The New Seed-Starters Handbook

In this revised and expanded version of The Seed-Starter's Handbook, gardening writer Bubel discusses starting seeds indoors, moving plants outdoors and saving seeds, then presents a lengthy ""encyclopedia of plants to grow from seed'' that describes the characteristics of dozens of flowers, vegetables and herbs. Bubel gives advice on the time-consuming process of growing plants from seeds in a writing style that is chatty and accessible. The reader will enjoy her enthusiasm and benefit from her thoroughness. But Bubel can be overly cute, as when she relates how she once ``tried planting melon seeds in cast-off shoes.'' She also tends to repeat herself, and her presentation of technical information on the germination of seeds is difficult to follow. Illustrations not seen by PW. (February)