The Speedy Vegetable Gardener

One of the pleasures of being a home gardener is the taste of freshly picked food that goes from garden to table in minutes. Farmer Diacono and journalist Leendertz’s first book is a colorful, mouth-watering guide to (almost) instant gratification in the garden. They’ve compiled a list of dozens of vegetables and edible flowers that can be reaped almost as quickly as they are sown. One can easily imagine a child being charmed by the magic of sprouting mung beans and a gourmand savoring the delicate flavors of soaked radish seeds or tender coriander and fennel microgreens. With each crop, the authors have included cultivation advice and clear how-to photographs alongside simple recipes that bring out the best in these speedy crops. Thus in one entry a reader can learn not only how to cultivate zucchini but also how to harvest the flowers and serve them tempura-style. For those looking for something new in the kitchen and the garden, this is an attractive guide. 250 color photos. (Jan.)