Kitchen Garden

Lovely magazine, the only one in the UK (at least, on the newsstands) focused on edible growing. Lots of reader input complemented by a lively website forum provides real life inspiration rather than just what you *could* do if you had the right climate/money/land. Experts include Bob Flowerdew (a monthly column usually on exotics, propagation, recycling etc), Sue Hammon (on chicken keeping - the only regular animal article, and an excellent one it is too!), and Joy Larkcom (occasionals - now about her new plot in Ireland). Each issue has a couple of focuses on one or other fruit or vegetable and it doesn't neglect the oddities either - huckleberries, physalis and yacon are ones that spring to mind. The rest is the usual diaries, new products, places to visit and "what to do now". Free seeds from January to about May are a great bonus, although tend to be quite repetitive these days with carrots, beetroot and tomatoes seeming to be a favourite, and not very unusual varieties either. Responsive staff, who seem genuinely interested and in touch with their readers (mainly because they do the same thing, rather than the glossier mags whose garden writers seem to spend more time on TV than in their own gardens!). Even though I've been subscribing for 3 years, I still find something new every month. Highly recommend it, whether you're new to kitchen gardening or looking for something a bit more substantial than the usual decking-quick fix-cheery bedding fare.