BOOK REVIEWS

Growing Potatoes
A Directory of Varieties and How to Cultivate Them Successfully

Richard Bird & Alex Barker
Lorenz Books
Distributed by David Bateman
$NZ21.95

GROWING your own potatoes is surely one of the most satisfying - and magical - aspects of vegetable gardening. From a handful of seed potatoes comes enough spuds to feed a family unless something goes wrong, which can be extremely frustrating!

Growing Potatoes sets out to reduce potato crop failure by revealing how to successfully cultivate the most popular varieties. This illustrated guide includes step-by-step instructions for soil preparation, making compost and growing potatoes organically. There are lots of helpful tips on how to avoid pest and disease problems - and what to do to minimise crop damage should things not go to plan.

Cooking pointers are spread throughout the book, so you can be sure that not only will your spuds be healthy, they'll taste great too.

Weekend Gardener, Issue 102, July 18-August 7, 2002, Page 28

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH