Organic gardening is all the rage, but successfully growing vegetables without pesticides and harsh chemical fertilizers requires care and knowledge. Budding organic farmers will love this illustrated guide, which is packed with tips for getting the most out of any garden. There’s a selection of garden plot designs, including constructing a lettuce ladder, an oriental vegetable plot, a French “potager” garden, and more. Collecting seeds, preparing the soil with compost and mulches, and dealing with pests the natural way are all covered. The complete A-Z directory of vegetables—which details where and how to grow them, the diseases to which each is susceptible, expected yields, and more—makes this a great reference.

Fruit is healthy; pesticides aren’t. One way to ensure that your produce is chemical-free is to grow it yourself. Gardeners seeking a concise, easy-to-follow approach to organic fruit cultivation need look no further; this guide provides all the necessary advice. With more than 200 color photographs illustrating the process, it explains where, when, and how to grow fruit outdoors; how to cultivate fruit under cover; which fruit trees, bushes, and canes to buy; and how to harvest and store the bounty. There are plenty of solutions to common problems, as well as suggestions for integrating a new fruit-growing area into an existing garden. And gardening newcomers will welcome the A–Z directory that discusses a wide variety of cultivars.