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Novice Gardener (was: Tonics = Fraud!)

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Hi, Margaret --

(Hah! This is good, ME giving advice to a novice gardener. But this kind of
advice is right up my alley -- books.)

As a novice gardener myself, I found SqFt Gardening to be the one book that
made me think I too could do this. ;-) Or *even* I -- the one over here in
the corner with 3 black thumbs.

Anyway, the other book I've found very helpful is the Sunset book on
Vegetables. I found it so useful that when I was in our local garden center
the other day I bought the Herb book in the series, and I think one other as
well. They're not sq. ft. gardening, and not organic (which I prefer), but
nuts and bolts info on how to grow a good big variety of veggies. 

If you're new to composting, "Let It Rot" is pretty good. 

You'll need some good insect books -- how to identify them and what to do
about them. Wish I could recommend something there -- everything I've got
hasn't been all that helpful. I'd also recommend one or more books on
companion planting -- Louise Riott has one -- Garlic loves Tomatoes (or is
it the other way around?). Nope, the REAL title is Carrots Love Tomatoes.
She has one on flowers, Roses Love Garlic.

And, of course, there is NO shortage of gardening books, so take a whirl at
your local Borders or Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.com, whatever. 

One other general book I've found helpful at times is the Better Homes &
Gardens "New Complete Guide to Gardening." But I find myself turning to the
Sunset book first, right after (and sometimes before) Mel's book.

Good luck to you! I myself will be watching for other good suggestions from
more experienced gardeners.

Patricia

>margaret lauterbach wrote:
>
>> Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>>
>> At 08:59 AM 12/8/1999 -0600, you wrote:
>> >Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>> >
>> >I'm new to this list as well as gardening, so please forgive my
>> >ignorance.  I don't really know anything about Jerry Baker, but my local
>> >nursery has recommended using a mild solution of dish soap on plants for
>> >insect problems.  I have heard others recommend beer to accelerate the
>> >break down of the compost pile.  Is Jerry Baker going beyond this?  Am I
>> >being mislead?
>> >
>> >I just picked up "Square Foot Gardening" for my winter reading.  Can
>> >anyone recommend a winter reading list for a novice like myself?
>> >
>> >Thanks for answering my question,
>> >Bill
>> >
>> >--
>> >Bill Hocker
>> >"Build a better tomorrow, today!"
>> >ICQ# 40642473
>> >
>> Jerry Baker does go beyond this. Mild soaps are okay on plants, although
>> I'm not crazy about using detergents. Some plants will be killed by mild
>> soaps. Squash plants for some reason can't take it. Jerry Baker is fond of
>> concocting junk like Listerine, chlorine bleach, molasses and other stuff.
>> Some combinations of household chemicals can be deadly. Beer on the compost
>> pile is a waste of beer. Urinate on the pile instead. Bill, a lot of
>> gardening depends on your geographic location. If you'd state that, we
>> could guide you to specific references. "Square Foot Gardening" is a great
>> start, though. Margaret L
>>
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