McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers

Thank you

I took a container gardening class and instructor recommended this book. Purchased while in class. Great book that hits on key plant tips and tricks. I will state though that some of the wording is inaccurate if you are an experienced gardener. Inaccurate as in (no that is not true as I have done it and it worked for me however for vast majority of people I can see why you stated that). Still a great book to have on hand and reference. It does not go into depth like a plant dictionary but instead growing, care tips instead which is more reasonable to gardeners.

This book is such a godsend to a new gardener. I wish I had known about this book three years ago when I planted my first veggie container garden on my condo's back deck. As someone who grew up never being exposed to gardening, I can tell you that learning all of the terms and processes (even just for containers, which is much simpler than growing via traditional in-ground methods) is intimidating to a newcomer. This guide is excellent because it lays everything out in simple, easy to understand terms with simple, easy to understand explanations, which gives the new container gardener a solid foundation to learn more as their skills and interest mature over time. There have been many wonderful books and reference guides written for traditional gardeners, but this is the best I've seen so far written specifically with the container gardener in mind. Still, three years after I planted those pots of tomatoes on my back deck, this guide has taught me so much. It's helped me make more informed choices about what I'm planting and how to better care for it. End result? Better yields and less frustration = more enjoyment from my garden.The authors divided this book into three sections. Part One takes the reader through the process of deciding what to plant and how to design the garden that balances your wants and your needs, taking all things into consideration. Part two consists of basics about tools, soil, seeds, containers - a great primer for a total beginner (someone who has never even kept a houseplant) or a helpful supplement to those new to container gardening in particular (who maybe previously have kept a traditional garden, but have since downsized and still want the benefits of homegrown vegetables without all of the upkeep). Part three is the real gem here, though. It's an encyclopedia type reference section with full 1-2 page entries on most common vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and fruits (yes, fruits!) available to container gardeners. Each entry contains detailed information about the best way to start (seeds vs. transplants),care for, avoid common problems with, and harvest each plant to help guarantee your success with the specific plants you choose to grow. This last section alone is well-worth what the book costs, and makes it a handy addition to any gardening library.Bravo to the authors for writing such a useful and insightful guide to container gardening. I know I'll be enjoying my copy for many years to come!

I am very careful to read reviews before I purchase almost anything on Amazon, and this book was no exception. I worried about the compatibility of their suggestions of different plants in the same container. I looked on Google to see snippets of the book. I have never done much (really, any) gardening before.I purchased the book originally in paperback, and then several months later, when it became available for my Kindle for a steal of about $2. I tell everyone about it. I gave my original copy away to another apartment-dweller. I have memorized some of the sections, practically.And it's incredible. When I went shopping for soil, I found that the Miracle Gro Orangic Potting Soil for Container Veggies and Fruits had the ingredients these ladies DIDN'T recommend, and hardly any of the ones it did. I bought new potting soil for WAY cheaper, and my plants promptly popped out of their seeds. I listened to their pot recommendations, and LOVED the fact that it gave specific information on depth requirements for each plant. I have carrots, snap peas, lettuce, kale, New Zealand Spinach, potatoes, and a lemon tree all flourishing (relatively) on my patio. And I wouldn't have been able to do it without this book. To top it all off, I bought the vast majority of my seeds from McGee's family's Nichols Garden Nursery, and not only do they have the best seed strains and prices I could find anywhere online (disease-resistance is key!), they gave me a free seed packet! I have enough seeds to last me 5 years.I found their suggestions regarding light, fertilizer, soil, buying seeds, pot selection, disease, planting (either by seed or by transplant) all invaluable, and after all this you still have 75% of the book left to look up specific information on individual plants. And in these individual sections, their experience comes across in a big way. The only problem I've found thus far was with sprouting snap peas, but that was it(I discovered wrapping them in wet paper towel and then placing the wet-towel bundle in an open plastic bag pre-sprouted my seeds perfectly).I grow most of my plants in reusable grocery bags, the kind you get from the grocery store for about a dollar. I don't have a drill, so that somewhat limits my ability to capitalize on their encouragement to turn just about anything into a pot. With the bags, I just snip some holes in the bottom (and maybe bottom of the sides), fill with soil, plant, and that's it.

This is a wonderfully accessible and inspiring read for those aspiring to create a viable and productive vegetable garden in containers. However if, like me, you are in the uk you should be aware that this is a North American book designed for sale and use in North America. The plant recommendations and seasonal advice all reflect this and while its still a very useful book some of it is therefore not going to be relevant to your needs.

I found this book easy to grab and gain quick info from, the layout is clear and the information well ordered.I live in the UK and this book was written with North America in mind so some things don't match our British climate and seasons but I still find this book very handy and don't regret buying it.So, if you don't have a big garden or even if you do this book will show you how and what to grow in containers.I have had success growing all manor of veg and herbs in containers with the help of this book.Well recommended!

Gute Anleitung für alle die Gemüse auf dem Balkon oder der Terrasse pflanzen möchten. im ersten Teil werden alle notwendigen Vorbereitungen, Überlegungen , Materialien und Pflanzanleitungen in der, den englisch schreibenden Autoren eigenen ,wunderbaren Sprache sehr verständlich dargestellt.Im zweiten Teil des Buches werden die einzelnen Pflanzen vorgestellt mit ihren jeweiligen Bedürfnissen und Tipps und Tricks dazu.Absolut empfehlenswert.

Great little read. Lots of very good and interesting info on virtually every sort of container-growable veggies and herbs, complete with planting, care and harvesting tips.

Very helpful and thorough. Highly recommended.