When I was studying plant science in graduate school, I realized that what I really wanted to do was not lab research but to help people understand plants better so they could grow more beautiful and bountiful gardens. To this end, I have written several books, founded the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG), taught horticulture at City College of San Francisco for several decades, and, since 2006, written a column on gardening for the SF Chronicle. My list of books about gardening know-how will painlessly prepare you to grow plants well.
I wrote...
Golden Gate Gardening, The Complete Guide to Year-Round Food Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area & Coastal California
By
Pam Peirce
What is my book about?
Now in
its third, revised edition, Golden Gate Gardening introduces
readers to food gardening in California from Eureka to San Luis Obispo, and
from the coast inland to the edge of the Central Valley. This mediterranean-climate region is like no other in the U. S. Summers vary from
cool at the coast to hot inland, with rain only in winters. The whole region
allows year-round production of vegetables, herbs, fruits, edible, and cutting
flowers.
This book is an indispensable source of information on all the topics
you need for success: what to plant and when, how to start seed, prepare the soil,
conserve water, control weeds, and manage pests in less-toxic ways. It is a
clear, friendly book that will guide you to garden success and enjoyment.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees
By
Ann Ralph
Why this book?
Ann
Ralph, formerly in charge of the fruit tree section of Berkeley Horticultural
Nursery, has written a short, easy to use, book on caring for fruit trees. It
should come with every fruit tree sold, since its text and illustrations so
effectively teach the methods of planting, pruning, and ongoing care that will
produce delicious fruit.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Roots Demystified: Change Your Gardening Habits to Help Roots Thrive
By
Robert Kourik
Why this book?
Once
you have looked at the root drawings of common garden edible and ornamental
plants in this book, you will become able to imagine what is going on in the
underground part of plants. This ability will help you water by hand or set up
a drip system. It will also help you to plant successfully, mulch well, and use
the best weeding methods for different plants. The book includes text and
diagrams that teach how to set up a drip irrigation system.
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My Weeds: A Gardener's Botany
By
Sarah B. Stein
Why this book?
While you
will learn much about the nature and management of weeds from this book, you
will also find yourself painlessly learning the basics of botany-- the parts of
plants, how they live, how seeds evolved, how ecosystems evolve. While she
keeps weeds at bay, Stein favors a garden, as do I, in which the desirable plants
may self-sow a bit. It is a gardening philosophy that is current and can
produce lovely, serendipitous gardens.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Informed Gardener
By
Linda Chalker-Scott
Why this book?
The
author, who was for many years an extension urban horticulturist
and associate professor at Puyallup Research and Extension Center, Washington
State University, does gardeners a great service by taking on common garden
myths about fertilizer, mulch, transplanting, staking, compost tea, watering
and many more potentially confusing topics. In this and her subsequent books,
she skillfully debunks myths with current research and her professional
experience.
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The Climate Conscious Gardener
By
Janet Marinelli
Why this book?
This
little book, part of a series put out by the Garden, will show you the best
ways to offset climate change in your gardening and landscaping. It includes
tips on materials, energy efficiency, and increasing carbon sequestration. A
chapter by Amanda Knaul and Susan K. Pell covers the climate footprint of
homegrown food.
