Even in the age of electronics, computers, Kindles, I-Phones and the like, there is still a special place in my heart, for hold in your hand printed, paper books. Am I just a tad nostalgic? Perhaps. There are a number of reasons why, I feel, that bound books are better than the electronic versions.

1) No batteries – Imagine you are on a boat with your spouse, out in the middle of a lake. Just a relaxing day, enjoying the breeze and the sun, reading a great book. You are getting ready to find out who it was that killed the gardener when, suddenly, the screen goes blank! Your battery is dead. There are not too many stores in the middle of a lake that sells batteries.

2) Glare of the screen – Yes, I know there are anti-glare coverings and settings to help this, but if you forget them and you are out on the beach, you are in trouble.

3) The feel of a book – There is something to be said about the feel of a well-made book, the cover, the pages, and of course the smell of paper.

Okay, so maybe I am a tad strange there, but you get the gist. Some reports even show that electronics are actually bad to be around all the time. Do you notice how being outdoors or camping can give you more energy and make you feel rejuvenated? That’s because there are no positive ions, which are emitted by the vast amounts of technology surrounding us; like our cellphones, laptops, Kindles, and televisions. With all of that being said, and the holidays fast approaching, I wanted to share with you MY list of some of my favorite books that would make any gardener on your list extremely happy.

As many other gardeners are, I don’t necessarily stick to just one subject when it comes to the books I like. Yes, I have many in the Citrus and other fruits section, but I do enjoy other topics. So this list may seem all over the board to some, others will find one or two worthwhile and not really care about the others. These books can all be found on Amazon as well as other places that sell used books online. I have included ISBN numbers to make your search a little easier.

Citrus Varieties of the World: by James Saunt – (ISBN-10: 1872960006)

This is a hardcover book, written July 1990. It is 128 pages, with some very nice pictures of different citrus fruit, many of which you have probably not heard of. It has up-to-date information (for the time period) about tree characteristics, as well as the fruit. It covers the origin and production of most varieties of oranges, mandarin/satsumas, grapefruit; as well as lemons, limes, citrons, kumquats and hybrids. Although, it does not contain very much information on the actual growing of citrus trees, I find this book interesting for the many different varieties listed as well as the origins of where much of the citrus comes from.

Azaleas: by Fred C. Galle – (ISBN-10: 0881920126)

Here is another book from way back in time, written in 1987, to be exact.

It is 486 pages, covering over 6000 cultivars of azaleas as well as the many species. Again, it is somewhat dated, especially some of the pesticides being recommended, but it covers everything from Bonsai to landscape uses, as well as hybridizing and plants that make good companions. Considering the time that this was written, it is still the definitive book on this subject.

The Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents: by Terry Hewitt- (ISBN-10: 0789416573)

Written in 1997, this was one of the very first books I got on the subject of Cacti and Succulents when I was really getting serious about horticulture. It is by no means an encyclopedia, one that covers that much information would require being a very large book. It is thorough, and an excellent book for beginners. It covers hundreds of different cactus and succulent plants, with full color photographs. Mr. Hewitt discusses where the plants came from, propagation, planting techniques, and even has a list that is good for beginners to move to flower. Even if you are a seasoned pro, this book should be on every grower’s shelf of these unusual, but easy to care for plants.

Crockett’s Indoor Garden: by James Underwood Crockett – (ISBN-10: 0316161268)

I would be remiss if I did not include this book in my list. I grew up in New Jersey and would watch Crockett’s Victory Garden whenever it was on TV. I was already into growing plants at this time, I was 12, and had a nice collection of indoor plants. My mother bought this book for when it came out in 1978, and it became my plant bible. 325 pages crammed full of beautiful pictures, difficulty ratings for beginners to veterans, and month-by-month care instructions. He covers everything very thoroughly from pests to repotting and sunlight to watering. If you are into houseplants, this book is pretty much all you need.

The Pepper Garden: by Dave DeWitt – (ISBN-10: 0898155541)

This 240-page book was written by a man that is, not only food historian, but one of the foremost authorities in the world on Chile peppers and spicy foods. He and his co-author Paul W. Bosland, cover everything that you would need to know about the world of hot peppers, such as how to select good seeds, picking out the cultivars for your desired results, as well as discussing what a Scoville unit is. They cover, in full detail, tips on harvesting the pods; drying and roasting peppers, and even how to make a festival strand of red peppers, known as a Ristra. If you have ever wanted to grow peppers or are an official “Chili-Head”, this book will certainly heat up your garden.

An Encyclopedia of Garden Plants & Techniques: by Andrew Mikolajski –

(ISBN- 13: 9780681280151)

For every serious gardener in your life, THIS is the Mother of all books! It is a very comprehensive illustrated guide to creating the ideal garden. It is packed with 3000 plant entries and over 1000 photographs. It has 512 pages, which cover all kinds of plants from conifers to grasses and fruit trees to flowering shrubs, in excellent detail. It also has chapters on propagation, soil preparation, site selection, as well as what plant get along well with each other. If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only have one gardening book, this would be it, hands down!

How To Grow Citrus Practically Anywhere: by Darren Sheriff –

(ISBN-10: 1530654106)

Most definitely the newest book on my list, 2016, Mr. Sheriff covers an ever-increasing desire for gardener’s to “push the envelope”. Having been growing citrus himself since 1999, entirely in containers, he has learned what works and what doesn’t. He will give you a little history on citrus in America, then delve right in and talks about cultivars worth growing, soil, fertilizers, sunlight, and of course, the most important aspect, cold protection. This book is laid out in a very easy to understand conversational tone and has numerous ways to contact the author, should you come across something that is not in the book. He is extremely entertaining and makes every effort to help people cultivate their passion to be a “Citruholic”.

I hope that you have found these descriptions useful and perhaps at least one of these books will make it under your favorite gardeners Christmas tree.

Happy Growing!

Darren