Favorite Gardening Books

Mudman · August 21, 2011

What gardening books do you like? I spend those late winter months reading and planning almost every night before bed. Most of my books have been collected from book sales and garage sales. My wife and I have a book collecting issue. Ok, I'll start.
I really like the Square Foot Gardening book by Mel Bartholomew. I have plenty of space and don't really square foot garden but it is a great resource for spacing and timing plantings.

Keiththibodeaux · August 21, 2011

Month-by-Month Gardening Guide for Louisiana, 1st Edition. Uncharacteristically, I find the newer edition far less useful.

and

Joy of Gardening, by Dick Raymond.

Ispahan · August 21, 2011

My favorite gardening books mainly tend to be philosophical in nature, providing a lot of food for thought. Two that immediately spring to mind are "Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties" and "The Resilient Gardener" by Carol Deppe. I have spent weeks reading, rereading and trying to absorb her astonishing wisdom and insight. Steve Solomon is another one with a unique perspective that really challenges you to reflect on the way you garden.

Also, for good bedside reading, I really enjoyed all the writings/articles/essays by Henry Mitchell as well as the book "Green Thoughts" by Eleanor Perenyi.

Other than that, my favorite gardening books are all seed catalogues...! :-)

fortyonenorth · August 21, 2011

Hands-On Agronomy by Neil Kinsey is a recent favorite. While geared toward working farmers, it's easy reading for laymen and simply the best book I've found on fertilizing and nutrient management.

The $64 Tomato is fun and would be relevant reading for many Tomatovillians.

Ruth_10 · August 22, 2011

The Harrowsmith Countrhy Life Book of Garden Secrets by Dorothy Hinshaw and Diane Bilderback

Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond

all of Elliot Coleman's books

The Contrary Farmer by Gene Logsdon

The Contrary Farmer's Invitation to Gardening by Gene Logsdon

People With Dirty Hands by Robin Chotzinoff (essays)

Second Nature by Michael Pollan (essays)

Deep in the Green by Anne Raver (essays)

The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing

My Vegetable Love by Carl H. Klaus (though I don't care for his favorite tomato)

Homesteading Adventures by Sue Robishaw

Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon

How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons (I'm not into "biodynamics" but lots of tables and illustrations in the book)

Gardening When It Counts by Steve Solomon

That's a start....

habitat_gardener · August 22, 2011

All my books are still packed away in storage, but (aside from the local/regional food and native gardening books), I liked

Smith, The vegetable gardener's bible
for info on specific crops

Ruth Stout's books, for inspiration and fun

August 21, 2011	#1
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	Favorite Gardening Books What gardening books do you like? I spend those late winter months reading and planning almost every night before bed. Most of my books have been collected from book sales and garage sales. My wife and I have a book collecting issue. Ok, I'll start. I really like the Square Foot Gardening book by Mel Bartholomew. I have plenty of space and don't really square foot garden but it is a great resource for spacing and timing plantings. __________________ Mike Last edited by Mudman; August 22, 2011 at 05:08 PM.

August 21, 2011	#3
Ispahan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 46	My favorite gardening books mainly tend to be philosophical in nature, providing a lot of food for thought. Two that immediately spring to mind are "Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties" and "The Resilient Gardener" by Carol Deppe. I have spent weeks reading, rereading and trying to absorb her astonishing wisdom and insight. Steve Solomon is another one with a unique perspective that really challenges you to reflect on the way you garden. Also, for good bedside reading, I really enjoyed all the writings/articles/essays by Henry Mitchell as well as the book "Green Thoughts" by Eleanor Perenyi. Other than that, my favorite gardening books are all seed catalogues...! :-) Last edited by Ispahan; August 21, 2011 at 09:25 PM. Reason: Forgot about Steve Solomon!

August 22, 2011	#5
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	The Harrowsmith Countrhy Life Book of Garden Secrets by Dorothy Hinshaw and Diane Bilderback Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond all of Elliot Coleman's books The Contrary Farmer by Gene Logsdon The Contrary Farmer's Invitation to Gardening by Gene Logsdon People With Dirty Hands by Robin Chotzinoff (essays) Second Nature by Michael Pollan (essays) Deep in the Green by Anne Raver (essays) The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing My Vegetable Love by Carl H. Klaus (though I don't care for his favorite tomato) Homesteading Adventures by Sue Robishaw Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons (I'm not into "biodynamics" but lots of tables and illustrations in the book) Gardening When It Counts by Steve Solomon That's a start.... __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

August 21, 2011	#2
Keiththibodeaux Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 587	Month-by-Month Gardening Guide for Louisiana, 1st Edition. Uncharacteristically, I find the newer edition far less useful. and Joy of Gardening, by Dick Raymond.

August 21, 2011	#4
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	Hands-On Agronomy by Neil Kinsey is a recent favorite. While geared toward working farmers, it's easy reading for laymen and simply the best book I've found on fertilizing and nutrient management. The $64 Tomato is fun and would be relevant reading for many Tomatovillians.

August 22, 2011	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	All my books are still packed away in storage, but (aside from the local/regional food and native gardening books), I liked Smith, The vegetable gardener's bible for info on specific crops Ruth Stout's books, for inspiration and fun