Product Description

Now available in a convenient paperback format, this berry growing reference is an essential guide for anyone growing them for pleasure or for profit. Berry fruits have long been used and appreciated in the kitchen, but the aesthetic appeal and practical benefits they bring to the garden landscape are all too often ignored. Whether using strawberry plants for ground cover, enjoying the colorful autumn foliage of blueberry bushes, or training a grapevine to climb a trellis, gardeners will find that berry plants can make highly versatile contributions to a range of environments. Backyard gardeners, as well as small fruit growers and nursery people, will find an abundance of valuable, practical information in this volume, including plant lists and tables, cultivation tips, and color photographs for plant identification.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141011 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-15
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .1 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 308 pages

From Booklist
The only thing missing from Bowling's berry book is some freshly whipped cream and fluffy homemade shortcake; otherwise, this is as complete a guide to growing these delectable fruits as a gardener could want. Beginning with the basics of berry gardening, Bowling devotes subsequent chapters to individual fruits and fruit types--strawberries, blueberries, and grapes, as well as brambles (raspberries and blackberries), and the minor crops of currants, gooseberries, elderberries, kiwi, and cranberries. What makes this treatise unique, however, is its advocacy for incorporating berries into the ornamental landscape. For the home gardener unfamiliar with berry-producing plants, Bowling illustrates their versatility, and offers suggestions for using specific fruits in the landscape--as ground covers or hedges, for fall color or vines. At once philosophical and practical, Bowling combines legends and lore with fascinating facts and personal digressions, offering advice for the backyard beginner as well as the production professional that is extensive without being overwhelming. Carol Haggas
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Review
"The author's enthusiasm and her passion for the subject are obvious, as are her knowledge and practical experience." - Jim Arbury, The Garden"

From the Publisher
Berry fruits have long been used and appreciated in the kitchen, but the aesthetic and practical benefits they bring to the garden landscape are all too often ignored. Whether for the groundcover effect of a strawberry plant, the colorful autumn foliage of a blueberry plant, the climbing trait of a grapevine, or the hedge potential of an elderberry bush, these plants are highly versatile contributors to a range of garden environments. And growing such gems in your own backyard means convenient access to savory fruits for the table or for sale.

Full of good humor and infectious enthusiasm, Bowling discusses practical considerations (What soils do the plants require? Which cultivars are best for a given site?) as well as philosophical concerns (What can we learn by growing food crops? What approach should we take with regard to pesticide use?). Berry Grower’s Companion is, above all, a useful book, presenting easily accessible data, important reminders, and up-to-date advice that will be invaluable to beginners and professionals alike.