The Ever Curious Gardener - by Lee Reich (Paperback)

About the Book

The Ever Curious Gardener is an irreverent romp through the natural science of plants. Ideal for gardeners moving beyond back-of-the-seed-pack planting, it digs into the science "behind the scenes" in the garden. Acclaimed gardener, scientist, and author Lee Reich offers insights and practical guidance on growing a much better garden.

Book Synopsis

An irreverent romp through the natural science of gardening, with eye-opening insight and practical guidance for getting the most out of your plants.

Curious why caressing your cucumber plants will help them bear more fruit? Or why you should grow oranges from seed even if the fruit is inedible? Or why trees need to sleep and how to help them? Join acclaimed gardener, scientist, and author Lee Reich on a journey through the delights of your garden in this laugh-out-loud treatise on the scientific wonders of plants and soil.

The Ever Curious Gardener includes information on:

• How to maximize both flavor and nutrition in your garden bounty
• Helping plants thrive during drought
• Outwitting weeds by understanding their nature
• Making the best use of compost
• Tips on pruning and orchard care
• Why the dead language of Latin can make you a better gardener.





From the Back Cover





Leave it to Lee to blend science with real-world application, mixed with a chuckle or two throughout the pages. A fresh, fun, and fascinating must-read for every curious gardener.
--Joe Lamp'l, creator and host of Growing a Greener World on PBS

Curious gardeners have questions and Lee Reich answers them.
--Eliot Coleman, farmer, host of the TV series Gardening Naturally and author, Four Season Harvest

Gardeners in the know wait for books by Lee Reich. This latest does not disappoint!
--Jeff Lowenfels, author, Teaming with Microbes book series

ACCLAIMED GARDENER, scientist, and author Lee Reich on a journey through the delights of your garden in this laugh-out-loud trea- tise on the scientific wonders of plants and soil. Offering eye-opening insight and practical guidance, coverage includes:

• How to maximize both flavor and nutrition in your garden bounty
• Helping plants thrive during drought
• Outwitting weeds by understanding their nature
• Making the best use of compost
• Tips on pruning and orchard care
• Why the dead language of Latin can make you a better gardener.

The Ever Curious Gardener is an irreverent romp through the natural science of plants and soil, ideal for newer gardeners moving beyond back- of-the-seed-pack planting to experienced gardeners whose curiosity at the wonders of cultivation grows deeper and stronger with each season.

For a better garden and more interesting gardening, read this book.
--Jean-Martin Fortier, author, The Market Gardener

Lee Reich demystifies the giant science experiment of the garden to help us become more expert, successful gardeners.
--Margaret Roach, A Way to Garden website and podcast

LEE REICH has a PhD in Horticulture and is author of Weedless Gardening, The Pruning Book, Landscaping with Fruit and other books and a syndicated bimonthly garden column for Associated Press. Find him on his blog at www.leereich.com/blog where he writes from his "farmden" in New Paltz, NY.





About the Author





Lee Reich, PhD, dove into gardening decades ago, initially with one foot in academia as an agricultural scientist with the USDA and then Cornell University, and one foot in the field, the organic field. He eventually expanded his field to a "farmden" (more than a garden, less than a farm) and left academia to lecture, consult, and write. He is author of many books including Weedless Gardening, The Pruning Book, and Landscaping with Fruit, as well as a syndicated column for Associated Press. In addition to providing a year-round supply of fruits and vegetables, the farmden has an educational mission and is a test site for innovative growing techniques. Science and an appreciation of natural systems underpin his work, and Lee's goal is to get more people to grow more food sustainably and organically. He has a PhD in Horticulture from the University of Maryland, an MS in Soil Science, and a BA in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He blogs at leereich.com/blog from his farmden in New Paltz, NY