The Edible Container Garden
- Fresh food from tiny spaces
Author: Michael Guerra
Publisher: Gaia Books
ISBN: 978-1-85675-220-6
RRP: £11.99
122 Pages
This book is packed with useful information, easy to read, interesting, with beautiful photos. This is not one of those books that has been researched but not tried out, it is the result of the author buying a house on a suburban estate in North London with a 32ft long x 13ft wide garden and growing a huge range of fruit and vegetables. The last chapter is his account of changing a bare paved area into a productive permaculture garden, there is a plan of his garden included. Michael and his wife have both done permaculture design courses.
There is the vital info that we all need:
What you can grow in containers.
What sort of containers to use.
What size container for which plant.
What type of soil to use for containers.
The best vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers to grow.
There is a section for each fruit and vegetable which specifies minimum container depth, germination period, sowing to harvest time, soil requirements, cultivation, problems to watch out for, how to use, best varieties to sow.
You will also find out about: garden design; watering strategies; hard landscaping section; garden materials; paving and paths; low maintenance gardening; tips and techniques; rotation; raised beds; garden structures; pruning and training; how to get the best use from wall space; patio planting; small back gardens; weeds, pests & diseases; companion plants; what can you grow on balconies, roof gardens & windowsills.
Reading this book completely changed the direction I was headed in with my own garden and made it far more productive and attractive at the same time. I would recommend it to all gardeners.
Foreword: Carol Klein
Preface: Patrick Whitefield
The best price for this book I found today, 24th July 2008 was £7.81 with free delivery at The Book Depository (and no, we don’t earn commission from them or any other site).
Carol Klein’s last tv series ‘Grow Your Own Veg‘ is being shown again on BBC2 starting on the 30th July at 7pm.
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There is an excellent article by Michael Guerra in Permaculture Magazine Issue No. 34 called ‘10 Years After’ which you can read here. He starts with the premaculture course that he did up to the present day.
