I finally got off the waitlist for my plot at the community garden! I’m a beginner gardener and would love any recs for books or websites to help me plan for growing season!

Question

Amanda · Answer

New York Restoration Project: NYRP has a Resource Archive on basic garden how-to’s and their YouTube is a great resource for various gardening topics.

Gardening is one of the few low-stakes experiences that demand you to be attentive and sensitive to the passage of time, especially if you live someplace with changing seasons. Most of the learning is experiential and sometimes you just have to start before you necessarily feel ready. Expect to have some failures, and know that happy surprises are easily par for the course too. Every season is a learning season. Have fun!

Daisye · Answer

Tips and Advice from Monty Don: You can see what to do each month in the garden. He's authentically passionate about gardening and loves his dogs.

Claire · Answer

Johnny’s Seeds: For your seeds!!!

Lots of great growing information here as well :)

Claire · Answer

Get to know your weeds.: Some “weeds” are actually so beneficial and can be medicinal. Purslane grows all over my garden, but it is a superfood, so I like to keep some and throw it on salads. I’ll keep mugwort, too, for some witchy stuff.

Claire · Answer

Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: A classic for a reason! Has everything you’d ever need to know.

For gardening my biggest tip is: don’t overthink it! Keep it simple! Gardening requires observing, patience and time. Some things will grow well, some things won’t. I think people really over complicate gardening. Also, I feel like every time I try to “plan” my garden i always stray from the plan—what happens, happens. C’est la vie!

I’d start with thinking about what you want to grow (herbs, veggies, flowers?) then let that direct your resources as well. My first year I kept it pretty simple and was very surprised at how bountiful my harvests were.

And to repeat: ask folks at your garden! I’m sure there will be many knowledgeable folks.

Good luck and HAPPY PLANTING!

P.S you may be interested in looking up companion planting as well, esp if you have a smaller plot.

Jenn · Answer

Find Your Sunset Climate Zone: USDA planting zones only take into account "can it survive the winter freeze" -- but Sunset Western has an ultra-specialized climate zone methodology that takes into account a dozen different factors, from summer highs to elevation to wind. This info will not only tell you what will thrive (instead of just survive) in your area, it will also give you planting times and varietals for specific circumstances like early frost.

you'll have to go to the library or thrift for the book if you're in the northeast.

Sarah Beck · Answer

Self Sufficiency Garden (Huw Richards): I agree with @trexsmith that your best resources are talking to people and youtubing specific questions! As a book rec though, I love Huw Richard's books, this one in particular. Each month is a chapter, and he goes through what he's doing and what's growing. The photos are beautiful and it gives a nice overview of the year. A great book to flip through in the winter and get excited.

Julia · Answer

Kitchen Garden Revival: When I see a garden book on the new shelf at the library I always check them out and leave them around my house to flip through until they are due back. I ended up reading every page of this book. It’s gives clear advice on how to grow a beautiful and easy kitchen garden.

Tanya · Answer

Garden Through Watching (YouTube): I have been exactly where you are, and cracked a bunch of books looking for the basics. Often I was greeted by a wall of botanical names, or an unrelatable scale of production. What eventually worked was watching, not reading (at first! Books totally come into the picture later). If you have amazing gardeners around you, shadow them. If that’s not on the cards, find someone on YouTube whose tone and style you find palatable (for me this was Erin, The Impatient Gardener, but I’ve also linked to someone who talks about gardening on a plot and growing edible plants — she might be up your street). Whomever you choose, make a habit of watching gardening material, because seeing the plant and hearing its name at the same time is dynamite for confidence and retention. Fall/Winter is an incredible time to get learning. Mulch your beds in your new space with some leaves and enjoy dreaming about spring!