Fruit and Vegetables (Garden Guides) - Hardcover

Designed for experienced gardeners as well as beginners, this illustrated, book tells readers everything they need to know in order to grow, store and preserve fruits and vegetables. The emphasis of the cultivation techniques is upon using composts and organic fertilisers and on avoiding, as far as possible, chemical pesticides and weedkillers. The book advocates harvesting crops when they are young, tender and full of flavour, and storing and preserving them so that their maximum nutritional value, as well as their taste and texture, are maintained. The book opens up the world of gourmet fruits and vegetables, most of which are not difficult to grow. Once readers have grown a few of these, they'll be encouraged to experiment with the latest that the horticulturalists and breeders have to offer. Features of the book enable the reader to: select of the best varieties of fruits and vegetables; make the most of one's space; prepare and improve soil organically; deal with weeds, pests and diseases without using chemicals; protect tender crops for early and abundant cropping; sow, plant and prune; plan and plant an herb garden; grow soft and tree fruit; cultivate a wide range of vegetables, from old favourites to the new, more unusual varieties; and harvest, store and preserve a crop successfully.