Vegetable Growing Books

I have been searching for a vegetable growing book that focuses more on the actual growing of vegetables then all the other things that pertain to vegetable gardening...one that has pictures of vegetables and their growing phases, something that a novice/beginner gardener can use as a pictorial guide. Like a picture that shows what side shoots and suckers are on tomatos plants and which should be removed and how. Also, every book I've looked at doesn't tell how to know when the vegetables are ready to be dug up or picked, what to look for, the final piece of the growing phase. Using potatoes as an example: Potatoes are ready to be dug up when the vines have withered and died. I've not found a book that gives that vital piece of information. Or if you grow potatoes vertically in containers, how tall should the container be? When do you stop earthing up? Basic, everyday stuff like that. Has anyone seen a book of this type?

Not to sound sarcastic.. but how could one book give you more information that you could ever get here?
The best way is to try... This is my first year for veggies and my garden has taught me so much more than a book ever could.. (with the help of DG of course)
Here, you can search the forums for your particular question and with a little digging through old posts, your bound to find answers to your question and several other questions you have yet to ask!
Good luck.

hank,

No, I haven't seen a book with that info either. I wish I had one, too. So far my veggie growing/learning has been by trial and error.

Karen

Have you checked the Bookworm section of the site? There are several listed that might have some of the information you want. Once you have a title you can check online book sites to see if they give more information as to the content.

Bookworm is under the Products and Sources tab.

Have you already got The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Ed Smith?

I just cracked it open and under Harvesting and Storage, it says "Harvest the main crop when the foliage dies back. With a garden fork or broadfork, gently loosen the soil and feel around for the tubers."

Also not everyone agrees that tomatoes require pruning, in fact I think most do not. That's in regards to suckers. I don't know what a "side shoot" is.

feldon30,

I don't cut off the suckers on my tomatoes. I've read that you're supposed to cut them off because they won't produce fruit and so drain the plant's energy. This doesn't appear to be true -- the suckers on my tomato plants definitely produce lots of fruit. However, I do cut them off sometimes to start new plants as they will root really easily and quickly. Much faster than starting new plants from seed.

I've got a couple of veggie gardening books, but I'm not particularly happy with the contents. I'll check out The Vegetable Gardener's Bible. Thanks for the suggestion.

Karen

Well there are a lot of books out there with absolutely no scientific or practical evidence to back them up. For example "Carrots Love Tomatoes."

Thanks for the book suggestions. I went to Bookworm and found a few that I am going to research more, including the Vegetable Gardener's Bible..

For Glendale Kid: If I find what I am looking for, I'll let you know.

For ZZsBabiez: Yes, I can appreciate the "try" method and have been "trying" .for a couple of years now. While this site and forum provides a wealth of info, I wanted something to take in the garden with me. For what it's worth: I had a couple of experienced vegetable gardeners tell me that potatoes are ready when they flower - have never seen that in any book! DG is where I learned about the vines withering and dying.

Sure is a lot to learn.

feldon30,

I have "Carrots Love Tomatoes" and another one by the same author, also on companion gardening. My daughter picked them up for me at a used book store, but I'm thinking of putting them up for sale. I can't say that I agree with the companion gardening idea except to put together the plants that have similar requirements for water and nutrients.

My grandmother always planted her potatoes on Good Friday. Since Good Friday can take place any time within a several-week time frame, this is an idea I really don't understand the basis for.

hank,

Not only a lot to learn but some things that work well for others may not work for you. Lots of people swear by straw bale gardening. I tried it last year --- complete bust. I did notice that those who have good success with it are much farther north than I am and get more consistent rainfall. So, maybe I couldn't keep them watered enough or evenly enough or something like that. In any event, the half-decomposed straw bales made a great start on several lasagna beds last winter.

If you do find that kind of book, please let me know. I'd appreciate it.

Karen

Yeah, Hank... I can relate.. I get over excited sometimes.. It would be nice to have a book out there in the garden! I like to come in here and have a cup of coffee and search.. then just read hours..

These "lessons" can get expensive too!!!