Growing Tomatoes

Nothing compares to the taste of homegrown tomatoes picked fresh from the vine! Master gardener Jason Johns shares his love for and knowledge of growing this popular, savory fruit so that even novices can produce a bumper crop of their favorite varieties. This in-depth guide teaches you how to: select the best seeds and seedlings; grow tomatoes in beds, containers, or greenhouses; nurture your plants so they produce an abundant crop; choose companion plants; prevent pests and diseases; store and preserve your tomatoes to use later in the season; and make salsa, gazpacho, and other favorite tomato dishes. Growing your own tomatoes is an incredibly rewarding experience. If you follow Jason's guidance, you'll be guaranteed a healthy tomato harvest you can enjoy all season long. Hydroponic gardening is the wave of the future. It's an alternative to conventional food production, which contributes to pollution and deforestation and the excessive consumption of freshwater supplies. Discover how to create the ideal hydroponic garden, regardless of your locale, level of expertise, or budget. Hydroponic systems can be used year-round, indoors or outdoors, and are perfect for small-scale rooftop gardens or urban greenhouses. Compared to soil-based gardening, hydroponic farming enables you to grow top-quality food at a faster rate, using less space and for a fraction of the cost; garner crop yields that are five to ten times greater; utilize vertical space for food production; and use 90% less water and reduce the amount of nutrients plants need. You'll learn about an array of available systems, seed selection, plant requirements, and the care and maintenance of your growing environment. And for the more technically minded, instructions are provided for how to automate virtually every aspect of hydroponic gardening to help minimize time and effort through the use of commercial and homemade equipment. Whether you're a home gardener or are planning a large-scale operation, this guide will help you set up a customized system that's precisely tailored to your needs