Niki Jabbour’s Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden is an insightful guide that empowers gardeners to enhance their vegetable yields through the strategic use of protective covers. This book delves into methods that mitigate the challenges posed by unpredictable weather and persistent pests. https://savvygardening.com/
Jabbour begins by elucidating the concept of “undercover gardening,” emphasizing its multifaceted benefits beyond mere pest control. She introduces readers to various protective structures, from simple cloches and row covers to more elaborate setups like cold frames, hoop houses, and polytunnels. Each structure is discussed in detail, with guidance on selection, construction, and effective utilization tailored to specific gardening goals.
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to pest management. Jabbour advocates for the use of insect barrier fabrics in conjunction with crop rotation to combat common garden pests such as cabbage worms, squash bugs, flea beetles, and Colorado potato beetles. She underscores the importance of securing the edges of these barriers to prevent pests from infiltrating. Additionally, she provides insights into disease identification and management, ensuring that gardeners are well-equipped to maintain plant health.
Beyond pest control, Jabbour explores how protective covers can extend the growing season, offer shade during intense summer heat, and shield plants from extreme weather conditions. For instance, she suggests that container gardeners can prolong their growing season by using a tomato cage covered with polyethylene to protect plants from late or early frosts. Important information for Canadian weather considerations.
The book also features a comprehensive growing guide for a variety of vegetables. For each crop, Jabbour provides planting, growing, and harvesting information, along with tailored cover strategies. For example, when cultivating arugula, she recommends using insect barriers to prevent flea beetle damage, shade cloths to delay bolting, and structures like row covers, mini-hoop tunnels, or cold frames to extend the growing season.
Niki Jabbour is an award-winning author and a prominent figure in the gardening community. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she has penned several acclaimed books, including The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener and Niki Jabbour’s Veggie Garden Remix, both of which have received the American Horticultural Society Book Award. Jabbour is also a co-founder of the popular website www.SavvyGardening.com where she shares her extensive knowledge and passion for gardening. The website provides lots of interesting blogs and one of them is a Garlic Scape Pesto found in our Recipe section. My son-in-law grows a ton of garlic and every spring we try to figure out new ways to use the abundance of these delectable greens.
Growing Under Cover is enriched with vibrant photographs from Jabbour’s own garden, illustrating the practical applications of the techniques she discusses. Her writing is both enthusiastic and accessible, making complex concepts easy to grasp for gardeners of all levels. The book serves as an invaluable resource for those looking to maximize their garden’s productivity while minimizing external challenges. Purchase the book at https://savvygardening.com/buy-our-books/ or win a copy in our Giveaway section.
Niki Jabbour’s Growing Under Cover offers a comprehensive and practical approach to modern vegetable gardening. By adopting the strategies outlined in this book, gardeners can look forward to healthier plants, extended growing seasons, and bountiful harvests, all while reducing the impact of pests and adverse weather conditions.
Contents and images used with permission by Hachette Book Group. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/niki-jabbour/growing-under-cover/9781635861310/
