The American Midwest is an ideal place to grow a huge variety of vegetables, and there are plenty of healthful and economic benefits to having your own garden. Whether you have a traditional backyard space or several containers on a high-rise balcony, you can grow a season-long supply of tasty produce. Best-selling garden writer Laura Peters provides all you need to know to dig in: * Basics such as light, soil, exposure and frost tolerance * Almost infinite garden styles, including raised beds and limited space gardening * Preparing the garden and selecting which vegetables to grow where * Recommended varieties, including new, traditional, heirloom and unusual selections * Seasonal care, including mulching, weeding and watering * Tips throughout, including how to extend the growing season and what to do with your harvest * Organic approaches to management of pests and diseases * An appendix featuring companion plants and relationships * Helpful hardiness maps, and delicious colour photos throughout.

ALISON BECK has been gardening since she was a child. She has a diploma in Horticulture and a degree in Creative Writing. Alison is the coauthor of several best-selling gardening guides, and her books showcase her talent for practical advice and her passion for gardening.

Colleen Vanderlinden's profile page

Donna Dawson is known nationally and internationally for her expertise in gardening and as the owner/publisher of ICanGarden.com, Canada's largest Internet gardening resource site.Not just a virtual gardener, this much-published, award-winning gardening personality received her Master Gardener certificate from the University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Garden in 1996. Her garden in St. Albert has been awarded a national first prize from Canadian Garden Magazine and received various awards from the Edmonton Horticultural Society.Donna is a past secretary of the Alberta Horticultural Association and past director of the Edmonton Horticultural Society. She is currently a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and Garden Writers Association. In 1996 Donna began organizing and hosting garden tours to England and Europe. She has taken groups to Holland, France, Italy, Ireland and England.

Laura Peters' profile page