Contents
Page List
Guide
Cover
THE
VEGETABLE
GARDENING
BOOK
Your complete guide to
growing an edible organic garden from seed to harvest
JOE LAMPL
PRAISE FOR THE VEGETABLE GARDENING BOOK
Joe Lampl has done it again! Not only does he tell you how to make a superb vegetable garden, he also explains why his recommendations work as well as they do. Joe claims that this beautifully illustrated book does not answer every question about vegetable gardening, but I am skeptical; it certainly answered all of mine.
DOUG TALLAMY, author of Bringing Nature Home, Natures Best Hope, and The Nature of Oaks
In this long-awaited garden guide from the man with the greenest of thumbs, Joe Gardener walks the reader through his garden from artichokes to winter squash, sharing tips hes amassed over decades of tending his own plots. Be prepared to have your muck boots knocked off!
LISA STEELE, founder of Fresh Eggs Daily and author of Gardening with Chickens
Joe breaks down everything you need to know to create a productive food garden using modern techniques. As a naturalist concerned about pollinator and songbird decline, I can say Joes advice on managing pests and using natural gardening practices is spot on. This is now my go-to vegetable gardening book.
DAVID MIZEJEWSKI, Naturalist, National Wildlife Federation
If youre a beginner to vegetable gardening, I definitely recommend this book. If you have already experience growing vegetables, again, I recommend this book. Clearly, and with oodles of informative and luscious photos, Joe Lampl covers everything from where to site your garden to soil care to tips on growing individual vegetables to harvest, and everything in between.
LEE REICH, author of Growing Figs in Cold Climates, The Pruning Book, and Weedless Gardening
Precise, concise, and full of actionable advice, Joes book is my go-to guide for growing a greener world and a more beautiful and bountiful garden no matter where you live! His sage wisdom continues to inspire and educate gardeners in the Bronx and all around the world! Read the book and you too will MAKE EPIC HAPPEN!
STEPHEN RITZ, Founder of Green Bronx Machine
A well-researched, carefully organized, and beautifully written book, Joe is a true gardening scholar who has done an amazing job of taking the knowledge he has gained over a lifetime and putting it into an easy to read and understand form that even beginning gardeners can use. This is destined to be the go-to source for vegetable gardeners.
JEFF GILLMAN, PHD, author of five gardening books and Director of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Joe Lampl demystifies the essential components of successful organic gardening in this well-organized resource. His vast knowledge will help new and experienced gardeners alike in their quest to grow healthy, productive edible crops!
SUSAN MULVIHILL, author The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook and creator of SusansintheGarden.com
Joe Lampl knows how to grow things; Ive seen that up close and personal. Ive spent time in his wonderful garden, had hours of garden conversations on the phone or on podcasts, and worked alongside him as we share our knowledge with our Growing Epic Tomato students. Even better, Joe knows how to impart his knowledge in a clear, direct and engaging way. Gardening is in his bloodit is his passion. This beautiful, comprehensive, well written book is a must read for all who wish to grow their own vegetables, no matter what the experience level.
CRAIG LEHOULLIER, author of Epic Tomatoes
The Vegetable Gardening Book pairs Joe Lampls lifelong quest for knowledge and lush photos to create an easy-to-follow seed-to-harvest guide for the modern gardener. It exemplifies the joy and beauty gardening provides to communities and family tables alike.
DIANE OTT WHEALY, Co-Founder of Seed Savers Exchange
Joe Lampls popular and pragmatic garden voice sings across the pages of this gardening tome. Illustratively photographed, beautifully organized, and concisely written, this is the resource I wish I had from the beginning. Joes candor and expertise permeate every detail hes thought of everything to help you grow your very best garden. A must-have gardening resource for every level of gardener.
MEG COWDEN, author of Plant Grow Harvest Repeat
A must have for all gardeners, this comprehensive vegetable guide is full of essential information and beautiful images. Joe has done a magnificent job sharing his lifelong passion for growing and is sure to inspire others to sow a few seeds and enjoy the harvest!
BRIE ARTHUR, horticulturist and author of The Foodscape Revolution and Gardening with Grains
Joe is a lifelong vegetable gardener. He has the unique perspective of learning from his personal experiences in his own gardens and hosting a gardening podcast and TV show where he has gleaned tips from other expert gardeners. The result is this comprehensive, organic gardening book filled with Joes inspiration and practical advice.
CHARLIE NARDOZZI, author of The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening
CONTENTS
PREFACE
The Joy and Importance of Growing Your Own Food
One of the first deliberate plantings I tried was a single row of bush beans along the wall outside my parents bedroom. I had no idea then about choosing the ideal location, soil preparation, sun exposure, or proper watering. I just cleared some weeds, dug a shallow trench, and sowed some seeds. A few hours later, I started checking for germination. Seriously. (I was eight.)
Three long days later, those seeds began to sprout. I was over the moon. After a few weeks, flowers began to bloom, the bees started to visit, and those treasured bean pods started to form. You can imagine my joy and pride when I got to finally savor every bite of the most delectable beans I had ever tasted. Beans I had grown myself. Decades later, I still get just as excited planting my vegetable garden as I did for that first crop of beans. The joy of growing what you eat from seed never gets old.
Beyond the personal satisfaction I get from such a healthy and fulfilling hobby, I now know so much more. We know that most of the food grown for our consumption comes with many costs, starting with food milesthe distance food travels from farm to fork. Typically, its 1,500 miles (2,414 km) or more! And throughout the growing process (and even before), nonorganic growers are dousing their crops and fields with pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc.) and synthetic fertilizers. Suffice it to say that, given a choice, none of these chemicals are things we really want to go into our bodies or those of our family.
But heres the thing. We do have a choice. Growing our own food isnt hard, it doesnt require a lot of space, and there are edibles for nearly every growing environment. From sunny suburban backyards to urban patios and even apartment balconies, everyone can grow some amount of food. Food we grow ourselves has zero food miles, and it can be 100 percent free of potentially harmful chemicals.