Jessica Walliser – Container Gardening Complete: Creative Projects for Growing Vegetables and Flowers in Small Spaces (2017, Cool Springs Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.)
If you’ve followed Flowery Prose for a while, you’ll know I recently moved and had to give up my in-ground garden beds. Besides caring for my hastily-planned and planted plot at the community garden in my new neighbourhood, I didn’t do any gardening this summer, but for next year, I’m hoping to set up a small balcony garden in our new home. Container gardening isn’t something I’ve done a huge amount of in the past, so I am particularly excited about Jessica Walliser’s new book. As “complete” as its title suggests, Container Gardening Complete is a goldmine of excellent information, from the design and sowing of a wide range of plant selections (perennials, annuals, vegetables, fruit, even trees and shrubs), to cultivation and harvest and dealing with potential pest and disease issues. Suggestions and detailed directions for the creation of themed and seasonal container designs are concentrated in the back half of the book and are guaranteed to inspire. A clean, attractive layout, beautiful photos, and above all, clear, precise, and useful information from a knowledgeable expert make this book a fantastic resource for anyone interested in container gardening – whether you’re just getting started, or have a bit of experience under your belt.
*Quarto Publishing generously provided me with a review copy of Container Gardening Complete, but my opinions of the book are 100 percent my own and honest.
Flowery Prose 
Dat container tuinieren valt best mee hoor.
Interesting book…I have done container gardening before and found it fascinating even growing potatoes in a container. I did this for a number of years and found when we moved to a house of our own that my gardening wanted to be squished…..I can get plenty of veggies in a small space. So I had trouble filling the garden plot. I am debating now whether to go to a raised bed or leave the garden as it is.
Jean
You’re right – it is surprising how much a person can grow in a small space if you plan it properly! I am always amazed at what is possible. I do love gardening in the raised beds at the community garden; there are definite benefits to them. Depending on the height of them, they’re a little bit more ergonomic, too – you don’t have to bend so much to work in them. I love that as my knees are really bad.
That sounds like a really useful book. I do quite a lot container gardening despite having a garden to plant things in.
It’s so wonderful to have a mix of containers and in-ground gardens – you can play even more with height and texture and decorative elements etc..
This past spring I downsized from an acre with lots of gardening space to a condo where I am now a “container gardener”. I will take a look at this new book – thanks 🙂
I gleaned some great ideas from this book – I hope you do, too! It’s difficult to downsize after having a large garden space, it takes some adjusting, that’s for sure.
I just ordered it and will look forward to reading it this winter as I look out at 4-6 inches of snow 🙂
I hope you enjoy! I keep poring through it, making plans…. 🙂
Sounds interesting! Our garden is predominately trees, shrubs and perennials. So when spring comes, I love adding more colour through container plants.
Container gardening is so versatile as well – you can change up the colours and textures every year as well, if you want! So fun!
I gardened in containers for years. I’m impressed that their is an entire book on the subject. I hope you find inspiration in the pages, Sheryl.
It’s definitely helping out with my planning…I can hardly wait until spring to get started!
It won’t be long now! Ah, spring. There is nothing like it.
Thank you so much for reviewing my book. So glad to hear you found it useful!
It’s a fantastic book, Jessica – congratulations on your success with it!
Thank you for sharing your review. I look forward to exploring your site…