Grow vegetables

In this guide boasting full-color photographs on every page, step-by-step how-tos, and practical, easy-to-follow advice, Buckingham (Australian Inst. of Family Studies, Melbourne) shows how nearly everyone can grow his or her own vegetables. A discussion of choosing and preparing your garden space is followed by a section laying out tips, tools, and techniques to help demystify the art of growing vegetables; a month-by-month planner explaining what to do to maximize your success; and a "vegetable doctor" outlining effective and appropriate cures and treatments for any pests or diseases you may encounter. Both organic and nonorganic options are presented, allowing the gardener to be as ecologically sound as he or she chooses. The juiciest parts are the several chapters devoted to the vegetables themselves--e.g., root and stem vegetables, fruiting vegetables, and herbs. Each vegetable's listing includes several photos, a neat description, and a chart showing the best times to sow/plant, transplant, and harvest. An admirable go-to guide for new and experienced gardeners alike, this will make a good addition to public library collections and will have a happy place in this reviewer's own gardening library. Expect interest owing to the increasing popularity of the local food movement.--Eboni A. Francis, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.