. garden
September 17, 2010
This book was very helpful for the novice gardener. I thought the title was a bit misleading: the authors' idea of a "small plot" is much larger than my idea of one. But the information was useful and easy to navigate.
November 24, 2010
Excellent and in-depth discussion of how to maximize yield, including methods for sequential crop planting, starting schedules, and discussions of fertilization. A strong organic bias, which is nice. Lots of advice for beginners.
May 25, 2011
Great resource for a beginning gardener. Includes a list of what to plant, when to plant it, garden layouts for different sizes (20 x 20 is the smallest size, though) and how to use compost to create healthy soil.
I will keep this in mind next year!
I will keep this in mind next year!
September 18, 2012
Complex. This would be great for an already experienced gardener who wishes to do a lot of reading on the subject. There are not many pictures at all -- and is laid out with more of a reading-style and not a reference-style.
April 9, 2016
Some useful tips. Liked the detailed planting schedule. He is in CT, but that's close enough to my growing zone as to be useful.
As others have said. His idea of a "small-plot" is not really small at all.
As others have said. His idea of a "small-plot" is not really small at all.
December 2, 2010
I own a copy of this one. Really like the maps that layout the various gardens for you and include crop rotation information.
May 17, 2010
It seems that the whole secret to a great garden in bunny poop.
January 16, 2011
This book had lots of great diagrams of garden plans, which pleases me. I will definitely be getting this book again before the springtime.
April 3, 2011
Lots of good information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews