Rekha’s Kitchen Garden: Seasonal Produce and Homegrown Wisdom from a Year in One Gardener’s Plot

Readers might know Mistry from her segments on BBC’s Gardeners’ World, where she showcases her allotment garden and her experimental approach to growing vegetables. In her first book, beautifully photographed and charmingly illustrated, she guides gardeners through the process of growing 40 fruits and vegetables, from apples to zucchini. The book is arranged by season, and then by plant. Each plant is introduced with a short essay and a list of Mistry’s favorite varieties; then there are details and instructions for sowing, planting, and harvesting. In some cases, Mistry also shares tips on how to cook plants or pair them with companion plants. Information on crop rotation and organic practices and a monthly task list (divided by tasks to do at home or in a greenhouse and those to do outside) enhance the book. Throughout, Mistry’s tone is companionable, expert, and can-do. (See LJ’s Q&A with Mistry on p. 46.)