Epic Tomatoes: How to Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time Kindle Edition

This year, I decided to grow tomatoes (for the first time ever). With all of the info available online, I saw no reason to go in search of books.At the advice of many online experts, I eventually spent quite a ridiculous amount of money on pots, grow boxes, soil amendments, lights... you name it. And -- this should come as no surprise to anyone -- the "experts" all contradicted each other. I followed the advice of one "expert" in my kind of tomato-gardening-difficult area (Pacific Northwest). Bad decision. As a result, I started my tomato seedlings indoors a month too early and six times as many seedlings as I should have started.Eventually, thanks to more online recommendations, I bought a different book ( Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades, 35th Anniversary Edition: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening  -- which contained a lot of interesting information, to be sure, but mostly only confused and discouraged me.Then -- again thanks to online recommendations -- I checked this book out of the library.Within two chapters, I knew that I had to buy a copy.I'm now about 2/3 of the way through the book, and it just gets better and better.This book is eminently readable. It answers ALL of my questions. LeHoullier spells out what to do, when to do it, and pros and cons of different approaches -- and explains WHY very clearly with just enough detail to make sense but not enough to have you saying "Enough already" and skipping parts.At this point, thanks entirely to this book, I actually feel like my too-early start will be correctable. (I fixed the "too many" part by giving away dozens of seedlings.) I no longer feel overwhelmed and confused by online "experts" all offering contradictory advice. I only wish I'd bought this book to begin with, because I'd have saved myself a lot of money in unneeded (and, sadly, not returnable) supplies.If you're embarking on a tomato-growing journey -- even if you're not doing it as cluelessly as I started off -- be smarter than I was, do yourself a favor, and start by buying this book. Seriously

I am on chapter 8 of this book and had to stop and write a review. I love this book. I grew up around gardening, but over the last 5 years it has become my own passion. And in the course of my learning I have decided to try to read a book a month on various garden topics. I’m so glad I bought Epic Tomatoes! I love the tone of the book. Mr. LeHoullier talks with his readers not at them. Though clearly an expert on the topic, he writes as a highly knowledgeable life long learner, rather than a gardening know-it-all. I have loved so many aspects of this book I didn’t even expect to love! Tomato history! The dwarf tomato project! The saving of a single variety of tomato from 100 year old seeds! I can’t wait to finish the book. And as a side note, when a fellow gardener and I had a question I was able to look up the author’s contact information and present a question. He was so, so kind in responding very quickly with a wonderfully helpful and thorough answer and also welcomed any further questions. And on top of all of that, the book is beautifully done. Vivid pictures! Beautiful layout. I cannot say enough about it. I’m so glad I happened upon Epic Tomatoes!

I did not know that tomatoes have such an interesting history, until I read this book. I also thought heirloom varieties were a thing of the past and that hybrids are the best variety. Not so as Craig brings to life the many great varieties he has personally worked with throughout his 35 years of growing experience. This book is complete with history of each heirloom variety he discusses. I really enjoyed the charts and graphs which depict tomato shapes, sizes, yeilds, time to harvest, and flavor. Instructions on how to harvest seeds for future planting, plant diseases and their identification and treatment, as well as tips on preserving your crop are all included. Because of all of this fine information and a great bibliography, I must rate it at a 5. I shall further explain. I bought the Kindle edition. It is tremendous value for the price. The charts, graphs, pictures, and print performed flawlessly. If you desire to to become an heirloom tomato Aficionado this book is a must read. I could not find anything to comment negatively about. Thanks Craig for sharing this information. Mainly out of curiosity I decided to incorporate some heirloom tomato varieties in my garden this year and after reading this book I know I have made the right decision. Looking forward to harvest.

I read Epic Tomatoes four summers ago and since then have grown many of the varieties that Craig LeHoullier recommends and have enjoyed them immensely. As as result of his book, and his appearance of Growing a Greener World, I have grown my own seedlings, using his methods, for the past three growing seasons and now wonder why I ever purchased them from the nursery. If you obtain and this book and follow Craig's recommendations, I am certain that you will have more tomato gardening success and enjoy the hobby more as well.

This book is wonderful on several levels. First, the visual aspect is simply luscious. Well printed, gorgeous photos of lots of cool varieties of tomatoes that sent me scrambling to order seeds. But the meat of the book is the text, which is thorough, well-written, and contains lots of good info, tips and tricks, as well as history and science. An all around win!

I found this book to be an easy and informative read. Covers all the basics about how to germinate, grow and harvest tomatoes.The best thing I found with this book was the introduction to lots of new varieties of tomatoes. In that respect it makes itself quite a good coffee table book with lots and lots of good pictures.I was worried that it might not have much relevance in the UK but I managed to pick up most of the heirloom seeds online, by doing an online search, from a Canadian called TatianaSome sections aren't in text book depth, I think anyone wanting to cross breed tomatoes wouldn't be able to do it solely from the knowledge gathered from this book, but it does point you in the right direction to search for demonstration videos and the like.Overall I think this is an excellent book and gets your passion for growing tomatoes going

This is a really good-looking book with lots of detailed information on varieties of tomatoes and how to grow them.Everything you ever wanted to know about tomatoes.....nicely photographed and well-presented.A great present for anyone with an allotment or the longing for one.....

Very disappointed with the content and padding-out, by the use of many Large Colour Pictures of American Varieties!I can recommend: Tomatoes, A Gardener's Guide by Simon Heart. A worthwhile book, however the inclusion of one plant pot per plant for the watering at the root level is missed. Such is the worth of this book that I bought one also for my son!

Had to return this book as every tomato mentioned was for the American grower. Not worth buying

A very good informative book, I am not a beginner at growing tomatoes but I learned quite a lot from this book