What are your favorite gardening books?

[Susanscraps]

My DH and I plan to plant a veggie garden next year, we are beginners! We did plant upside down tomatoes this year, and they thrived. But, I was looking at books on half.com, and wondered if you have any favorites. Thanks in advance.

[TexasPeanut]

Ahhh I have so many, but if I had to pick favorites I would pick...

The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch this was first copywritten in 1988 so I'm not sure if it can be found but it's a large, really thick book. Wonderful information and very thorough.

Or for a lighter version of reading on specific plants I like The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C. Smith. this book is pretty well known and it's great for looking for information on a specific plant or on your garden beds.

I might suggest if possible, if you have a used bookstore or any thrift stores nearby, check there first for any vegetable gardening books. That is how I purchased all of mine for a fraction of the cost of new (at most I paid $5 for a book) and sometimes the older books have such a larger amount of information.

Also, check with a local bookstore for vegetable garden books that are specific to your state or region. Sometimes those are valuable to check with and see when is the proper planting time for certain plants in your area.

The best advice I can offer is if at all possible speak to anyone in your area that you know that may have a garden or someone at your local nursery if you have one. First hand knowledge on what works in your area is the best thing to have, that alone with just getting out there and planting something and learning by trial and error is sometimes the best way to go.

Or use the internet to the fullest advantage and google vegetable gardening information in your region and any great vegetable gardening websites.

Good luck!

[Jeanna]

I think if you want to go organic anything by Eliot Cole is good. Also you might want to check with your Country Extension office. They have master gardeners classes that will really teach you almost everything you need to know. It cost very little and you get the best gardening notebook that is tailored to your area of the country.

[Durgan]

My DH and I plan to plant a veggie garden next year, we are beginners! We did plant upside down tomatoes this year, and they thrived. But, I was looking at books on half.com, and wondered if you have any favorites. Thanks in advance.

Internet for individual plants. Far better than any book in my experience and no cost. Tomatoes grow far better in normal mode than upside down. In fact there is absolutely nothing to recommend growing upside down tomatoes, except to sell silly commercial containers.