The New Seed Starter's Handbook
by Nancy Bubel
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Book Reviews of The New Seed Starter's Handbook
Book Review: Greenhouse is Full of Plants Started From Seed After Reading This Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've got so many notes, highlighted paragraphs, and post-it notes in this book that it's obvious I got a lot out of it.
I had never grown anything from seed before, but my greenhouse is full of plants I grew from seed. It's Winter and it was fun to go out during Oklahoma's record-breaking Christmas Eve Blizzard and there I was in the middle of my vegetable garden. The plants didn't mind the blizzard outside and I'm now harvesting some of what I planted.
I learned what not to include in the potting soil when propagating seeds and signs of soil deficiencies, and what to do about it. I'm learning about soil acidity, but I need some time to get a handle on that one. I learned about the spacing of seeds and I used the suggested method of planting lettuce and carrots and the putting radishes inbetween. They are harvested first, leaving plenty of space for the lettuce and carrots. That is important when planting space is scarce. There are notes under pollination, where I learned the different ways specific plants can be pollinated, with or without insects. I am just now trying the method of jiggling tomatoes. I read about but don't yet understand humidity requirements.
I learned when to plant outside, by counting back. I need to work on that.
My greenhouse is full of beautiful, growing vegetables. I've harvested some, even though I would rather just leave them there. They are beautiful. January is half over. It won't be long until I can take my new skills outside and practice them.
I'm glad I had this book. It took some of the 'guess' out gardening from seeds. I really like this book.
Book Review: Vegetable Gardening in Northern Climates
Summary: 4 Stars
This book should have a subtitle: Vegetable Gardening in Northern Climates. The author assumes that every reader has snowy winters and hot summers, and that every reader is a vegetable gardener. If I just described you, then without question, you should buy this book! I live in a cool coastal climate of California, where temperatures are generally between 50-65, regardless of season. I'm not trying to grow vegetables, simply trying to replace the weeds in my yard with no-watering-required wildflowers, herbs, etc. If this describes you, then I will say that the book is still good for basic seed-starting tips, fertilizing, etc., but that at least 70% of the book will not apply. FYI, here are a few of the things I've learned in the past several months: Birds eat seedlings/baby plants. Really. I've sat with coffee in hand watching them. Bird netting must be raised up at least six inches and stretched taught to keep them away, but then it is dangerous to wildlife. I took it out after I found a young possum caught in it, and had to cut him loose. He had badly wounded himself trying to get free. I've replaced it with basic clear plastic from the hardware store, the kind we californians all have around the house for flood control. So far, it is working great.Book Review: Best Seed Info Book made
Summary: 5 Stars
I have the previous edition to this book and have been using it for years and years. I had a greenhouse and have been starting and growing flowers for 14 years. In my Or town, I am known as the Flower Lady and I can thank this book. It is one of those hard to find DOWN TO EARTH EASY TO READ INFO books. It tells you if the seed is difficult to germinate, and sometimes those seeds you can buy in packets in the stores, you couldn't start no matter what unless you owned a nursery and had all the equipment. Like I like to grow and sell perennials as they bring in good money and many of the perennials are very easy to grow from seed, but some of them are very hard, almost impossible, so before I start with a flower seed, I always look in this book. It is a life saver for me. I thin it also has veggie's ??? I can't remember and I can't find my copy but I"m digging. I alreay know most of what is in it, but this is the book for you if you want to grow flowers from seed and be very successful, but always remember the most important ingredient in growing flowers is goods soil. NOthing much worthwhile except a few grow in average to poor soil. I heavily ammended mine before I began. Good luck and your kids would love to grow too :)Book Review: Great book!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
After 10 years on a sailboat, my husband and I "swallowed the anchor" and bought a 2 acre farm.
I used to purchased plants from a nursery years ago in Colorado, but after reading this book, I decided to grow my own plants. After reading the book twice, I bought my seeds, fencing, etc. and then decided to make my own "seed-starting and growing system" using snap-together shelving, flourescent lights, disposable nesting pans,plastic shoe boxes and an electric blanket! It took me about a month to put it all together and set it up, but it works like a charm!! If you want to know more, e-mail me at sv_compromise@yahoo.com and I will give you more info on its setup and use. Her tips and tricks are great and I'm sure every gardener, new or accomplished, will enjoy it tremendously.
E.J. Monheiser
Book Review: Best Seed Book of ALL TIME!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
No joke! I am new to the scene of gardening, and looked through a small library of books trying to find a "bible" equivalent. I found it in this book. It shows you EVERYTHING you want to know, and some you didn't know (but you should). It's easy to read, easy to understand, has great illustrations, and very informative. I tell everyone I know about this book and I highly recommend it to everyone from the fresh beginner to the experienced. When I have a question or go out to garden, this is the only book I take with me.
Ps. It was also wonderful for trees (I have a mountain ash in my backyard and it was very helpful in explaining all the basics I needed to know about harvesting and growing them from seeds).
Good luck!