Fennel and Fern » The best gardening books

December 12, 2010

by F&F

Having a tough time picking out a gardening book? F&F’s guide to the very best gardening books for all breeds of gardener will solve all your problems.

1. For the very beginner: Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom

There are piles and piles of books teaching you to grow your own, but really, this book is the unbeatable classic. It taught me everything I know about growing vegetables, and took me from a rather nervous beginner to a confident grower. This isn’t a book that drifts through a panoply of gorgeous photos of freshly harvested carrots and raindrops on tomatoes: there are only line drawings and plenty of text. And all to the good: you’ll learn more from this practical book than from any other. Click here to buy Grow Your Own Vegetables

2. For the gardener who has grown everything: A Taste of the Unexpected by Mark Diacono

Thought you’d grown everything there was? Er, no actually. Mark Diacono’s beautifully-written and incredibly-photographed book introduces you to some utterly marvellous unusual edibles such as blue honeysuckle and chilean guava. Click here to buy this book

3. For the complete flower addict: Bulb by Anna Pavord

This was the book of 2009, and has swiftly become a classic. Bulb: a hand-picked selection of the world’s most beautiful bulbs is expertly and beautifully written, beautifully illustrated and incredibly inspiring. Even plantaholics will find new treasures to plant in their gardens, and Pavord’s authoritative growing advice will coax you even further into snapping up Giant Himalayan Lilies, species tulips and yellow snowdrops. Click here to buy this book

Now for the fun bit. What gardening books are must buys? Tell us in the comments.