Introduction

Gardening takes many forms. Some gardeners get joy from raising dwarf conifers. Others find pleasure in planting peonies. Growing a vegetable garden is probably the most popular of all gardening styles, and it’s not difficult to understand why. After all, when we till the earth, plant seeds, and harvest food to feed our family and friends, we are repeating tasks humans before us have done for thousands of years.

In this book, you get everything you need to know to create a garden of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. We offer very basic information that may be new to the novice, along with plenty of in-depth advice for the more experienced gardeners. Although there are no guarantees, after reading this book and following the techniques and procedures outlined on these pages—along with plenty of sunshine, adequate rainfall, and a sprinkling of good luck—you should be able to enjoy a bountiful harvest of home-grown vegetables.