The container victory garden A beginner's guide to growing your own groceries

Veteran gardening and cookbook author Stuckey (Soup Night, 2013) delivers a title, born of the pandemic, that's both sweetly nostalgic and immensely practical. With an inclusive spirit, she encourages folks with limitations due to space, sun, and more to unsheathe their green thumbs, while also embracing those who have tried unsuccessfully before and welcoming people with mobility issues that keep them out of the traditional garden. Since planning is the key to success, Stuckey walks readers through all the factors and variables that will determine a harvest. Next, the veggies (and more) are each profiled with all the attributes to help gardeners pick the perfect plant. Stuckey also offers rich stories on the history of victory gardens and how they nourished families and souls, making this a great read. This entry-level book is sure to become a favorite resource, and whether they're drawn to the warmth of the narrative or Stuckey's encouraging tone, its readers will be anxious to try their hands at gardening this spring.

Gardener Stuckey (Soup Night) delivers a simple manual on how to grow plants in containers. "Gardening is hope made real," she contends, and offers guidance on how those short on outdoor space can develop their green thumb using pots and other receptacles. She explains factors to consider when planning, including how much sunlight the plants will require, which are best suited to one's region, and which thrive during which seasons. Stuckey recommends readers acquire a trowel, cultivator, hand pruner, watering can, and gloves to get started, and she provides a rundown of the pros and cons of various container types (ceramics are "elegant" but break easily, while plastic planters are durable but "not especially handsome"). Step-by-step guidance describes how to plant seeds and nurture their growth, offering such useful suggestions as thinning out seedlings that have sprouted too closely together and transferring newly purchased plants into a watery fertilizer solution before placing them in their final container, so as to loosen up their roots. Ideas on how to make the most of limited space include stacking plants on a baker's rack or fashioning a makeshift trellis out of fishing line. The thorough, no-fuss advice for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers will get beginners started in no time. Urban gardeners will appreciate the recommendations on making the most out of limited space. (Feb.)