From Seed to Bloom: How to Grow over 500 Annuals, Perennials, & Herbs [Paperback]

For gardeners who are looking for economical ways to add plants to their gardens or for those who can't wait until the newest cultivar makes its way into the local nursery, growing from seed is a solution. Landscape designer Powell gives germination and cultural information for over 500 flowering plants. Following basic chapters on seed starting, seedling care, and vegetative propagation, plant entries are listed alphabetically by genus and often accompanied by a line drawing of the mature plant. Succinct "seed packet" information is provided on sowing, germination, planting seedlings outdoors, caring for plants, and propagation. Not all the plants listed are easy to grow from seed, and some take years until there is a bloom to behold. But gardeners honest about their abilities and degree of patience will find useful information. A good addition to collections that already have Ann Reilly's Park's Success with Seeds (Park Seed Co., 1978. o.p.), which has hard-to-find color photographs of emerging seedlings. (Index not seen.)-Virginia A. Henrichs, Chicago Botanic Garden Lib., Glencoe, Ill.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This paperback guide to growing from seed is an alphabetical listing of 536 plants--from abronia to zinnia--with information on sowing, germinating, caring, propagating, hardness zones, and light and soil requirements. Most listings include a black-and-white drawing of the plant. There is advice on the basics of starting plants from seed, including a chapter on the joy of asexual propagation--which may be a bit more than the average gardener needs to know. There's also a cross-reference listing of common and botanical plant names, as well as a list of seed companies. George Cohen

A Gardener's Easy Reference Guide to Growing more than 500 Flowers and Herbs from Seed -- It's Simple and Fun When You Know How! Plant by plant, From Seed to Bloom is a one-stop reference -- containing everything you need to know in order to germinate and grow more than 500 genera of flowering plants. Each plant entry includes such essential information as hardiness zones, directions for sowing seeds indoors and out, spacing, and germination time and requirements. From Seed to Bloom also covers: -- When to transplant seedlings outdoors -- Light and soil requirements -- Propagation techniques -- General plant care -- Flowering season -- How to encourage blooms From Seed to Bloom puts all the information gardeners need most into one handbook -- no more searching a variety of books, seed catalogs, and old seed packets for essential instructions. The advantages of germinating seeds yourself are many: Growing from seed is usually less expensive than buying mature plants, especially for mass plantings. Germinating and growing the plants yourself ensures that your plants are as healthy as possible. Also, unusual, exotic, or marginally hardy plants that are often unavailable at nurseries may be obtainable in the form of seed. From Seed to Bloom helps you grow the flowering plants that you see in magazines but can never find.

Eileen Powell is the proprietor of Secret Gardens Landscaping, a small business that specializes in the design, implementation and maintenance of small gardens. She is involved in all areas of the business, including landscape design, manual labor and customer relations. Her goal involves helping the client develop his or her own garden--keeping personal style in mind--and then working to make that dream garden blossom. Her knowledge and experience adds a great deal of insight to her book, From Seed to Bloom, a one-step guide to growing over 500 annuals, perennials, and herbs. Eileen has a certificate in landscape design from George Washington University. She resides in Arlington, Virginia.