You’re excited to plant your first vegetable garden—but where to start? In The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables, you’ll find the answers you’re looking for. *Winner of the GardenComm 2022 Media Awards Silver Award of Achievement in the Photography/Book General Readership Category* Homesteader Jessica Sowards, the warm and energetic host of YouTube’s Roots and Refuge Farm, is the perfect teacher for new gardeners, offering not just know-how but inspiration and time-management tips for success. Before you sink your hands into the soil, she’ll answer all those questions rolling around inside your head: Where do I put my new garden? How do I prepare the soil? What vegetables should I plant? Is it better to start new plants from seed or should I buy transplants? What about watering, feeding, and taking care of my garden? What do I do if bugs show up? There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all. Not only will you learn how to prepare, plant, and tend your first vegetable garden, you’ll also learn: How to design an eco-friendly layout How to grow with the seasons How to maximize your harvest, even if you only grow in a small space Jessica wants your first food-growing experience to be a positive one, and she’s prepared to go the distance to make sure tending the earth becomes your new favorite hobby. A single growing season is all it takes to fall in love with growing your own healthy, organic, nutrient-dense food. With Jessica as your guide, you’ll soon discover all the satisfactions, challenges, and great joys of growing your own food garden. This book is part of The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers and The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening. Each book in The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that’s presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening is an essential beginner’s guide to building, filling, and growing a raised bed vegetable garden.

In The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening, you'll learn how to successfully grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits in pots, even if you've never gardened before.

There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all. In The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers, Sean and Allison McManus, the gardening pros behind the popular website and podcast Spoken Garden, answer all of your questions and more. Caring for outdoor plantings can be intimidating, especially if the process is completely new to you. Before running to the hardware store to stock up on plastic bags of mulch and tools you don’t really need, arm yourself with the know-how to plant and tend outdoor areas correctly and safely. Doing so saves you time, money, and energy—and helps make the process a whole lot more fun! With help from this easy-to-follow beginner gardening guide, you’ll learn: Tips for selecting the best plants and flowers for your growing conditions The best planting techniques for different types of plants How to mulch trees, shrubs, and garden beds correctly Pruning dos and don’ts for common garden plants Ways to keep weeds out of outdoor areas—without using synthetic herbicides How to recognize and manage different pests and diseases naturally Insider tips on everything from the difference between annuals and perennials to choosing the best organic fertilizer Plus, you’ll find time-management advice and tips for effective, resource-conscious gardening You will close the book not only knowing how to care for your home's outdoor plantings using earth-friendly methods, but also knowing the satisfaction of a beautiful, all-natural landscape. This book is part of The First-Time Gardener Guide series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables. Each book in The First-Time Gardener Guide series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that's presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

'A brilliant and inspirational starter kit for anyone who wants to make a garden to suit their own needs.' - Alan Titchmarsh Although excited by the prospect of moving into their own home for the first time, many people are mystified at the thought of what to do with their outdoor space. Frances Tophill's fuss-free, practical guide shows you how to create a space outside your own back door that's designed by you, built by you and enjoyed by you. Beginning with advice on getting to know your garden - what type of soil you have, what the drainage and light is like - then on getting to know yourself as a gardener - do you want a vegetable patch, an abundance of flowers or simply an extension of your indoor living space? - and then moving on to the practical design, including hard and soft landscaping and building materials and guidance, Frances guides you through different types of plants and how to source and plant them. There is also a section on aftercare, telling you the best way to keep your garden well cared for and easy to maintain throughout the year.

Embark on a Journey to Summer Garden Mastery Imagine stepping into your own slice of paradise, where the verdant leaves dapple sunlight onto your path, and the scent of blooming flowers mingles with the fresh, earthy fragrance of fertile soil. "The First-Time Gardener: Summer Edition" is your compass to creating and cultivating this oasis. Whether your fingers are yet to be stained with soil or you're eager to expand your existing green canvas, this guide is the beacon lighting your way to a magnificent summer garden. Every journey starts with understanding, and with Chapter 1, you will learn the essential rhythms of the summer season, equipping you with the knowledge to customize your green space to the unique dance of your regional climate. As you progress to Chapter 2 and beyond, the veil over the world of summer planting is lifted, revealing the selection of crops that will thrive under the sun's ardent gaze, accompanied by methodologies of soil preparation and mulching that will solidify the foundations of your floral kingdom. Grace your hands with the earth as you delve into the art of planting techniques tailored to the warmest of weathers, then dive deeper to uncover wisdom on watering and pest control that will safeguard your garden from the perils of heat in Chapters 3 to 5. Transition smoothly into advanced topics, where pruning morphs from an uncertain chore to an act of love and foresight, ensuring your plants are not just surviving but thriving in their sun-drenched habitat. Fill your plate with nature's bounty as Chapter 7 transforms your plot into a cornucopia of edibles, teaching the secrets to a lush, productive edible garden. The elegance of ornamentals is not forgotten, with chapters dedicated to selecting and nurturing blooms and structures that invite vibrance and life into every corner of your space. With the final chapters opening the doors to eco-friendly practices and the pure joy of enjoying your garden, you'll step back, armed with the wisdom to weave sustainability and serenity through the very fabric of your green haven. "The First-Time Gardener: Summer Edition" doesn't just give you the nuts and bolts of gardening; it infuses you with the spirit, connecting you to the earth at your feet and the growth at your fingertips. Let this book be your mentor and muse as you embark on a fulfilling journey to create your own summer garden paradise.

Offering tips on finding your own gardening style, choosing climate-appropriate plants, creating low-maintenance landscaping and hardscaping, and weeding efficiently and effectively, Freeman understands that there's no room for scolding, but there is a real need for encouragement and good humor.