Book Rec's for first time gardener??

[mysonshine]

If this has been addressed before, I apologize. My LOs are not cooperating today to give me lots of time to look.

I am wanting to do a small vege garden this year. I've never done this. We tried a couple tomato and pepper plants last year in pots and they didn't do too well.
I am hoping that once I get home, my library will have a copy of the Square Foot Gardening book. That sounds like the route I want to go for the yard we have.
But, I still feel very lost. Are there any books out there for a brand new newbie to gardening? Something simply written that I can understand while 2 LOs are pulling on me? HA HA Something step by step with tools and everything?

Books would probably be better but web sites would be ok too. I just feel so overwhelmed!!!

I'm hoping someone can say book X and Y are great and they're all you'll need. So I don't have to look at 15 different gardening books. KWIM?

Thanks for all your help and I hope I made sense in what I'm asking.

[kimnt]

this really helped me:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-More-.../dp/0898157676

[FarmerCathy]

I suggest The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food. It's about companion planting which I highly recommend to anyone growing organically.

[root*children]

One that I have loved for years, and is especially prudent for mamas, is Gardening With Kids. My copy is from the 80's, I don't know if there's a newer edition. It has very easy explanations, lots of photos, lots of tips on what the easiest things are to grow, etc.

[texmati]

I really like the "you grow girl" book. it's kind of kitchsy, but it does have a lot of information that is presented nicely....

However, I have a black thumb, and this is my first year gardening, so take it with a grain of salt.

[FarmerCathy]

Originally Posted by kimnt

this really helped me:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Grow-More-.../dp/0898157676

I really want that book.

[nattybo]

I have 35+ garden books. (I didn't buy any of them. Some were gifts, most were going to thrown away buy my MIL...she's the epitome of a baby boomer consumer...but I am rambling again, lol). If I were to smoosh all of their info into one book it would be my 1978 copy of Rodale's "The Encyclopedia of Organic gardening." The only thing that this book doesn't have in it is the best germination temperatures...for that I am using a Johnny's seed cataloge (I didn't buy anything from them, just ordered the cataloge (free)...yes, yes, I am *that* cheap

If you can, check out any book from the library before you buy it. I have saved so much money by not buying books that looked like they might be right but turned out to be all wrong.

I have checked out John Jeavon's book last fall and its one a few that I would consider buying.

[jadekat]

I was also looking for books about gardening. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

[box_of_rain]

I'm with nattybo on the Rodale Guide to Organic Gardening. It's an *amazing* book and IMO someone could get along very well with just that one book in their gardening collection. I also have the 1978 edition.
http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-O...5686163&sr=1-4

Another great book is The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch. It is great for beginners - it has a very comprehensive list of tools and seperate sections on veggies, herbs, fruits, etc. Terrific book.
http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Primer-...5686238&sr=1-2

[llamalluv]

You might also check to see if your library has the video - it's only 35 minutes long. You might be able to squeeze in watching that while you distract the children with a snack, or something...