The Prairie Gardener's Go-To Guide for Soil

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Author :
Publisher : Guides for the Prairie Gardene
ISBN 13 : 9781771513661
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (136 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener's Go-To Guide for Soil by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener's Go-To Guide for Soil written by Janet Melrose and published by Guides for the Prairie Gardene. This book was released on 2022-03-08 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fifth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series is all about getting good soil--from chemical composition to compost, fertilizer to fungi, and much more. Soil is a whole world under our feet, full of fun words you may have heard but never quite understood, like hard-pan, humus, loam, and tilth. In this fifth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series, master gardeners Janet and Sheryl provide the basics of soil science so that you can apply it to your gardening endeavours. They answer your questions on things like How do I test the chemical composition of my garden soil? What's the difference between organic, inorganic, and natural fertilizers? What do those numbers on packages of fertilizer mean? How and when should I amend my garden's soil? Hot compost? Cold compost? Worm compost? Egg shells, coffee grounds, banana peels--yes or no? What exactly do mycorrhizal fungi do? In this handy Q-and-A guide, focused specifically on the prairie region, you'll learn what particles are dominant in your soil, how to make successful compost, the value of mulch, tips on no-till practices and cover crops, and solutions to problems such as compaction, heavy clay, salinity, and soil-borne diseases. With Janet and Sheryl's insight you'll soon be well on your way to healthy, happy soil.

The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Soil

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771513675
Total Pages : 108 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Soil by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Soil written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2022-03-22 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Honorable Mention, American Horticultural Society Book Awards The fifth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series is all about getting good soil—from chemical composition to compost, fertilizer to fungi, and much more. Soil is a whole world under our feet, full of fun words you may have heard but never quite understood, like hard-pan, humus, loam, and tilth. In this fifth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series, master gardeners Janet and Sheryl provide the basics of soil science so that you can apply it to your gardening endeavours. They answer your questions on things like How do I test the chemical composition of my garden soil? What’s the difference between organic, inorganic, and natural fertilizers? What do those numbers on packages of fertilizer mean? How and when should I amend my garden’s soil? Hot compost? Cold compost? Worm compost? Egg shells, coffee grounds, banana peels—yes or no? What exactly do mycorrhizal fungi do? In this handy Q-and-A guide, focused specifically on the prairie region, you’ll learn what particles are dominant in your soil, how to make successful compost, the value of mulch, tips on no-till practices and cover crops, and solutions to problems such as compaction, heavy clay, salinity, and soil-borne diseases. With Janet and Sheryl’s insight you’ll soon be well on your way to healthy, happy soil.

The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Seeds

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771513454
Total Pages : 142 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Seeds by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Seeds written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2021-05-18 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The third installation of the new gardening series Guides for the Prairie Gardener is all about seeds, from saving and starting to transplants and even winter sowing. Certified master gardeners Sheryl and Janet offer you all the tools you need to start seeds, ensuring they thrive and grow into beautiful mature plants. They answer your questions on things like how to determine the viability of seeds the difference between an heirloom, heritage, and hybrid seed the best containers and planting media to use when and how to use growing lights troubleshooting common problems such as damping off and overwatering the proper methods for hardening off transplants and planting them out. And they don't stop at addressing starting seeds indoors—they also give you the information you need to direct sow straight into the garden, and on winter sowing. Then they delve deeply into how you can collect and save seed for the future so that you can continue the cycle for future growing seasons. The book is complete with detailed charts to give you specific information about seed starting on the Prairies, with several plant lists to help you decide what selections work best in a variety of situations and conditions.

The Prairie Gardener's Go-To Guide for Perennials

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771513934
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener's Go-To Guide for Perennials by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener's Go-To Guide for Perennials written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2023-04-05 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The eighth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series is all about those reliable, grounded plants you can count on: perennials. Perennials are those species whose stems and leaves die back to their crowns each fall, but whose roots remain alive throughout the non-growing months. They include showy flowers like peonies, poppies, lilies, clematis, and lupine, but also edibles like asparagus, fiddlehead ferns, sunchokes, and rhubarb. In this guide prairie gardening experts Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau answer questions like What are the best perennials for building biodiversity in my garden? What’s the difference between species, variety, cultivar, and nativar? What kinds of perennials can I grow in containers? When and how do I divide plants once they’re well established? How do I keep enthusiastic re-seeders from taking over? Which of my perennial babies need to be brought inside for the winter? The pair dedicate a chapter to perennial vegetables and another to mitigating common pests and diseases. The final chapter is a perennial hall of fame, an extended list of recommended plantings for colour, native species, rock gardens, ground cover, fragrance, spring champions, and all-season displays. Janet and Sheryl give you the information you need to make your perennial garden as successful as you can while promoting biodiversity and creating a healthy habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Small Spaces

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771513470
Total Pages : 150 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Small Spaces by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Small Spaces written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2021-05-11 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fourth installation of the new gardening series Guides for the Prairie Gardener will teach you how to maximize your small-space garden in the prairies. Not everyone in the prairies has a big, wide-open space in which to garden, but with a little extra know-how and some specialized techniques, you can maximize your success in the space you have. Lifelong gardeners Sheryl and Janet are here with answers to all of your big questions about small-space gardening including Which types of growing media to use in containers or raised beds How to properly fertilize and water your container plants, including grow bags and containers made from various types of materials How to get started in square foot gardening How to reap the rewards of succession planting and catch-cropping How to build raised beds, wicking beds, and sub-irrigation planters Which veggies and vines to grow vertically, what herbs and edible flowers are suitable for container growing, as well as small tree options for your tiny yard How to keep hanging baskets looking lush and full of blooms all summer. Whether you're using container gardens, raised beds, small plots, and postage-stamp sized yards, or trying your hand at vertical gardening, certified master gardeners Sheryl and Janet answer all your questions about how to do so successfully on the prairies. Small-space gardeners are a different breed and what they create can be magic!

The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Grasses

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Author :
Publisher : Touchwood Editions
ISBN 13 : 9781771514309
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (143 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Grasses by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Grasses written by Janet Melrose and published by Touchwood Editions. This book was released on 2024-03-19 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the tenth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series, lifelong gardeners Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau take on the very prairie subject of grasses. Was ever there a prairie-er subject than grass? Important providers of habitat and food for numerous wildlife species, grasses also serve an integral role in erosion control. For the gardener they can open up a bounty of landscaping options, from the lawn to the pond. In the tenth installment of their popular gardening guide series, lifelong gardeners Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau give you the skinny on everything from sod to sedges and raking to rushes. Following a primer on what exactly defines a grass, Sheryl and Janet take your questions on matters like clumpers vs spreaders, mulching and fertilizers, how to tackle problems like chinch bugs and fairy rings. The pair dedicate a chapter to lawns, providing a wide selection of alternatives to the tried and true commercial lawn species and answer questions on raking, aerating, laying sod, mowing, and dealing with dogs and all the damage they seem hardwired to do. Taking your questions on aquatic grasses, as well as edible species (like wheat, rye, and corn), and finishing up with a hall of fame of the best grasses for your every plan and purpose, the authors are sure to expand your knowledge on this truly homegrown topic!

The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Grasses

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771514310
Total Pages : 111 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Grasses by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Grasses written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2024-04-19 with total page 111 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the tenth book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series, lifelong gardeners Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau take on the very prairie subject of grasses. Was ever there a prairie-er subject than grass? Important providers of habitat and food for numerous wildlife species, grasses also serve an integral role in erosion control. For the gardener they can open up a bounty of landscaping options, from the lawn to the pond. In the tenth installment of their popular gardening guide series, lifelong gardeners Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau give you the skinny on everything from sod to sedges and raking to rushes. Following a primer on what exactly defines a grass, Sheryl and Janet take your questions on matters like clumpers vs spreaders, mulching and fertilizers, how to tackle problems like chinch bugs and fairy rings. The pair dedicate a chapter to lawns, providing a wide selection of alternatives to the tried and true commercial lawn species and answer questions on raking, aerating, laying sod, mowing, and dealing with dogs and all the damage they seem hardwired to do. Taking your questions on aquatic grasses, as well as edible species (like wheat, rye, and corn), and finishing up with a hall of fame of the best grasses for your every plan and purpose, the authors are sure to expand your knowledge on this truly homegrown topic!

The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Vegetables

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Author :
Publisher : Guides for the Prairie Gardene
ISBN 13 : 9781771513128
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (131 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Vegetables by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener's Go-To for Vegetables written by Janet Melrose and published by Guides for the Prairie Gardene. This book was released on 2020-04-07 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: All the most common questions about growing vegetables in the prairies are answered in this first installation of the new gardening series, Guides for the Prairie Gardener.

Life in the Soil

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Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226568539
Total Pages : 316 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (265 download)

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Book Synopsis Life in the Soil by : James B. Nardi

Download or read book Life in the Soil written by James B. Nardi and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2009-09-15 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leonardo da Vinci once mused that “we know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot,” an observation that is as apt today as it was five hundred years ago. The biological world under our toes is often unexplored and unappreciated, yet it teems with life. In one square meter of earth, there lives trillions of bacteria, millions of nematodes, hundreds of thousands of mites, thousands of insects and worms, and hundreds of snails and slugs. But because of their location and size, many of these creatures are as unfamiliar and bizarre to us as anything found at the bottom of the ocean. Lavishly illustrated with nearly three hundred color illustrations and masterfully-rendered black and white drawings throughout, Life in the Soil invites naturalists and gardeners alike to dig in and discover the diverse community of creatures living in the dirt below us. Biologist and acclaimed natural history artist James B. Nardibegins with an introduction to soil ecosystems, revealing the unseen labors of underground organisms maintaining the rich fertility of the earth as they recycle nutrients between the living and mineral worlds. He then introduces readers to a dazzling array of creatures: wolf spiders with glowing red eyes, snails with 120 rows of teeth, and 10,000-year-old fungi, among others. Organized by taxon, Life in the Soil covers everything from slime molds and roundworms to woodlice and dung beetles, as well as vertebrates from salamanders to shrews. The book ultimately explores the crucial role of soil ecosystems in conserving the worlds above and below ground. A unique and illustrative introduction to the many unheralded creatures that inhabit our soils and shape our environment aboveground, Life in the Soil will inform and enrich the naturalist in all of us.

The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Pests and Diseases

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771513152
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Pests and Diseases by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Pests and Diseases written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2020-04-07 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Your guide to trouble-shooting weeds, pests, diseases, moulds, critters, and other common prairie gardener’s problems in this second title in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series. Whether you’re an experienced prairie gardener or have just a few weeks under your belt, chances are you’ve come to know at least a couple of pesky insects, moulds, or much larger lurkers on a first-name basis. But what to do about these interlopers who can seem hell-bent on ruining your hard work? Lifelong gardeners Janet and Sheryl are here to help. In this second installment in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series, the authors tackle the full range of suspects, including weeds, insects, microorganisms, rodents, birds, deer and even other people’s pets. Premised on a respect for the natural world and using an integrated pest management approach, they’ll show you how to identify the culprit and how to deter it, while respecting the broader environment. Should I use landscape fabric? Does vinegar work? What do I do about tent caterpillars? Why are my potatoes scabby? Why does it look like my cabbages have been attacked by miniature buckshot? And the recurring What is this thing?! Janet and Sheryl take your most pressing questions in this Q&A-style resource on all the prairie gardener’s most common pests, including thistle, dandelion, crabgrass, slugs, aphids, beetles, moths, mildew, fungus, rust, deer, rabbits, and porcupines. With elegance and a sense of humour, their solutions reveal their fascination with the natural world and belief in your ability to garden well in its midst.

The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants

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Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 022680609X
Total Pages : 647 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (268 download)

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Book Synopsis The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants by : Neil Diboll

Download or read book The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants written by Neil Diboll and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2023-04-12 with total page 647 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive and beautifully illustrated reference for all gardeners passionate about native plants and prairie restoration. The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants is the one-stop compendium for all gardeners aspiring to use native prairie plants in their gardens. Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox—two renowned prairie gardeners—compile more than four decades’ worth of research to offer a wide-ranging and definitive reference for starting and maintaining prairie and meadow gardens and restorations. Alongside detailed synopses of plant life cycles, meticulous range maps, and sweeping overviews of natural history, Diboll and Cox also include photographs of 148 prairie plants in every stage of development, from seedling to seedhead. North America’s grasslands once stretched from the Blue Ridge to the Rocky Mountains, and from Texas to Manitoba, blanketing the mid-continent with ecologically important, garden-worthy, native species. This book provides all the inspiration and information necessary for eager native planters from across the country to welcome these plants back to their landscapes. The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants is a must-have reference for gardeners, restorationists, and every flora fan with a passion for native plants, prairies and meadows.

The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 246 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (475 download)

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Book Synopsis The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil by : Gene Logsdon

Download or read book The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil written by Gene Logsdon and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Fruit

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Author :
Publisher : TouchWood Editions
ISBN 13 : 1771513918
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (715 download)

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Book Synopsis The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Fruit by : Janet Melrose

Download or read book The Prairie Gardener’s Go-To for Fruit written by Janet Melrose and published by TouchWood Editions. This book was released on 2023-03-28 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lifelong gardeners Janet Melrose and Sheryl Normandeau tackle the tasty topic of fruit in the seventh book in the Guides for the Prairie Gardener series. Strawberries, blueberries, saskatoons, pears, plums, apricots, cherries, currants, kiwi . . . There are lots of great reasons to grow your own. There’s the unparalleled taste of fresh produce to consider, and the opportunity to help reduce ever-rising grocery bills. Then there’s the ornamental appeal (think grape vines and apple blossoms). Whether you’re growing an orchard in a rural area, planting a couple of currant bushes or haskaps in a small urban yard, or a container of squash on a balcony, you’ll find help and inspiration here. Janet and Sheryl answer your questions on things like Placement for sun- and shade-loving plants Pollination, propagation, and grafting Mulching, hilling, trellises, and those oh-so-fancy espaliers Troubleshooting pesky spots, scales, worms, flies, and other killjoys Preventing weather damage and prepping your plants for winter Harvesting and storage methods With a primer on what exactly counts as fruit (scientifically and culturally) and Prairie-friendly lists of species and varietals for every space and inclination, you’ll soon know your drupes from your pomes, your berries from your pepos and be well on your way to harvesting the fruits of your own labour (yes, we went there).

The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 264 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil by : Gene Logsdon

Download or read book The Gardener's Guide to Better Soil written by Gene Logsdon and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Includes information and techniques for testing, fertilizing and conditioning soil, mulching, making and using composts, draining, irrigating, and cultivating gardens.

The Soul of Soil

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Author :
Publisher : Chelsea Green Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1890132314
Total Pages : 194 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis The Soul of Soil by : Grace Gershuny

Download or read book The Soul of Soil written by Grace Gershuny and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 1999 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil is the basis not only for all gardening, but for all terrestrial life. No aspect of agriculture is more fundamental and important, yet we have been losing vast quantities of our finite soil resources to erosion, pollution, and development. This book provides essential information about one of the most significant challenges for those attempting to grow delicious organic vegetables: the creation and maintenance of healthy soil. In chapter two, the authors give a clear explanation of the subjects, soil life and nutrient cycles. The book provides coherent descriptions of key concepts including cation exchange capacity and chelation. In a concise presentation, the authors give readers important information, including technical essentials and useful tables that list specific compost materials, green manures, and other resources that allow growers to translate into action the more general information provided by the book. The soil-building techniques featured include: Organic matter management ; Building and maintaining humus ; On-site composting ; Green manures and rotations ; Cultivation and weed control ; Nutrient balances and soil testing ; Using mineral fertilizers ; Planning for organic certification. All of us involved in the cultivation of plants, from the backyard gardener to the largest farmer, need to help regenerate a "living soil," for only in the diversity of the soil and its creatures can we ensure the long-term health of ourselves and our environment. This book offers everyone a basic understanding of what soil is and what we can do to improve our own patch of it.

Growing Figs in Cold Climates

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Author :
Publisher : New Society Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1771423463
Total Pages : 163 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (714 download)

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Book Synopsis Growing Figs in Cold Climates by : Lee Reich

Download or read book Growing Figs in Cold Climates written by Lee Reich and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2021-10-05 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Minnesota to Moscow — how to grow fresh figs in cold climates Growing Figs in Cold Climates is a complete, full-color, illustrated guide to organic methods for growing delicious figs in cold climates, well outside the traditional hot, arid home of this ancient fruiting tree. Coverage includes: Five methods for growing figs in cold climates including overwintering Cultivar selection for cool and cold climates Pruning techniques for a variety of methods of growing figs in cold climates Pest problems and solutions Harvesting, including ways to speed ripening, identify ripe fruit, and manage an overabundance Small-scale commercial fig production in cold climates. Fresh figs are juicy, full-bodied, and filled with a honey-sweet flavor, and because truly ripe figs are highly perishable, they are only available to those who grow their own. By choosing the right cultivars and techniques, figs can be grown across cool and cold growing zones of North America, Europe, and beyond, putting them within reach of almost every gardener. Easy and delicious — if you can grow a houseplant, you can grow a fig.

Soil Science for Gardeners

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Author :
Publisher : New Society Publishers
ISBN 13 : 155092723X
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (59 download)

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Book Synopsis Soil Science for Gardeners by : Robert Pavlis

Download or read book Soil Science for Gardeners written by Robert Pavlis and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2020-04-07 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Build healthy soil and grow better plants Robert Pavlis, a gardener for over four decades, debunks common soil myths, explores the rhizosphere, and provides a personalized soil fertility improvement program in this three-part popular science guidebook. Healthy soil means thriving plants. Yet untangling the soil food web and optimizing your soil health is beyond most gardeners, many of whom lack an in-depth knowledge of the soil ecosystem. Soil Science for Gardeners is an accessible, science-based guide to understanding soil fertility and, in particular, the rhizosphere – the thin layer of liquid and soil surrounding plant roots, so vital to plant health. Coverage includes: Soil biology and chemistry and how plants and soil interact Common soil health problems, including analyzing soil's fertility and plant nutrients The creation of a personalized plan for improving your soil fertility, including setting priorities and goals in a cost-effective, realistic time frame. Creating the optimal conditions for nature to do the heavy lifting of building soil fertility Written for the home gardener, market gardener, and micro-farmer, Soil Science for Gardeners is packed with information to help you grow thriving plants.