Here is a collection of books to help you learn more about container gardening. These books will show you how you can grow your garden in easy to manage containers instead of digging and tilling the ground for your garden. Container gardening is great for those of you that have limited space available.

McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: A Container Garden of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers
by Rose Marie Nichols McGee, Maggie Stuckey, Michael A. Hill (Illustrator)

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 propagation, THE BOUNTIFUL CONTAINER is an extraordinarily complete, plant-by-plant guide.

Written by two seasoned container gardeners and writers, THE BOUNTIFUL CONTAINER covers Vegetables-not just tomatoes (17 varieties) and peppers (19 varieties), butharicots verts, fava beans, Thumbelina carrots, Chioggia beets, and sugarsnap peas. Herbs, from basil to thyme, and including bay leaves, fennel, and saffron crocus. Edible Flowers, such as begonias, calendula, pansies, violets, and roses. And perhaps most surprising, Fruits, including apples, peaches, Meyer lemons, blueberries, currants, and figs-yes, even in the colder parts of the country. (Another benefit of container gardening: You can bring the less hardy perennials in over the winter.) There are theme gardens (an Italian cook's garden, a Four Seasons garden), lists of sources, and dozens of sidebars on everything from how to be a human honeybee to seeds that are All America Selections.

The Edible Container Garden: Growing Fresh Food in Small Spaces
by Michael Guerra

It wouldn't matter whether or not a single strawberry or tomato raised in the pots pictured in this book ever made it to the table--they are beautiful ornamental plantings, worth growing just for their looks. But author and British permaculture expert Michael Guerra promises fresh-tasting, pesticide-free produce, and the chance to grow a luscious array of fruits and vegetables not available at the supermarket, all in small raised beds, pots, or window boxes. Whether you garden on the balcony of a condominium, the deck of a houseboat, or just choose to pack your garden with ornamentals rather than edibles, this book brings hope that you can easily harvest homegrown food, including herbs and edible flowers.

"Gardening is like learning to cook," writes Guerra. "Start with the basics and with practice your menu will increase." He starts out with clear instructions about the basics of raised bed construction, soil enrichment, and maintenance of edibles. The most useful and unique parts of the book are the chapters entitled "What Shall I Grow?" that suggest the best varieties of salad greens, berries, peas, and peppers, as well as a great many more, for smaller gardens. Enlivened by color photographs and featuring detailed lists to aid in plant choices, this is a fine introduction to urban food gardening on even the smallest property. --Valerie Easton

How To Grow Organic Vegetables In Containers (...Anywhere!) :
by Eileen Logan

A well written and straight forward look into how easily people can grow fresh vegetables in the small spaces of back yards, patios and balconies. Through the use of simple directives and annotated photographs, you are informed step by step on seed set up, transplanting, cultivation, fertilizers, composting and harvest. Also included is a glossary of commonly used terms, advice on pests, recommended tools and resources.

Kitchen Gardens in Containers
by Anthony Atha

“Chock-full of useful advice and will show you dozens of different ways to grow fruit and vegetables in containers. It also has a bunch of delicious recipes.”—Chicago Sun-Times.

Container Gardening Through the Year (DK Living)
by Malcolm Hillier, Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Matthew Ward (Photographer)

With design principles foremost in mind, Hillier advises on how to match surprising plant combinations with an array of containers. Various themes (shape and proportion, texture, and harmonizing or contrasting colors) are represented in lovely color plates that provide a pleasing supplement to Hillier's reassuring guidance. And when it comes to the book's focal point--arrangements suitable for the various seasons--enticing, full-page photographs illustrate each idea featured. In every instance, the allure of flowers and foliage is enhanced by a refined selection of complementary containers: stone troughs, aged terra-cotta pots, wire baskets, antique lead vessels, and glazed urns. Hillier also provides important cultural information, advice on growing conditions, and a valuable plant list for easy reference. Alice Joyce

The Complete Container Garden
by David Joyce

Equal parts gorgeous and practical, Reader's Digest's The Complete Container Garden provides clear and straightforward advice accompanied by brightly colored close-up photography. From spring bulbs to winter berries, the range of plants and containers is tremendous, and the how-to tips are invaluable. You'll find techniques for training vines and topiary or planting strawberry jars, and generous coverage of basics like pruning, feeding, wintering, and deadheading.

The author pays great attention to choosing plants. The ideas for unusual foliage plants are exceptional, ranging from lovely purple-leaved cabbages to aromatic pelargonium. Only two brief pages are devoted to discussing pests and diseases, but the photos are a big help in identifying various creatures--for greater detail in getting rid of them, novice gardeners will need to look for other information sources.

Over 70 pages are devoted to descriptions of plants that are container-appropriate, and you'll have plenty to choose from in all categories--common bulbs and annuals as well as more unusual vegetables and small fruit trees are all represented with growing tips and optimal conditions, so you'll be sure to choose plants appropriate to your environment. Enjoyable inspiration for the novice or expert, you'll find this a worthy addition to both your coffee table and your reference shelf. --Jill Lightner

The Container Gardening Encyclopedia
by Sue Phillips (Editor), Neil Sutherland (Editor)

This is the first book on container gardening which covers everything from A to Z thatis connected with container gardening. Whether you are a novice or have a lifetime of gardening behind you, this is the book to purchase. Nowhere will you get more for your money than with this publication. Small or large spaces, new or used containers, old reliable or more modern plants, everything is covered. There is even a section that walks you through on how to make your own containers. Whether you have lots of time to pamper your "garden" or can only spend minutes at a time, trust me, there is nothing better on the market.

Container Plants: For Patios, Balconies, and Window Boxes
by Halina Heitz

Limited land--or even no land space at all--needn't be reason to deprive plant lovers of their gardens. Heitz shows how lavish gardens can be created on a balcony, patio or porch with the help of urns, tubs and flower boxes. She gives detailed directions for year-round care of all kinds of plants. 350 full-color photographs and 120 color drawings.

Jim Wilson's Container Gardening
by Jim Wilson, James W., III Wilson

Jim Wilson's Container Gardening showcases container gardening and illuminates gardeners of every circumstance about the limitless possibilities for both plant types and container styles. Readers will learn how to find and create containers (including detailed instructions for making hypertufa containers); how to maximize plant growth with potting soils and soilless mixes; how to match plants to containers; and how to create landscape focal points. An ideal instruction guide for the novice gardener, Jim Wilson's Container Gardening is further enhanced with an encyclopedia of modern plants adapted to container growing, including mounding, tall and slim plants, low-growing, trailing, heat-resistant or cool-weather-loving plants.

The Kitchen Garden
by Richard Bird, Jonathan Buckley (Photographer)

One of the most satisfying experiences of gardening is growing-and eating-one's own fruits and vegetables. In this invaluable guide, garden expert Richard Bird shows you how to create a variety of delightfully decorative and productive plots. His 20 unique projects include planting a salad bed, designing a knot garden for herbs, adding vegetables to hanging pots, and planting fruit among flowers. The photographs by Jonathan Buckley will prompt you to dig out your garden tools and plant some edible delights. The 200 step-by-step color illustrations on fold-out pages, and at-a-glance materials and equipment lists make this a practical as well as inspirational workbook.