Best book for beginning gardeners?

[suziek]

After a decade of city living, we'll be moving to a small town at the end of the month. In fact, our (wonderful) tenants have already started a veggie and herb garden for us--and I'm hoping to find a good gardening book. My kids will be helping, so something for them would be fun too. We'll be in New England if that makes a difference.

Thank you.

I hope to be spending more time here!

[MidnightCommando]

My mom gave me a copy of her 'gardening bible' when I first started out. It's very easy to follow and lots of pictures/illustrations. It's called the 'joy of gardening' http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Gardening-.../dp/0882663194

I also bought 'gardening for dummies' and it's o.k. but I wouldn't put it on the top book list.

You might want to try your local extension office for plants/methods suited for your specific area. These people are a wealth of knowledge.

[texmati]

I really like you grow girl. It reads like a magazine, but does have a lot of useful info.

[FarmerCathy]

"The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food." It's a good beginner book and a good reference guide for seasoned gardener's.

[eastmillcreekmama]

I really like "How to Grow More Vegetables (Than You Ever THought Possible on Less Land than You Can Imagine)" by John Jeavons. It details the French Biointensive method brought to the US by Alan Chadwick in the 1960's. It's a little different approach than more traditional gardening books, but it's all about big productivity with high space efficiency. THis is how I garden, and it grows A LOT of food!

I also like to have my Western Garden Book (by Sunset Press), as a general reference for basic cultural information for most commonly available plants, including veggies and herbs. There's probably a text by the same publishers for New England.

Have fun gardening!

[nathansmum]

Originally Posted by eastmillcreekmama

I really like "How to Grow More Vegetables (Than You Ever THought Possible on Less Land than You Can Imagine)" by John Jeavons. It details the French Biointensive method brought to the US by Alan Chadwick in the 1960's

Oh, I'm pleased to read this! I have it out from the library atm, but had completely forgotten about it at the bottom of the pile. Getting it out now for a read lol.

[delly]

Hmm... too bad Gardening for Dummies wasn't great... I don't have it, never read it, but that's the sort of concept I personally would need. like, simple approach, just tell me what to do b/c I don't have time to make an indepth study of how to make a garden work when I've got two kids clamoring for my attention... I need to know what i need to know fast!
That, or I just wing it. which is what I'm doing ATM.

[FarmerCathy]

Well, for the first year I would suggest just add 4-6" of compost to all your beds or planting area and plant. Go by this chart for companion planting (meaning plant things next to each other that like each other and keep plants that don't like each other in seperate parts of you bed).

Then read books this next year to get you ready for next year. That would be the easiest, fastest way to go.

[lightheart]

I really like the encyclopedia of organic gardening by the editors of organic gardening magazine. mine is copyright 1978 and printed in 1985.

I really like looking at all different books, some have more info on certain types of plants or certain types of gardening style. Browse the library shelves and see what they have don't close your mind to the ones that are more conventional gardening because many times they have some really useful info in them, just when you are reading them isert 'compost when you rad 'fertilizer' and figure out ways to control insects w/o using the scary stuff they may reccomend.

Also check with the extension office in your area to see if they have pamplets for your specific area. 4-H books/leaflets are really nice too.

[lilylove]

Originally Posted by FarmerCathy

"The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food." It's a good beginner book and a good reference guide for seasoned gardener's.

I love that book! I keep checking it out at the library. It's about time I buy a copy

[FarmerCathy]

[Grayson's Mom]

The first and only gardening book we own is Lasagna Gardening. We really like it. It is very easy for us to follow.

[katiedidbug]

I really like Square Foot Gardening. I found it very easy to set up my garden, and I am def a beginner.

[Owen'nZoe]

Given what you've said, I'd second the recommendation for "How to Grow More Vegetables." It has tons of information on the 'whys' for what works, but it also includes sample garden plans that you could follow verbatim if you don't feel like figuring it all out yourself at first.

[Tithonia]

I second the "Square Foot Gardening" recommendation as a really good starter book, but my favorite is Patrick Lima's "The Organic Home Garden: How to Grow Fruits and Vegetables Naturally." It's a treat to read, and I find the organization and instructions very clear and helpful.

[suziek]

Sorry it took so long for me to do this, but I wanted to say thanks for these recs. I'm in the library in my new little town, and searching for these books. Thank you all for the suggestions! It all seems a little daunting, but exciting--a whole new world for me and my kids.

[PattyNaps]

I think this book has great inspiration if you really want to involve the kids!

[mugglemom]

For a good overall gardening book, I like "The Garden Primer" by Barbara Damrosch. We were given this as a housewarming present years ago by DH's arborist aunt and my copy is totally falling apart. They just released a new edition. The author is Eliot Coleman's wife and they have a famous organic farm in Maine, so she knows New England gardening. It covers flowers, trees, etc. as well as veggies and herbs.

[Solstice.Mama]

: Just wanted to say, as another wanna-be gardener (and New Englander), thank you so much for all the recommendations.

[AngelBee]

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