Resources for Beginning Gardeners

Updated May 19, 2023
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10-Minute University™ is the trademark of short classes on essential gardening information, taught by Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardeners. 10-Minute University™ Handouts   |   10-Minute University™ Videos return to top of page
Growing perennial foods : a field guide to raising resilient herbs, fruits & vegetables
Tucker, Acadia
Recipient of the GardenComm Emergent Communicator Award for 2023: Acadia Tucker Acadia Tucker's long love affair with perennial foods has produced this easy-to-understand guide to growing, harvesting, and eating them. A regenerative farmer and gardener deeply concerned about...
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening
Solomon, Steve
Now in a special updated 6th edition with a new formula for complete organic fertilizer, this complete guide to organic vegetable gardening addresses issues of soil, seeds, compost, and watering. Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades evolved from a self-published pamphlet to the master...

OSU Extension Services provides research-based information for backyard gardeners and green industry professionals, including regional specific information. Find educational resources and classes, as well as information on becoming a Master Gardener.

How plants work : the science behind the amazing things plants do
Chalker-Scott, Linda.
"Makes the science of plant processes accessible to home gardeners." --The American Gardener Why do container plants wilt even when they've been regularly watered? Why did the hydrangea that thrived last year never bloom this year? Plant physiology--the study of how living things function--can solve...
McGee & Stuckey's the bountiful container : a container garden of vegetables, herbs, fruits and edible flowers
McGee, Rose Marie Nichols.
With few exceptions-such as corn and pumpkins-everything edible that's grown in a traditional garden can be raised in a container. And with only one exception-watering-container gardening is a whole lot easier. Beginning with the down-to-earth basics of soil, sun and water, fertilizer, seeds and...
The month-by-month gardening guide : daily advice for growing flowers, vegetables, herbs & houseplants
Bo?hmig, Franz
"Bursting with useful advice, especially for new gardeners." --Booklist    To be a successful gardener, you need to know two things: how to do something and when to do it. Both concepts are thoroughly tackled in The Month-By-Month Gardening Guide<...
Pacific Northwest month-by-month gardening : what to do each month to have a beautiful garden all year
Pfeiffer, Christina Ann
Pacific Northwest Month-by-Month Gardening is the definitive guide to successful gardening year-round in the Pacific Northwest -- states include Washington, Oregon, British Columbia (Canada), and Northern California. Do you live in the Pacific...
Plants you can't kill : 101 easy-to-grow species for beginning gardeners
Tornio, Stacy
"I kill everything I plant." Does this sound like you or someone you know? Give yourself a pat on the back because admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. And lucky for you, you can easily turn your brown thumb into a green one with the help of Plants You...
Starter vegetable gardens : 24 no-fail plans for small organic gardens
Pleasant, Barbara.
Develop your green thumb as you learn to grow your own food. In this introductory guide to growing vegetables, Barbara Pleasant addresses common problems that first-time gardeners encounter. Using simple language and illustrated garden layouts, Pleasant shows you how to start, maintain, and...
Tending your garden : a year-round guide to garden maintenance
Hayward, Gordon.
How to keep any garden looking its best, through the seasons and through the years. Gardening is the primary recreational activity of Americans. Since the 1980s, when gardening caught fire as a national passion, we have spent billions of dollars on what we grow for our own...
The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest
Edwards Forkner, Lorene.
How to grow your own food in the Pacific Northwest! There is nothing more regionally specific than vegetable gardening. What to plant, when to plant it, and when to harvest are unique decisions based on climate, weather, and first and last frost. The Timber Press Guide...
The vegetable gardener's bible : discover Ed's high-yield W-O-R-D system for all North American gardening regions
Smith, Edward C.
Smith's legendary high-yield gardening method emphasizes wide rows, organic methods, raised beds, and deep soil. Succeed with fussy plants, try new and unusual varieties, and learn how to innovatively extend your growing season. With thorough profiles of hundreds of popular varieties, The Vegetable...
The vegetable gardener's container bible : how to grow a bounty of food in pots, tubs, and other containers
Smith, Edward C.
Harvest tomatoes on a patio, produce a pumpkin in a planter, and grow broccoli on a balcony! Best-selling author Ed Smith shows you everything you need to know to successfully create and care for an edible container garden, from choosing the right plants and selecting appropriate containers...

Veggie Planting Calendar for Portland and Vancouver

The week-by-week vegetable gardener's handbook : perfectly timed gardening for your most bountiful harvest ever
Kujawski, Ron.
Whether you're a seasoned gardener determined to increase crop yields or starting your very first vegetable garden, the Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook will help you manage your schedule and prioritize what's important. Detailed weekly to-do lists break gardening down into...

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