In the introduction, Osborne explains how he became a gardeners and why, in a life already full to bursting, he decided to take on an allotment and try and grow his own food. All of the usual reasons feature here - feeling trapped by the daily nine to five grind and wanting to get back to nature and worrying about what's in the food his sons are eating are two of the main ones.

The diary proper starts in January, an inauspicious time to begin a story about gardening, but Osborne manages to pull it off. We are caught up in his appreciation of nature, even when it is freezing outside and everything is coated in frost. There's not much left at the allotment to dig up, but a plentiful harvest of peace and quiet, fresh air and friendly fellow gardeners makes up for that.

Osborne isn't a flawless gardener whose achievements we can't dream of living up to. As the book progresses we realise he hasn't yet dug over his plot and will be behind in spring. He hasn't ordered his onion sets or seed potatoes. Later in the year we watch him nap among the runner beans when he should be weeding, and develop a soft spot for the mice he has been trying to kill.

There are some funny moments, and some poignant ones. The allotments are burgled at one point and attacked by arsonists at another. And yet the spirit of the allotmenteers is not broken, and they still manage to put on a good show when the allotment competition comes around.

Osborne is obviously a keen observer of people, and his characters shine through. The birdman and his wife use their allotment to keep chickens and ducks, and (briefly) homing pigeons. Five Pints uses his to play his saxophone, far enough away from his wife so that she doesn't complain about the racket. Mad Alice believes that Alice Springs was named after her, and Brutally Frank is desperately in need of some tact.

Gardeners will love reading this book. It brings to life all of the reasons why people garden, and you sense you are in the presence of a kindred spirit. There's also the occasional tip to pick up, and the knowledge where the book ends, the new gardening year begins.

The book is divided into sections. After an introduction on why some plants are not commercially cultivated and basic growing instructions, the book launches into the plants themselves: greens, roots, fruits, seeds, grains and flavors.

For each plant there is a black and white illustration, the Latin name and botanical family information, hardiness and height information and a suggestion of where to include the plant in a vegetable garden rotation system.

This is followed with a brief history of the plant, details about uses (and where Hickmott has not personally tried using the plant, he says so), detailed cultivation instructions and a list of varieties - where they exist. The text is fascinating in its own right and will inspire you to try many things you had not previously known about.

There are plants here from all over the world, but they should all grow in a temperate climate - although some may need some protection.

At the back of the book there is a glossary of the horticultural terms used and a list of (UK) suppliers. There are also two useful indexes - one of common and alternative names and one of Latin names.

An excellent reference book and practical handbook for growing unusual plants, this is a book that would grace any kitchen gardener's bookshelf - and be read and re-read for many years to come.