Product Description

This very popular book is now available in hardcover and paperback! McClure provides complete instructions on every conceivable aspect of herbs in the home and garden.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171902 in Books
• Published on: 1997-01-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A comprehensive, reader-friendly resource, this gem is loaded with pointed illustrations and practical information. Drawing on her training as a botanist, McClure (The Harvest Gardener) gears opening chapters toward beginners, detailing basics about herbs and their cultivation. A more challenging section on garden design includes tips on such considerations as maximizing sunlight, incorporating hardscape and establishing herbal lawns. In the central part of this guide, a season-by-season approach makes tasks in the herb garden manageable. Instructions are complete but not complex, e.g., the autumn topic "Bringing Herbs Indoors" covers pruning, dividing, transplanting, conditioning and pest management in a few direct, undaunting paragraphs. Sidebars, such as an "Herbs and pH" chart and "Harvesting Hints," and illustrative photos punctuate the text. While the chapter on recipes and craft projects is sketchy and rather ordinary, the wrap-up "Grower's Guide," a cross-referenced alphabetical (by Latin names) listing of over 50 common herbs, offers much to engage gardeners of varied experience. A source listing is also included.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Judging from the number of books published on the subject, herbs seem to be the hottest trend in gardening. And why not? They are easy to grow and can be grown outdoors all summer and indoors all year. McClure, a botanist and author of six previous books, begins with a definition of herbs ("a plant that has fragrance, flavoring, or medicinal value" ) and then follows with a chapter on native habitats. Arranged season by season, McClure's book gives information on starting plants from seeds, propagation, pruning, fertilizing, mulching, disease and pest control, and weeding. There are chapters on growing herbs in containers and on recipes and crafts (potpourris and wreaths, for example). There is also a grower's guide, which gives planting, growing, and harvesting instructions for 64 herbs. To have 100 color photographs. George Cohen

Review

"This book will help you cultivate the green thumb you never realized you had." -- New York Daily News

"A wonderful, advice-filled resource for experienced as well as beginning herb growers." -- Chattanooga Free Press

"This the most complete, easy-to-use guide to growing and using herbs at home.  Where to plant, what to plant, when to plant, how to plant -- well, you get the idea.  This great book has it all." -- Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas)

"The Herb Gardener will appeal to anyone who has ever considered growing herbs....Regardless of your level of interest, from herb gardening in containers to the larger garden, McClure offers practical information." -- Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin

"The Herb Gardener is packed with information (recipes, even), written in a way that makes it useful for beginning and experienced gardeners." -- Akron Beacon-Journal

"Herbs? Those crumbly things in the spice rack jars, right? If this is all you know of herbs, take a look at The Herb Gardener, a book that details the aesthetic possibilities of sowing, growing and cooking with herbs." -- San Francisco Chronicle

Virtually everything you ever wanted to know about the culture of herbs can be found in The Herb Gardener....If you haven't discovered the joy of growing herbs, you will by the time you finish this book." -- The Plain Dealer

"The Herb Gardener is going to take its place beside a very few of my favorite herb books.  It does everything I like a good herb book to do." -- Pine Bluff (Ark.) Commercial

Customer Reviews

Excellent book for ideas and information
I am fairly new to all of this herb gardening stuff but this is one of the nicest books I have come across so far. It has alot of nice pictures and diagrams. My favorite parts of the book are the garden ideas/diagrams it shows. It shows a wagon wheel garden, knot gardens, etc. As well as gives potting ideas and helps. In the back is an index of herbs with descriptions and colorful pictures. The pictures do a good job of showing you what the herb looks like. It also have basic garden information on composting etc. I also like that it helps you plan a year round garden. Nothing worse than a garden that only blooms one season! I think anyone who needs help with herb gardening, or anyone in a rut, should check this book out. I really enjoyed it!