Dan, I've wanted the same. I think that the books are often written by people with success in in-ground gardening and the principles do not apply the same to containers. They also aren't written citing research, but personal experience. Some people can be wildly successful but others have a hard time using their methods. I want something based in science so I can know it's valid, reliable and replicable.

Seems to me that someone needs to write that book!

Folks on this forum give a high recommendation to McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container. Looks like the Amazon reviewers agree.

Depends on your substrate, but if it's well-watered, expect to use a hand truck.

{{gwi:41318}}

There are SOOOOOO many good resources out there! I've always felt that some of the best (meaning most successful) gardeners have a fundamental understanding about the science behind gardening. A terrific book to guide you though this in a totally digestible way is Botany For Gardeners by Brian Capon. I've recommended it hundreds of times. Also available on Amazon.

Rhizo, we've been talking to different gardeners, lol.

I appreciate your recommendation. I've literally logged many hours at the library and bookstores looking for something that provides scientifically based information, particularly that applied to containers. Most of what I keep finding is how to decorate with containers or what plants go with what or in what size container.

If you were to read 100 books and/or web sites regarding container culture, you'd come up with 100 BEST methods. And that's hardly an exaggeration, lol!

It's a grand idea to look at several resources and glean what makes the most sense, based on basic horticultural knowledge.

I got much of my earliest container knowledge in college, from propagation, soils, and physiology courses. Those years established a good infrastructure for my own years of experience and experimentation, and learning from others.

I began using bark in my own container mixes during the time I developed a wholesale container nursery many years ago. I fell in love with the bulk medium I had delivered by the tractor trailer load and adapted my own version. A few years later, as I began consulting for some local golf courses, I liked some of the products they were using to build high quality greens. Turface was one of those products! Ta da!

What I'm saying, I guess, is that I've not purchased a book on container culture since my university days umpteen hundred years ago. And most of the University-based fact sheets make me cringe when they get to the part where the soil mix is discussed. ;-( And that's the most important part!

Maybe some others will make some more good suggestions, so that at least folks will have some options of decent, up-to-date resources.

I can honestly say that the forums of GardenWeb have been my most valuable resource in all the years (decades) I've been gardening.

I agree, the info on this site is great! I just wish Al Tapla would write a book, there is so much good info in the 100s of posts on container culture, but for those of us that don't have the patience to sift through them all, it would be well worth forking out a few bucks to have a complete, concise reference book.

Posted by daninchicago ... on Tue, Jul 20, 10 at 10:49

Does anyone have any suggestions for a book to read (this winter) that has good basics on the science behind ...

Good basics on the USDA's science? Look at the Soil Biology Primer. It has reasonably good material online with references and suggestions for further reading.

I agree that there is good science based information on the site. Al even cites sources occasionally.

If you are looking for a book that will tell you what to do to guarantee a positive result in your container garden, you will be disappointed. Gardens are like students. You know how they behave in general; but, the one in front of you is particular.

The Soil Biology Primer is excellent information. You can find all of that in a book called "Teaming with Microbes". A wonderful book, unfortunately it has little to do with Container Culture. The information on the container forum I have not been able to find in any book. Almost everything I DO find published on container growing, if the advice is followed, would not produce the best results. Al

Al, I'm in 100 percent agreement with you! I tried following that advice 10 years ago when I moved from in ground to container. I had several years of OK to horrid results, depending. If I hadn't stumbled on this information here, I'd still be frustrated and trying to find a solution in one of those books that tell you to do inappropriate things.

Only speaking for myself, I'm not looking for something that guarantees a positive result. I just want to know why. If I do X, what will happen and why? It lets me apply to my situation. Any good teaching book does that - provides the principles or the rules and shows you how to apply them to different situations. That's what Al(tapla) has been doing and which is why so many of us have success when we learn the principles he shares.

All gardening is local, indeed!

Foremost, "As above, so below."
Who'd've guessed? Practical as well as mystical application! ;)
Healthy roots, healthy shoots.

Next to actual experimentation,
Al's posts on Soil Composition
and Water Movement are some of
the best primers.

Josh