Our Favorite Gardening Books (6 Books for Budding Flower Growers)
- Dogwood Farms
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
“How did you learn all of this?”
A dear friend asked me that yesterday.
It’s also a question we hear almost weekly from customers, gardeners, and other budding flower farmers.
The honest answer?
Chris and I learned through hours of reading and studying… along with many, many mistakes and failures.
Over the years we’ve built a small library of books covering everything from soil health and seed starting to marketing and profitable farming.
And along the way, we’ve killed more seedlings and plants than I can count.
But the good news is that many of those early books became trusted guides for us — and today I get to share a few of our favorites with you.
Whether you’re starting your very first garden or hoping to take your flower beds to the next level, these are some of the gardening books that helped us grow our knowledge and confidence.
Our Favorite Gardening Books
Starting Seeds (Storey Basics) by Barbara Ellis
This little pocket guide is the perfect introduction to seed starting.
It’s short, clear, and incredibly practical. If you’ve ever wondered how to successfully start seeds indoors, this book will walk you through the basics in a way that feels approachable and doable.
Even now, I still pull it off the shelf when I’m troubleshooting germination for a tricky variety.
The Flower Gardener’s Bible by Nancy Lewis
The Flower Gardener's Bible is a classic truly lives up to its name.
It covers everything a new gardener needs to know — from choosing the right plants and preparing garden beds to transplanting, dividing perennials, and even container gardening.
If you’ve never grown your own flowers before, this is a wonderful place to start.
The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden by Lee Schneller
When I first started gardening, I dreamed of having a garden that bloomed all season long — a true symphony of color from early spring through fall.
The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden was an incredible resource in helping me understand seasonality and how to plan for continuous blooms.
It even includes a detailed flower catalogue that shows typical bloom times for many plants, which is incredibly helpful when designing a garden that always has something flowering.
Month-by-Month Gardening in Minnesota & Wisconsin by Melinda Myers
For northern gardeners, spring can feel confusing. We see gardeners in warmer climates already planting and harvesting while we’re still watching snow melt.
This month-by-month guide is incredibly helpful because it’s written specifically for gardeners in Zones 4 and 5. It walks you through exactly what to do in the garden each month, complete with helpful photos and step-by-step guidance.
If you’ve ever wondered “Is it too early to plant this?” — this book is for you.
Our Favorite Books on Dahlias
Dahlias are a bit of a category all their own — especially once you realize they aren’t perennial in our climate.
They require a little more care and planning than easy annuals like zinnias or sunflowers, but the payoff is worth it.
These two books have been especially helpful for us.
Discovering Dahlias by Erin Benzakein
Floret’s Discovering Dahlias is a classic. Erin walks you through everything you need to know — from selecting varieties and planting tubers to propagating, storing, and caring for dahlias throughout the season.
One of my favorite features is the section in the back where she highlights beautiful varieties organized by color. It’s inspiring and practical.
Growing Gorgeous Dahlias by Fran Parrish
As organic farmers, soil health and growing practices matter deeply to us.
Growing Gorgeous Dahlias is a thoughtful, practical guide to growing dahlias organically. Fran walks through every stage of the process — from receiving tubers and planting them in the spring to dividing and storing them in the fall.
If you’re serious about growing dahlias, this book is a wonderful resource.
Where to Find These Books
There are lots of ways to get your hands on these titles.
You can check your local library (many will order copies for you!), search for used copies online, or purchase them from a local bookstore.
If Amazon is easiest for you, you can also purchase them through the links above in our Amazon storefront. Our farm earns a small commission from qualifying purchases, which helps support our work.
We hope these books give you a great starting point as you plan your garden this season.
And as always, if you have questions along the way, feel free to email us — we’re always happy to help.
Happy gardening,
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