These books for beginner gardeners all have one thing in common: they are beginner-friendly and packed with gardening know-how!
Reading high-quality books is one of the best ways to learn how to successfully grow just about anything. I've read hundreds of books on the topic over the past 13 years, but there are a few particular titles that were helpful for me as a beginner gardener.
If I had to pick just 4 books for the beginning gardener to read, these would be it! I included a book about spacing, one about companion planting, a general reference volume, and an encyclopedia-style manual for specific growing instructions. These should have you completely covered (and then some) when getting started.
The BEST Books for Beginner Gardeners
All New Square Foot Gardening
While this book is more of a gardening method than anything else, I think it is an incredibly helpful read for all beginner gardeners. Even if you don't go the square foot gardening route (I don't), the spacing guidelines help take the guesswork out of planning your first garden.
All New Square Foot Gardening is written in a beginner-friendly tone and makes vegetable gardening seem extremely approachable (which it is!). I grow a combination of raised beds and in-ground gardens and use Mel's spacing guidelines (and a planting square) for most crops. Seed packets recommend spacing that is too far apart, leaving more soil exposed. Exposed soil = more weeds and less moisture.
Following the guidelines in this book means more food in less space, with fewer weeds, and easier maintenance. It's a beginner-friendly way to learn about (and implement) intensive planting for better yields and lower weed pressure.
Carrots Love Tomatoes
This book by Louise Riotte is a classic and THE book about companion planting. The concept of companion planting isn't exactly for beginners, but it can be incredibly helpful for garden design.
As a beginner, you shouldn't lose too much sleep about inadvertently planting peas next to your onions, but consulting this small volume before mapping out your garden beds can help reduce some of those growing pains that are common for new gardeners.
Carrots Love Tomatoes encourages dense planting, which also happens to help with weed pressure and moisture retention. If the soil is covered and shaded, fewer weed seeds can germinate, and the protection from the sun reduces evaporation. For that reason, I highly recommend picking up a copy - you might even be able to snag one at a used book store!
The Encyclopedia of Country Living
Written by Carla Emery, this is a very general book, and contains ALL kinds of information about everything from keeping goats to tapping maple trees. It does, however, have a very generous gardening section.
This is the book I started with, and I still love it to this day because of its broad, yet brief coverage of topics. When it comes to gardening, I've found some old-timey tips and tricks here that I haven't found in modern volumes.
The Encyclopedia of Country Living features budget-friendly and practical tips, so it's ideal for gardeners who don't want to invest a ton of money in their gardens (but don't mind a little sweat equity). It gives a great overview of how to grow just about everything, but keeps it short and sweet at the same time. It's a great reference manual to keep on your shelf!
The Complete Gardener
Speaking of encyclopedias, this massive volume by the famous British gardener Monty Don is a treasure trove of information. It's a great resource for folks who want to grow more than just vegetables and a few flowers.
Categorized and listed in alphabetical order, it includes fine details of just about every plant, tree, or shrub. If you want to know what time of the year is best for pruning back your roses, when and how to plant bulbs, how to prepare garden beds, and how to use fertilizer, this is the one for you.
I wouldn't call it absolutely necessary for beginners, but The Complete Gardener is incredibly helpful and a worthy investment for those who plan on gardening for years to come.
What do you think?
What are your favorite gardening books for beginners? Any you disagree with? Share your thoughts and experience in the comments!
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