Great Garden Companions: A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden

Perhaps I expect too much, but there are certain things I look for in gardening books. Overall I want sound, practical advice that I can apply in my own garden. But I also want to be inspired, to be stimulated to try new things, to be guided on what's possible and what's practical, to gain a greater understanding of why some things work and some don't and to enjoy browsing and reading the book as much my garden will benefit from the wisdom it contains.Unfortunately, this book falls short of the mark on all counts. To start with, even opening the package when the book arrived was a disappointment. It's a flimsy volume, cheaply produced on thin paper. It will neither grace my bookshelves nor survive being used as a ready-to-hand reference in the garden. And while there are plenty of sketches throughout, the colour pictures are limited to two small sections. Another disappointment as the fine colour pictures so readily available in many gardening books, provide not only inspiration but also a clear idea of how the results of your efforts in the garden will turn out eventually.There is a lot of sound advice on companion planting, but much of it is about achieving colour and texture effects. I was looking for something that focussed a little more on guidance on companion planting to increase fertility and reduce the need for chemical intervention to combat pests and diseases. The information on this aspect of companion planting is limited and often offered without any explanation of why particular planting combinations work which makes it very difficult to adapt ideas to work in particular environments and gardens.The author is an American gardener, and no doubt an expert, but the use of American names for plants and references to plants not available in the UK, is irritating and adds to the impression that this is not the right book for the average UK gardener seeking sound and practical advice.I was also disappointed that so much of the book concentrated on the very basics of gardening - how to water, how to care for one's tools, garden layout and bed-making etc. While the quality of the advice is no doubt sound, it is derivative : advice that is readily available in any basic book on gardening. Anyone wishing to develop companion planting is likely to have already a firm grip on these areas - and probably half a dozen other gardening books which say much the same thing.The actual, useful information on companion gardening that is relevant to UK gardens, could probably have been published in a twenty-page leaflet.

This book is exactly what I was looking for in a vegetable companion guide. It includes sections on how best to grow different veggies (fertilizers, full sun/partial shade, addition of compost, etc.), a descriptive section on garden pests and how to deal with them, and tables for beneficial companion plants (plants that help each other grow, or plants that deter pests, etc.). It contains many beautiful full coloured pictures (but not so many that it takes away from the information included). I continue to come back to this book again and again. Very pleased with this purchase. Thank you.

I never try to mix vegetable in my garden before. I do garden organically and I'm starting to have some problem with insect. This book gives you the step by step to create a garden that will repel bad insect and attract beneficial insect. It gives you ideas on how to plan you garden with flowers in it and herbs mix with the vegetable. There is good gardening advice for each vegetable. The book will show you how to garden safely (no chemical), successfully and with added beauty. With this your garden will provide fresh vegetables, delightful herbs and gorgeous flowers. The book cover crop rotation, plant companion, attracting the good insect, perennials, seasonal care, mulching and more.

WE HAVE BEEN READING THIS BOOK SINCE WE RECEIVED IT. BUT ONCE SUMMER ARRIVED I DON'T THINK A DAY GOES BY WITHOUT MY HUSBAND OR MYSELF GOING TO REFER TO GREAT GARDEN CAMPANIONS BOOK. SO MUCH FANTASTIC INFORMATION IN THAT BOOK. WE CHANGED THINGS AROUND IN OUR GARDEN THIS YEAR FOLLOWING THE BOOK'S ADVICE AND OUR GARDEN IS GROWING BEAUTIFULLY. SO PLEASED I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY HUSBAND FOR CHRISTMAS.

Beautifully supported with images, well written articles, knowledgable authors.