Extreme Gardening: How to Grow Organic in the Hostile Deserts

Great book. Great Seller. Informative, easy to read. Owens knows his subject stays on topic and shares in a relatable, accessible way. -ps: shout out to ThriftBooks-Phoenix. Book arrived swiftly, exactly as pictured. Thank you.

I think this book has some good ideas, but overall, I was surprised by the very typical gardening plants that were discussed. I don't live in the desert, but conditions where I am are often severe in temps, drying winds, tough soil on slope, water rationing, and many hungry and especially thirsty critters.It's ok for a suburban type garden, but it didn't really address some of the issues I experience. It's easy to read, and I am sure it will help some readers with some of their desert gardening projects.

Dave Owens is my Garden Guru. I have a copy of this book & bought another for a friend who is just starting out with his backyard vegetable gardening. It has a wealth of info for us who don't have a clue where to start. I refer to my copy every growing season for the past 7 years.

This is my first year gardening. I live in the Chihuahuan desert. As you can imagine, you don't garden in the desert like you would in Arkansas or California. This book has many helpful hints and ideas I plan on utilizing when I can. I was extremely interested in the water ideas. I don't have running water. There is no tap to turn on. No well either. I haul water and store it in 300 gallon totes. I use a two gallon watering can and make multiple trips to the tote to refill the watering can. Then I haul those two gallons out to the garden and water a couple of vegetables at a time. It is worth it! I don't have a fridge so keeping fresh vegetables is impossible in summertime. I have been able to grow lettuces and spinach and kale! Herbs! My tomatoes are fruiting! I'm so excited! I utilized the herb pest control mentioned in this book and it has worked splendidly! The Garden Guy has broken the book up into sections. 1. Planning and concepts. 2. Gardening goodies. 3. Controlling extreme pests. It is easy to read. Easy to follow. Next year my garden will be more productive, easier to navigate and water and more streamlined. There ARE things I can't grow in the desert! I didn't know! This book is a good resource book, but I recommend purchasing BEFORE you start your garden!

We are blessed with a long growing season but have difficulties with soil and timing of which plant to grow and when. Worry no longer. This book tells you how to create a good soil. Which companion plants to plant with others to naturally repel bad insects and attract the beneficial insects. An old art that I thought was lost when my grandfather died. Easy to read and understand. A must have in these trying economic times. The biggest threat to Communism is the Farmer.

I have spent most of my life in the NW and have always had beautiful gardens. I moved to Las Vegas ten years ago and have struggled with what and how to grow anything here. This book is an invaluable addition to my gardening books. My garden this year (first time since we moved to the desert) looks incredible! We have even eaten out of my newest vegetable garden (another first since moving to Las Vegas).

If you garden in an extreme (hot) climate, this is THE only book you need. Sorted by plant type, veg, fruit, flowers etc. Varieties and why, Planting, companion plants, fertilizing, watering, pests, Covers soil. Tools. Compost too. My copy's now well dog eared 243 pages of content has replaced almost every other garden book in my collection (excepting a few Mary Irish that facilitate planning and cover shrubs and non food trees.). Thanks to Dave I'm successfully growing more than 30 fruits and veg and more than a dozen herbs ina zone where winter drops below 18 and summer highs can hit 109. (Carefree in Northeast Phoenix valley).

My husband is the gardener, but I also enjoy reading throught this book. I also now understand why they deeply irrigate our parks here in AZ, I thought it was a waste of water, while his book explains how deep watering in the desert actually saves water while maximizing root hydration. We have a very nice winter garden with the help of this book!