Leaves, Roots & Fruit: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planting an Organic Kitchen Garden

by Nicole Johnsey Burke

An Intuitive Gardening System Built for Success

Do you dream of walking through your own kitchen garden with baskets full of delicious food you grew yourself? But are you waiting to begin because you think you don’t have enough space, sun, time, or experience?

Then consider this: Plants want to grow. And when you match a plant’s needs to your own resources, you’re just one step away from success in the kitchen garden.

Nicole Johnsey Burke—founder of Gardenary, Inc., and author of Kitchen Garden Revival —is your expert guide for growing your own fresh, organic food every day of the year, no matter where you grow. More than just providing the how-to, she gives you the know-how for a practical and intuitive gardening system that includes:

- Leaves – quick satisfaction from abundant harvests, most available and simplest to grow; includes salad greens and herbs

- Roots – underground harvests that require more tending and are built for endurance, longevity, and longer shelf life; includes tubers, bulbs, and rhizomes

- Fruit – the most demanding and sweetest of all, requiring the most space, sunlight, and consistent watering to blossom; includes beans, squash, and tomatoes

Burke provides clear step-by-step instructions for setup, care, and harvest for each category of plants, complete with insightful tips for every level of gardener to grow with their plants.

There’s always a plant you can grow right where you are, right away—all you have to do is follow the steps.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

230 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Laura Risdall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole is my favorite garden inspiration online and has taught me so much! This books is her second coffee-table style book, full of the most beautiful pictures. The charts and tables are helpful too. I like the system she teaches here, so different than the way most of us get into gardening. I’ll be keeping it for reference and inspiration forever!

[Susan Farr · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a very pretty book, with gorgeous photographs, brimming with ideas and opinions. Some of which are true, a lot of which are fantasy. Unfortunately, everything is presented as fact. Nothing is referenced.

Some of it contradicts other information provided in her other book or on her website. The usual gardening lies about companion plating, fertilising (eg assuming compost will immediately provide nutrients for plants).

A lot of pruning advise that is opinion (even though science shows it to be incorrect).

Planting "trap crops", crop rotation in a 3m garden (insert eyeroll). No references are sited for anything. Incorrect information about blossom end rot.

However, it seems to work for her and her followers. Too much fiction presented as fact for me.
Only has imperial measurements/temperatues

[Hollidaisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly easy to read- the writer's style is very conversational and it didn't feel like slogging through other gardening books I've read. I also learned A LOT of interesting and helpful things about plant families etc that I can use to be a more successful gardener.

I'm going to have to do additional research depending on which plants I decide on, of course, because no one book can contain everything. But this is going to be my "home base" ref book as I try again at gardening. I am going to follow the steps to help build my confidence and knowledge. I am starting Step 1 (sprouts!!) this week.

[Shelby K · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of great information in this. I do think this book could have been edited down some. However, that being said I do love that she included her real life expectations and struggles while gardening. Her stories and perseverance definitely makes you want to keep trudging along as well! I do wish she would have included a section in the seeds chapter on how to in general save any seeds that have come from the garden wether on purpose or not. Would have also loved to have single plant photos identified with what it was and what type specifically as well.

[Sami Orndorff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read + more practical than her first book! Super helpful for this novice gardener 👩🏼‍🌾

[Adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Burke is my favorite garden “influencer” and inspired my own garden journey. This book is beautiful! And, of course, a great resource for growing your garden (and yourself as a gardener).

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, basic book. Lots of lovely pictures (which bear no reality to my garden)!

[Debbie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an amateur kitchen gardener this books helped me see the things I could do differently to improve the harvest of my garden. I liked the simple charts and lessons she used.

[Jas Heaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book! I've earmarked several ideas I want to try in my garden this year. I do wish the book had more directions about combining different "steps" in the same garden box.

[Emily Kyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beginner gardening book. Definitely read it straight through, but then it’s easy to go back and reference. Plus it has beautiful pictures of gardens so that’s a win

[Gretchen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Nicole's books!

I love the information Nicole gives in all her gardening books. It helped me as a beginner gardener prepare and grow great plants to eat.

[Amy Dendy]

Absolutely loved this one!

[Jamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have ever read on gardening and I recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about it. It is an easy and beautiful read (thanks to the photographs), and very educational. I quite enjoyed it.