Digging In
How to Use This Book

Part 1: Developing Your Garden Plan
Starting Small and Growing Year by Year
Sizing Up Your Site and Soil

Chapter 1
The Easy-Care Bag Garden

Chapter 2
A Bountiful Border

Chapter 3
The Front Yard Food Supply

Chapter 4
Family Food Factory Gardens
Short, Cool Summers
Full-Season Summers
Long, Hot Summers
Angel Wings Herb Garden

Part 2: Essential Techniques and More Planting Plans
Purposeful Planting Plans

Chapter 5
Deciding What to Grow
It's All in the Timing
Vegetables and Climate

Chapter 6
Designing Beautiful, Big-Flavor Gardens
From Flowers to Food

Chapter 7
Working With Seeds and Seedlings
Garden Plan: Overnight Success
Direct-Seeding Your Garden
Garden Plan: Strictly From Seed
Starting Seeds Indoors
Starting Seeds Step-by-Step
Garden Plan: Paintbrush Beds

Chapter 8
Supporting Your Plants
Types of Support
How to Pound a Post
How to Cage a Tomato
Garden Plan: High-Value Verticals

Chapter 9
Water: Make Every Drop Count
Garden Plan: Marinara Medley
Knowing When to Water

Chapter 10
The Magic of Mulch
When Looks Count
Garden Plan: Managed Mulch Garden

Chapter 11
Fertilizing Your Garden
Weighing Your Options
Garden Plan: Sweet Corn & Company
Can You Use Too Much

Chapter 12
Your Insect Friends and Foes
Organic Remedies That Really Work
Garden Plan: Beneficial Border

Chapter 13
Preventing Dastardly Diseases
Super-Strong Varieties
Garden Plan: Cajun Spice
Fighting With Fungi

Chapter 14
Smart Harvesting
Chill Out!
Preserving Your Favorite Herbs
Garden Plan: Good For You Garden

Chapter 15
Stretching the Seasons
Three Ways to Bring on Spring
Garden Plan: Six Weeks Sooner

Part 3: Pick of the Crop Veggie Varieties
Making Good Choices
What is a Variety?
Top Varieties for Your Garden, Crop by Crop

Appendix
Gardener's Basic Lingo
Which Planting Plans Are Right for You?
Sources for Seeds and Plants
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
Metric Conversions

Index