All sorts of greenhouse, garden, and house plants can be propagated from cuttings, using only a cold frame or some sheltered ground. Budding, layering, grafting, division, and raising from seed are also simple operations once you know how-with the added satisfaction of obtaining new plants at a fraction of the cost of buying them. This manual explains all the techniques clearly and simply, illustrating the process with more than 80 diagrams and photos. There are also chapters on the uses of modern materials and equipment, the history of propagation, and the care of young plants after the propagation period, to ensure complete success. Comprehensive alphabetical tables cover the propagation of over 1,500 different kinds of plant, making this book as invaluable for the horticultural student as it is for the home gardener. For each variety the chart indicates the most suitable methods, times of year, and conditions-greenhouse, cold frame, outdoors, or indoors-to propagate successfully.

This is a book on aquatic plants written in accessible language, so that anyone interested in water plants can acquire useful knowledge about them. As far as possible botanical language has been used sparingly, and then only when absolutely necessary. There are nearly half a million aquatic species in existence, and therefore it is impossible even to attempt to cover a small fraction of this in a single volume. Therefore a selection consisting of over 350 commonly known species has been described within, to kindle the interest of the plant enthusiast and give a flavour of this specialised subject area. For ease of identification, the text is accompanied by 150 line drawings and photographs

Scientific name of spine gourd is Momordica dioica. Spine gourd is a cucurbitaceous vegetable which is closely related to bitter gourd. However, it is not bitter in taste as bitter gourd. As in case of other cucurbitaceous vegetables (cucurbits) which mainly include melons and gourds, spine gourd is also grown as a summer vegetable in tropical and subtropical countries. Zucchini is a type of summer squash grown as a summer vegetable for its tender, edible long fruits. It is the most popular, widely grown and economically important summer squash vegetable. Scientific name of zucchini is Cucurbita pepo. Gherkins are known as 'small cucumbers' as it belongs to the same family as cucumber. Scientific name of gherkin is same as that of cucumber i.e. Cucumis sativus, but cultivar is different. Gherkin is a cucurbitaceous plant grown for its small, prickly, cylindrical green fruits which are with thin green rinds and white flesh. Gherkin is a tropical gourd plant and is climbing in growth habit. Small immature fruits of gherkins are used for pickling and hence it is commonly called as pickling cucumber. There is another West Indian variety called Burr Gherkin (Cucumis anguria) which is slightly different from pickling gherkins.

Generally cultivated crops are grouped into any of the three categories based on their growing cycle. These categories are annuals, biennials and perennials. Annuals complete both their vegetative and reproductive life cycles within a season or a year. Biennials complete their vegetative growth phase during first growing season or first year and produce seeds during the second season or second year. That is, biennials complete their life cycles within two seasons or within two years. While perennials are those crops which may take one or more years to complete their vegetative phase before embarking on a continuum of reproductive cycles, yielding economically significant crop produce. That is, perennials grow for several years without compromising on their economic value. Similarly, perennial vegetables are those crops that produce edible portion that can be used as a vegetable continuously for several years. Five most popular perennial vegetables are asparagus, rhubarb, jerusalem artichoke, globe artichoke and crosnes (chinese artichokes).

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum formerly known as Petroselinum hortense) is a biennial herbal spice crop belongs to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It can successfully be cultivated both in tropical and temperate climates. Commercially it is grown as an annual and its economically significant part is its aromatic leaves. Parsley is believed to be originated in the region comprising of Europe and western Asia.

Some freshly harvested leafy vegetables may be consumed as such in its raw form only after washing them. They may also be consumed after minimal processing such as chopping and adding in salads and in other raw food preparations. Such leafy vegetables which may be consumed in its uncooked state such as salads are called leafy salad vegetables. Their leaves and leaf stalks are used for consumption and therefore they are termed as leafy greens or leafy vegetables. They are consumed as salads and therefore known as salad vegetables. Five most popular leafy salad vegetables are lettuce, celery, chives, kale, and parsley. In addition to these vegetables, chicory, endive, garden cress, water cress and land cress, chervil etc may also be used as leafy salad vegetables.

PEACHES (Rare and Heritage Fruit Cultivars #8)
Of all the deciduous tree fruit varieties, the peach is ranked third in global economic importance after the apple and the pear.
This handbook lists and describes around 230 existing and 'lost' heritage peach cultivars, to help you choose those you would prefer to grow. It gives fascinating insights into the world of peaches, and some surprising facts about this delicious queen of fruits including, for each variety, the history, visual description, flavour, flesh characteristics, skin colour, type of pit or stone, chill and pollination requirements, and uses. An indispensable handbook for the peach enthusiast.
This book is one of a series written for 'backyard farmers' of the 21st century. It focuses on rare and heritage fruit in Australia, although it includes much information of interest to fruit enthusiasts around the world.
'Heritage' or 'heirloom' fruits such as old-fashioned varieties of apple, quince, fig, plum, peach and pear are increasingly popular due to their diverse flavours, excellent nutritional qualities and other desirable characteristics. They are the legacy of our ancestors; living heirlooms, part of humanity's horticultural, vintage and culinary inheritance. During the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries fruit diversity was huge, but in modern supermarkets only a limited range of commercial fruit varieties is available to consumers.
To pick a tree-ripened heritage fruit from your own back yard and bite into it is to experience the taste of fresh food as our forefathers knew it.
Heritage, heirloom and rare fruit enthusiasts across the world are now reviving our horticultural legacy by renovating old orchards and identifying 'lost', unusual and historic fruit varieties. The goal is to make a wide range of unique fruit trees available again to the home gardener.
This series of handbooks aims to help.

Chinese cabbages are a group of popular, temperate leafy vegetables belong to the same family as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, i.e. mustard family, also known as Cruciferae family or Brassicaceae family. Chinese cabbages are biennial in their growing habit but are grown as annuals for vegetable purposes. In case of biennial plants, vegetative growth phase is completed during the first year of growing while reproductive phase is completed during the second year. Since vegetative parts of the plants are used for vegetable purposes in case of cruciferous vegetables, these crops are normally grown as annuals.

Scientific name of Kale is Brassica oleracea var. acephala. Kale is an exotic temperate Cole crop which is mainly grown for its edible leaves. Scientific Name of Brussels Sprouts is Brassica oleracea var. Gemmifera. It is a tall- stemmed cole crop where axillary buds forming in the axis of each leaf are used as vegetables. Scientific Name of Celery is Apium graveolens. Celery is a popular leafy vegetable in many parts of the world and its edible portion is the long, thick, green fleshy petioles and associated leaves. Even though celery is a biennial plant belonging to the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family it is commercially grown as an annual crop.

This is a small booklet of 31-pages intended to provide basic information on growing practices for knolkhol (kohlrabi), lettuce and zucchini

This is a booklet of 32-pages intended to provide basic information on growing practices for globe artichokes, crosnes (chinese artichokes), broccoli and chives.

Brassica vegetables are also known as cole crops, crucifers, and cruciferous vegetables. They belong to the genus Brassica and family Brassicaceae, the mustard family. Popular brassica vegetables include cabbage, chinese cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi (knolkhol), collard greens, and kale. Brassica vegetables are biennial in their growing habit but for commercial production they are grown as annuals. Brassica vegetables believed to be originated in the region comprising of Western Europe, the Mediterranean region and the temperate regions of Asia.