Book review and giveaway

{{This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Meemsnyc!}}

Yesterday was exciting because we picked our first tomatoes of the year (3 of them!). When it comes to tomatoes, I can take them or leave them but Michael loves them and it is a news-worthy event for him (he even called his cousin in Mississippi to share the news). As you may know, we have only a tiny space for vegetables - just a few tomatoes, a few peppers and herbs. This area is even underneath a dogwood tree for crying out loud but still manages to do quite well, thank you very much.


The vegetable gardening bug (maybe not the best expression) has already bit though and I've become intrigued by growing food. I've been experimenting with raised bed gardening at my mother's house but I'm usually there once per week which isn't enough time to devote to a vegetable garden. I have had successes (canteloupes) but more failures than boasts.


Timber Press has a great book out called "What's Wrong With My Vegetable Garden?" The book begins with full-color charts arranged by various types of problems and how to recognize them. For example, the first chart "How to Recognize Temperature Related Problems" has 3 sections: "The Symptom" ("leaves turn brown at the tips and along the edges") along with an excellent photo,  "The Diagnosis" ("leaf scorch: too hot combined with insufficient water") and "Solution" which lists a page number for further reference on how to combat the problem. There are also charts for soil-related problems and light-related problems.


"Plant Portraits" is an encyclopedic entry of vegetables A-Z (artichokes to zucchini) and offers a description of the vegetable, the season it does best in, garden uses and planting techniques and other aspects related to temperature, soil, light and water needs. The encyclopedia of vegetables is followed by more charts detailing various ailments for every vegetable and page numbers to find solutions to the problem. There is a final section on "Organic Solutions to Common Problems" which covers aspects such as building healthy soil, making raised beds, organic fertilizers, managing water, etc. There is even a section about critters and how to deal with them. 

Timber Press is doing a fantastic promotion for this book and other problem solving guides that they publish. The Timber Press GPS promotion will run until August, and each week they will be picking a reader-submitted question for their authors to answer.  The person who asks the chosen question will receive one of the problem-solving books, and anyone that submits a question will be entered to win the grand prize: a brand new iPad. Readers just have to enter their question on the GPS landing page, which you can see here.

Also, you can enter to win a copy of this book right here on my blog. Just leave a comment on this post and one winner will be randomly selected on Friday, June 22. Be sure to include your e-mail address if there isn't a link to it from your name. Good luck!

{{This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Meemsnyc!}} 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy