Most of us who live in the upper Midwest take for granted that our typical growing season lasts from approximately May through early October. The Winter Harvest Handbook challenges that assertion, showing home gardeners and farmers how to harvest delicious vegetables year-round, even in snow-covered areas. Based out of Harborside, Maine, Eliot Coleman and his team have done the research and experiments for us, detailing their latest methodologies which include the most effective greenhouse structures, planting schedules, crop management and harvesting. Using both unheated and minimally heated greenhouses, Eliot is harvesting beets, carrots, celery, lettuces, spinach, leeks, onions and more from October to May. The Winter Harvest Handbook shows us that we don’t have to kiss our garden goodbye in fall, but instead continue to enjoy as many as 30 different types of fresh vegetables throughout the long dark winter.

Mel Bartholomew’s All New Square Foot Gardening is the definitive guide for efficient use of space in a raised bed garden.  With his special “Mel’s Mix” recipe for creating nutrient-rich soil, Mel instructs readers on how to maximize each foot of space to pack in a staggering amount of flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Not only does he give detailed descriptions of what you can fit into each square foot in your SFG (Square Foot Garden), he has the best method of thinning seeds that I’ve seen. In addition, Mel includes detailed descriptions of how to build raised beds and make your own sturdy vegetable supports (trellises) and mini-greenhouses.

Talking Dirt – The Dirt Diva’s Down-to-Earth Guide to Organic Gardening is an easy read, packed full of valuable information and funny insights into the life of Annie Spiegelman, a California-based Master Gardener. This compact guide breaks down the basics of organic gardening into easily-digestible chunks, focusing on planning and building an organic garden, gardening in urban environments and also includes a portion dedicated to the choosing, nurturing and upkeep of roses and other flowers. 

When our second daughter was born, my sister-in-law, knowing our family’s love of gardening, gave us this board book as a gift. Who’s in the Garden? by Phillis Gershator is a delightful read for babies and toddlers with gorgeous illustrations of a backyard garden wonderland filled with flourishing vegetables, fruits and flowers. Our 21-month old daughter loves the simple text and rhyme of the book, and enjoys the arrival of several garden critters on the scene. Even our kindergarten-age daughter likes to study the details of the bright, fanciful illustrations. Without a doubt, we’ve been asked to read this book to our kids more than any other. Luckily, we enjoy it as much as they do.

Unlike most gardening guides that give a general overview of the types of crops that can be planted across the United States, James Fizzell’s Guide to Wisconsin Vegetable Gardening is tailored to vegetable garden advice for Wisconsin gardeners, including the history of gardening in this part of the country, as well as what makes us unique as gardeners in Wisconsin. Of most value to me, however, has been the recommendations of the best fruits, vegetables and herbs to plant in my garden, and information on when, where and how to plant each of them. Fizzell also includes the names of specific varieties that thrive in our area, some of the most helpful suggestions being the fruit varieties that can be grown here.