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210 of 213 found the following review helpful:
 rather disappointing...Feb 20, 2006
By Shelly Sutherland
My first impulse was to give this book only one or two stars, but:
a) I read it right after Carol Deppe's "Breeding Your Own Vegetable Varieties" and that is a really tough act to follow. It is CRAMMED with information and fun and intriguing ideas.
b) After reading other reviews, I don't think I had a good idea of what the book was like. That isn't the book's fault.
My first frustration is that the book is not very well organized. The information that is useful is buried in meandering chapters that tend to repeat themselves.
Second frustration--the recommended companions are almost all flowers. I have a small garden and not much room for flowers. I was expecting to know whether I should plant my onions next to the tomatoes or the peas...just a few basics. But there isn't that kind of information in here. In fact, Ms. Cunningham doesn't mention a single thing NOT to plant next to anything else. If I remember right, from Biology class, some plants don't grow as well next to others. I've gotten this idea from a few internet sites as well, but I guess I'll have to go buy another book to find out for sure.
My final and biggest problem with the book is that she rarely explains why she mixes the flowers that she does. Over and over she mentions the same three reasons for her style in general:
1) attract pollinators
2) "confuse" insects that damage your garden
3) to look pretty (!)
I do think that some people might prefer this kind of lighter read, and there are a few pages of useful information about each main type of garden crop in the back. It's just not nearly enough for a beginning gardener to know where to start.
If you grew up in a city with no exposure to the out-of-doors and find the idea gardening to be a little intimidating, she might be just the right person to put you at ease. However I like a more scientific approach...something that tells me exactly what to do, when, where, and most importantly, WHY, then I can judge what corners I need to/want to cut, and adapt it to my needs.
196 of 200 found the following review helpful:
 Useful addition to the organic garden library.....Jun 07, 2003
By Dianne Foster
"Di"
Although GREAT GARDEN COMPANIONS appears to be about what to plant with what, Sally Cunningham's book is about much more. Cunningham is a `Master Gardener' associated with the Cornell Cooperative Extension in upstate New York (growing zone 6) and has spent many hours practicing what she preaches in her nearby garden. Her garden (as shown in diagrams and photographs) reminds me somewhat of those shown on National Public Television's long-running Victory Gardens (raised beds, yummy soil), but Cunningham's advice and ideas are 100 percent organic.While many people understand organic gardening involves the use of raised beds, mulch, compost, and cover plants that enhance soil friability, retain moisture, and restore soil, few books discuss the ecosystem within which gardens exist. Cunningham works a large garden at the edge of fallow farmland (where the glaciers left very nice black soil), however, many of her ideas will work in a smaller and/or less fertile places. Some of the more interesting sections of Cunningham's book cover "old-time" notions such as how to build row hedges that attract birds and act as wind breaks; how to identify insect friends and foes and cultivate the former while repelling the latter; why toads, moles, birds, dogs, cats and horses can be great garden companions. For example, Cunningham says moles have been given a bum rap and dogs and cats can actually help you ward off the bunny rabbits and other critters who might make a meal of your lettuce. Horses are a fabulous source of organic fertilizer-should you be so lucky to own one. Cunningham uses virtually everything that is biodegradable to make compost. She stops by the side of the road to sweep up leaves and pine needles discarded by others. She rips newspapers into long strips and mixes them into compost piles. She buries composted material directly in the garden under straw and other coverings to decompose over the winter. These practices work. I have buried half-digested material next to my roses in fall and by spring produced fabulous flowers on 3/4 canes ordinarily measuring a third of an inch. Regarding companion planting, Cunningham suggests mixing the members of "families (i.e. tomatoes, eggplants, peppers) in the same bed along with companion herbs and perennials. She suggests members of the same family have similar growing requirements and by combining like with like you will save work. This might be so, but many garden writers suggest the opposist--combining plants from different families as companions. These writers believe the pests and diseases that attack one member of a family are likely to attack another member of the same family and by separating them you confuse the enemy. In addition, authors like Riotte (CARROTS LOVE TOMATOES) suggest certain combinations produce synergistic results. I tend to agree with Riotte, but like much else in life, you will have to experiment with various combinations to find the answer for your garden.
72 of 79 found the following review helpful:
 Wonderful!Jul 09, 2001
By Artemis Gems
"ChainWeavers.com"
This is what gardening is all about! This text approaches gardening in a sustainable, "natural-chaos", good for you and the earth manner. The illustrations are clear, the diagrams simple, new/unfamiliar terms well explained. Very clear, concise, imaginative, and inspiring. The author deserves a BIG thank-you for writing this book. It takes the guess work and mystery out of organic gardening and companion plants. Her methods are simple and effective.
31 of 32 found the following review helpful:
Great Garden Companions : A Companion-Planting System for aJun 24, 2001
By Laurel J. Gonzalez
"laurelp52"
Which plants enhance other plants, attract good bugs, repel bad bugs. Vegetables that are compatible and incompatible. Each section is comprehensive, easy to follow. Great tips, especially the home-made Tomato cages. The paperback version is very nice, lots of pictures and illustrations and large, I also have the hardback. There is information about diseases, ways of planting (container, etc.)This should be in every gardner's library, from beginner to professional.
34 of 36 found the following review helpful:
A nice book for a beginnerNov 06, 2001
By Craig Rypstat
As a beginner gardner, this book is helping me to, hopefully, put my garden in order. 'Great Garden Companions' is written in a conversational style and is nicely organized. Ms. Cunningham's experience in gardening shines through with helpful hints and sound advice based on years of working with her companion system. She outlines which vegetables, herbs and flowers work best together to repel pests naturally, covers many basic gardening skills (which I need to develop), and her enthusiasm is evident on every page. I think this book would be an excellent choice for any new gardner or for someone interested in gardening organically.
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