Gardiner, Richard 16th Century  

The author of the earliest gardening book devoted entirely to vegetable gardening was a liner-diaper living in Shrewsbury, England. The book is concerned with cabbages, carrots, parsnips, turnips, lettuce, beans, onions, cucumbers, artichokes and leeks. The title of the book is Profetable Instructions for the Manuring, Sowing and Planting of Kitchin Gardens. Very profitable for the common wealth and greatly for the helpe and com-fort of poore people (1603).

Additional information about Richard Gardiner may be found on the Internet. (Caution: Some links may not directly pertain to this person. The search engine did not take Professor Howlett's course.)