The Complete Book of Fruit: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Fruits and Nuts

Provides a wealth of up-to-date information and source lists for growing and buying fruits and nuts, including culinary tips, recipes, pest control, harvesting, storing, preserving, and creating organic by-products. 15,000 first printing.

Appearing after a brief history of fruit gardens (Flowerdew points out that millions of years ago hunter-gatherers' diets included fruits and nuts) is a 193-page list of different species and their cultivars. Each entry includes information on the plant or tree's varieties; cultivation; companion planting; culinary uses (jam, juice, wine, liqueur, etc.); and other uses (such as use of wood and leaves). Each entry also gives the plant or tree's height and size, and the color and vitamin content of its fruit. About 200 entries include recipes. Following this A-to-Z directory are instructions on planning a fruit garden; on soil preparation, planting, and propagation; on growing from seed, in containers, and in greenhouses; on fruit cages, orchards, and ornamental fruit gardens; on pest and disease control; and on weeding, pollination, harvesting, and storing. Add to all this 240 opulent color photographs, and it's a garden book hard to resist. George Cohen