The Essential Kitchen Gardener

This book is a collection of short articles on garden plants, pests, and diseases. The articles are organized in alphabetical order. Each of the plant articles begins with a short description, and then goes on to include information about planting (when, where, how), germination, care, harvesting, storing, pests and diseases, as well as tips for the kitchen and garden. In general, these articles use only the common names for the plants, and scientific names are not included. The pest articles (mainly about insects, but there are also some articles about pesky mammals and birds), are generally shorter, and include a description of the problem, how to recognize it, and how to combat it (organically). There are also a few articles on such topics as mulches and composting. Arkin includes a wide range of herbs as well as garden vegetables and fruits, and she includes notes on companion planting in the tips sections of the plants articles. The book also includes a chart of when to plant where (in the continental United States), and a garden glossary. There are decorative collage-type illustrations at the beginning of each letter of the alphabet, but no utilitarian diagrams or drawings.

The Essential Kitchen Gardener is a must have book for beginning gardeners and gardeners who have had bad experiences in the past. It contains a wealth of information about when, where and how to grow vegetables and herbs; along with great information on the pests and diseases that attack our gardens. What I liked most was the information about harvesting, storing, and using each vegetable and herb!!