An inspiring seed-to-plate guide to cultivating more than 50 out-of-the-ordinary fruits and vegetables from goji berries to cucamelon.
Incredible Edibles is an invitation to look beyond the familiar fruit, vegetables and herbs and try something deliciously different. The main book is split into seven chapters, organised by food type, such as Salad Vegetables, Herbs and Spices, with early pages devoted to tips and techniques and guidance about choosing what to grow.
As someone who has grown more than his share of unusual edibles, I can certainly vouch for the interest in the selection of plants – everything from chickpeas and honeyberries – and recipes ranging from callaloo to strawberry popcorn.
Author, Matthew Biggs, is a hugely knowledgeable and respected horticulturist, and his practical wisdom and expertise flow through the pages; this is not a book that will leave you struggling to know what to do and when to do it.
Incredible Edibles is well produced, a hardback with a busy yet clear design that ensures you can always quickly find what you want to know. A Quick Guide tells you the headline information, sowing and harvesting tables show you what to do when, and there are tips for getting the best from each crop in the kitchen. The consistent structure ensures information is clear, even when there is a lot of it.
Illustrated throughout, the photographs give you an idea of not only what the plant will look like, but also take you through steps from sowing and planting, to aftercare and harvesting.
This is a book that would appeal to any gardener looking to extend the range of edible plants they grow through the year, and the thoroughness of information ensures it is as suitable for the enthusiastic newcomer as much as for the experienced allotmenter. It's also incredibly good value.