cover image Seeds: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers

Seeds: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers

Sam Bittman. Bantam Books, $35 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-553-05366-1

Though breaking no new ground, this book covers its terrain--growing a garden from scratch--attractively. Beginning with the basics, Bittman ( Joy of Gardening ) organizes and explains his material clearly. He discusses techniques and equipment and recommends ecologically sound gardening practices: companion planting, the use of organic fertilizers (especially compost) and ways to control pests without poisoning other wildlife or the water supply. The bulk of the book is devoted to profiles of over 200 flowers, herbs and vegetables. However, since Bittman doesn't discuss the full gamut of each plant's varieties, readers in search of counsel on the varieties best suited to their needs (and eager to order them in seed from catalogues) may have to content themselves with the more limited number of varieties stocked as seedlings at their local nursery. Illustrated. (Apr.)