Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Cool Springs Press (2018), Edition: 3, 272 pages
Description
Gardening. Nonfiction. HTML: Rapidly increasing in popularity, square foot gardening is the most practical, foolproof way to grow a home garden. That explains why author and gardening innovator Mel Bartholomew has sold more than two million books describing how to become a successful DIY square foot gardener. Now, with the publication of All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition, the essential guide to his unique step-by-step method has become even better. Mel developed his techniques back in the early 1980s and has been teaching them throughout the world ever since. In the process, he has made improvements and refinements and continually adapted his practices to keep pace with modern times. In this new volume, Bartholomew furthers his discussion on one of the most popular gardening trends today: vertical gardening. He also explains how you can make gardening fun for kids by teaching them the square foot method. Finally, an expanded section on pest control helps you protect your precious produce. Rich with new full-color images and updated tips for selecting materials, this beautiful new edition is perfect for brand-new gardeners as well as the millions of square foot gardeners who are already dedicated to Mel's industry-changing insights..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member VVilliam
Mel's second look at square foot gardening brings many new enhancements that should make SFG much much easier. Unfortunately, Mel has also become more commercialized, and the book has the tone of an infomercial. The step by step construction guides are much needed, but I feel the first book gave
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much better detail on actual growing. Both also come with invaluable appendix material with plant charts and tips. I'm definitely glad I read the first SFG book first, but this one is a great sequel too. Show Less
LibraryThing member mysigp226
An excellent resource for starting a garden. The best part of the book is part 3 which contains an A-Z guide for herbs and vegetables. The information in this reference area is practically the same as all the other books, however the layout is far superior. I have several reference books but I find
Even if you are not into SFG this book is worth the price simply for the reference section.
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myself using this one because the layout is easy to understand and has everything I want to know in the right locations on the page. No hunting through paragraphs to find what I want.Even if you are not into SFG this book is worth the price simply for the reference section.
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LibraryThing member RhageRN
This is a revised edition to the first publication way back when. I have both now and they work more as a pair rather than one over the other. The updated version has newer ideas on the theme from the first edition, but the first edition's chapter adn pictures on tomatoes, specifically, is more
Overall, SFG has been a boon to me and my garden. Take from it what works and leave out what doesn't.
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useful. Overall, SFG has been a boon to me and my garden. Take from it what works and leave out what doesn't.
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LibraryThing member Transitionlongfellow
Wondering how to increase your garden's yield? Never gardened and wondering how to start? This is a good first book.
LibraryThing member krookey
Not as in depth or intrigueing as the original Square Foot Gardening. It does have good information for container gardening (since in this volume Mel essentially turns all gardening into container gardening). Still well written, but aimed at a popular/beginner market.
LibraryThing member mochap
I'm so excited about this book! I'm a beginner gardener, and this book has made it seem possible, in fact, even easy and FUN, to start a vegetable garden! It's totally inspiring and a great guide to figuring out how to garden! Recommended!
LibraryThing member justmeRosalie
I am so excited about this book. I saw Bartholomew on a t.v. program explaining his wonderful way of gardening in small 12-inch squares. He watered it by scooping water out of a bucket with his hands! I wanted to shout "Eureka!!" At last, something I can understand that looks simple and doable. I
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feel like it's a Godsend. I will be reading this all summer long. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kristindh
I had absolutely zero knowledge about gardening when I picked up this book, and after such a successful first vegetable garden last season, I have once again turned to this book to help me get started this year. Bartholomew's easy-to-read and well-organized book offers everything you need to know
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about growing a garden. The visuals add an extra benefit. I highly recommend this book to all beginner gardeners. Show Less
LibraryThing member ssigc
The All New Square Foot Gardening Book
by: Mel Bartholomew, Cool Springs Press, 2005
For those of us with tiny yard spaces for food gardens, or who just want to most food produced with the least amount of effort, square foot gardening may be just your Savior. The premise of the system is that a
The focus of the method is to address specific spacial needs of each plant. Plus the spaces between planted rows, which traditionally encouraged compressed soil as well as requiring fertilization, weeding and watering, are eliminated. This provides an ideal habitat for each plant. Other benefits include predictable and balanced food production, automatic crop rotation, healthy soil practices, minimal seed wastage and greatly reduced weeding.
Mel has introduced this method via his books and a PBS television show since the early 1980's. Our garden club library still retains an early copy of the book (1981). Over the years he has refined his methodology and now has sold over 2 million books, has a charitable education foundation, and has modified the system to support square meter gardening outside the United States. The most recent version is titled "The New Improved Square Foot Garden Book". It contains many more photo illustrations and offers improvements including reduced soil requirements, less complex soil blending, no added fertilizer, generous aisle size (the walking space between the gardens), modified seeding procedures and permanent grids. It also provides sizing requirements for the size of the family unit, as well as food production for the root cellar.
My own personal experience is that the book is true to its claims. After initial construction (which is a bit of an effort), the planting and weekly maintenance is almost negligible. And with Mel's suggestion of a few plots allocated to flowers, the result is pretty darn nice to look at. If your goals are as close to effortless and teeny space high yield veggie production, this may be the system for you.
Jim Standen
Directo
by: Mel Bartholomew, Cool Springs Press, 2005
For those of us with tiny yard spaces for food gardens, or who just want to most food produced with the least amount of effort, square foot gardening may be just your Savior. The premise of the system is that a
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vegetable gardening method is introduced which directs your actions towards a bounteous crop. To quote, "square foot gardening will save you at least 80 percent of the space, time and money normally needed to garden, and at the same time, will produce a better and more continuous harvest with less work. Your going to eliminate all of your thinning, most of the weeding, and a lot of the watering and will do it in one fifth of the area." The focus of the method is to address specific spacial needs of each plant. Plus the spaces between planted rows, which traditionally encouraged compressed soil as well as requiring fertilization, weeding and watering, are eliminated. This provides an ideal habitat for each plant. Other benefits include predictable and balanced food production, automatic crop rotation, healthy soil practices, minimal seed wastage and greatly reduced weeding.
Mel has introduced this method via his books and a PBS television show since the early 1980's. Our garden club library still retains an early copy of the book (1981). Over the years he has refined his methodology and now has sold over 2 million books, has a charitable education foundation, and has modified the system to support square meter gardening outside the United States. The most recent version is titled "The New Improved Square Foot Garden Book". It contains many more photo illustrations and offers improvements including reduced soil requirements, less complex soil blending, no added fertilizer, generous aisle size (the walking space between the gardens), modified seeding procedures and permanent grids. It also provides sizing requirements for the size of the family unit, as well as food production for the root cellar.
My own personal experience is that the book is true to its claims. After initial construction (which is a bit of an effort), the planting and weekly maintenance is almost negligible. And with Mel's suggestion of a few plots allocated to flowers, the result is pretty darn nice to look at. If your goals are as close to effortless and teeny space high yield veggie production, this may be the system for you.
Jim Standen
Directo
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LibraryThing member SABC
This is the book for you if you want ot grow more vegetables or flowers in smaller space.
LibraryThing member Rhyla
An excellent gardening book and a great resource! I've tried many of the techniques and tips outlined in the book to great success. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to grow things.
LibraryThing member lonepalm
Best gardening book ever: I do not come by gardening naturally, but after my daughter read this book in Africa, she convinced me that even I could make things grow. She was right. I live in a rural area and only get sun on my deck and this system is perfect. The soil mix is the best I have ever
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used. It is low maintence. The book is easy to read with some great reference tables. There are lots of great photos and diagrams for the visual learner. Throughout the book you will even find tips for including your children. I have since purchased 2 more books as gifts. Show Less
LibraryThing member Hae-Yu
Great book on gardening that makes it easy for the amateur. It really makes you want to head over to the local hardware store and start your own garden. Unfortunately, it isn't as easy as he makes it out to be and you'll become well-acquainted with quite a few things not covered: 10 kinds of
This book provides a shortcut to getting a garden started and having a weed-free bed, but after that, you'll be searching on each and every plant.
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caterpillars, 5 kinds of grasshoppers, snails, slugs, powdery mildew, spider mites, aphids, leaf miners, and a bunch of other stuff. You'll have to learn the hard way how to fight off all your local pests, which practices and growing patterns encourage/ discourage these, and all the millions of other things gardeners have had to fight through since Adam was condemned to feed his family by the sweat of his brow. As far as his close planting, I find it infuriating picking off those well-camouflaged caterpillars and other pests with the density he proposes.This book provides a shortcut to getting a garden started and having a weed-free bed, but after that, you'll be searching on each and every plant.
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LibraryThing member abeckert23
I thought, for an instructional book, this was well-written, clear, and encouraging! Wonderful, and I'm excited to put the process to work!
LibraryThing member tkcs
We got 2 SF garden boxes so I'm reading this to learn more about this gardening technique. Very interesting and I'm hopeful we'll see some good results. Check with me in August.
LibraryThing member Fairydragonstar
Helped me refine my raised bed gardening
LibraryThing member flying_monkeys
Disclaimer: I read most gardening books purely for inspiration, not for how-to advice or instructions.
A recommended reference for beginners and experienced square-foot gardeners. I collected several new ideas.
I read the 3rd edition. Lots of color photos.
A recommended reference for beginners and experienced square-foot gardeners. I collected several new ideas.
I read the 3rd edition. Lots of color photos.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1981
Physical description
9.5 inches
ISBN
0760362858 / 9780760362853