What are the top Beginner books for Gardening..with all the Basics?

I would like to know a few of the best beginner gardening books available(new ones too), that completely help the new %26amp; first-time gardener. From starting a garden, to knowing exactly how much topsoil and other fertilizer bags, peat moss - whatever, is needed. I have a design, it's an 8' x 8' circle, and I would love to know how deep is a basic general amount to add the soil, %26amp; how much. Also, what I need to buy in bags to get my soil all prepared. Can someone please help me in this area? I want to go as organic as possible for the first year - I realize in future years I will learn more and have more of a compost pile, but basically a small basic garden.



Thanks so much in advance - Starr

angelique_mystic@yahoo.com (if you care to email me with your help %26amp; advice too!)

What are the top Beginner books for Gardening..with all the Basics?
See if you can find the victory garden books. Also "Gardening for Dummies".
Reply:Your best beginning garden book is going to be written for your region of the country.

Go to a local bookstore - not a big chain, and see if they have any.

or search on Amazon.com using your state name and the word "gardening".
Reply:I'd be happy to help you out but we may need to go back and forth a little. The thing is that there is no one perfect source and there is no one absolute way. You could probably just start your garden now and wait til you do have compost of your own. On the other hand It's nice to do some basic improvements in a clear bed if you are planning on planting any perennials. I wouldn't bother with topsoil or peatmoss. You can buy the bags of compost and manure. It isn't great but it isn't entirely worthless either. You may want to check in to mushroom compost. I haven't used it because I have my own compost but I hear it is really good stuff. It's kind of expensive but apparently very rich so you don't need that much. I don't know what's up with your soil so I can't get more specific. I don't know whether you're planting veggies or herbs or flowers or what either and I don't know where you are so I'm sorry if I sound kind of useless.

Here are the titles to some books that I have found very useful on my learning curve:

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials

(Rodale's books are generally good)

Burpee's Complete Gardener

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Gardening

These are general titles with a lot of basic information. They aren't geared specifically organic but they have been very useful to me. I just take in what I need and get my organic info elsewhere. I think Rodale does have some books on organics, I just haven't run across them.

E-mail me through answers, if you want, and tell me what you're wanting to grow and what your climate and exposure and soil are like and we'll see if we can't get you a little more set up. I always love to see people take up gardening. It's the best thing I ever did for myself.