DESERT GARDENING: FRUITS & VEGETABLES

I had expected the book to consider deserts world wide not only America, so climatically it was not so useful. But it had interesting sections on soils and problems, plus solutions and on crop types. The presentation on cheap paper and with no colour photos was poor and let down the content. Worth having for but only deeply interested people. For general gardening in the middle east Gardening in Oman and the UAE is a far better book also available on Amazon

The content is golden and this is an amazing book for folks moving to the desert from the other more traditional gardening regions in the world. BUT, it was written a very long time ago and is in need of some enhancements. I first checked it out at the library and read it 19 years ago and it was so helpful that I just bought a copy for my 76 year old dad (he just moved to Phoenix after being a master gardener in Iowa his whole life). I didn't realize how small the type is in this book! Dad can't see it. To be honest, I would not have found it useful with my eyes if I tried to read it at my age, either. So, if you are young (Ie. don't ever need readers or bright light to read), you will be able to learn a lot from this book. Buy it! But, if you are thinking of trying your hand at gardening now that you have retired to the warm deserts, this will not be a great option for you, likely. Also, today's readers expect to find pictures and graphics and things that simply were not common back in the day this book was written. If they ever update this, I hope they will introduce some formatting and photos and perhaps offer it in large print.

Gardening in the desert (Arizona) is different than gardening in most of the US. This book was written by a local who has gardened here for many years and seems to really know gardening.

All you need to get started in dry and semi arid gardening at moderate altitude and one can interpolate his advice for use at the highest altitudes. The author is a professional and very experienced. His life was spent dealing with growing plants in hostile environments. If you get this book you will find not a page in it is wasted on fluff. He had recommendations that I found extremely useful on both planting fruit trees, growing vegetables in high heat and sunlight , and conservation of resources. Honestly, just get this one book before any others. Its that relevant. No fancy pictures or color photos though, but superb knowledge and explanations.

Every page is filled with pearls. You may know most of what is on each page, but Mr. Brookbank will certainly give you a new perspective on your knowledge, or fill in a missing piece you didn't know you were missing. I am a passionate gardener. I am not using this book for desert gardening, though I have gardened in the high desert for more than 25 years and I can tell you, this book will be useful to any SoCal gardener. Definitely the best book I have read in a long time. Right up there with the Sunset Western Garden Book and Pat Welsh's Southern California Organic Gardening.