Product Description

"This is a must-have book for everyone who loves gardening and cooking. I'm Jekka 's biggest fan."
-Jamie Oliver (on the previous edition)

The Complete Herb Book is a comprehensive A-Z guide to the fascinating world of herbs, providing practical information on each herb's organic growing requirements, use, mythical properties and historical background. This new edition is updated and revised to include complete entries for 40 additional herbs.

The A-Z directory features a full double-page spread for each herb, with details that include:

• Natural habitat
• Species and related plants
• Soil properties
• Watering requirements
• Weather protection
• Container growing
• Strategies to eliminate pests
• Best harvesting times
• Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic and other uses
• Recipes.

The how-to section features step-by-step instructions and best practices for herb gardening. Included are sample plans; month-by-month checklists; drying, freezing and storing guides; tips for making oils, vinegars and preserves; and information on propagation.

The Complete Herb Book is the ideal handbook for growing herbs and provides hours of browsing pleasure for gardeners, cooks and natural-healing practitioners.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #91614 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781554073658
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Booklist
As vibrantly practical as it is visually stunning, McVicar’s encyclopedic guide to approximately 150 of the most common, and several obscure, herbs more than lives up to its succinctly understated name. Beginning with an alphabetically organized directory spotlighting each herb in profiles featuring luscious full-color photographs and helpful sidebars, McVicar then branches out into in-depth discussions sure to interest herb enthusiasts in their coverage of harvesting techniques, methods for producing various herbal products, and stunning design plans for themed gardens. The reigning doyenne of British herbal gardening, McVicar is equally at home authoritatively addressing basic cultural information required by North American gardeners, including site selection, maintenance, propagation techniques, and pest and disease management. She also provides essential background on the herbs’ medicinal and culinary uses, artfully blending history and lore with contemporary knowledge. Elegantly showcasing herbs’ myriad applications and benefits, this one-stop resource will benefit gardeners at any skill level eager to work with these multipurpose plants. --Carol Haggas

Review
One of the most definitive books on the subject, "Jekka's Complete Herb Book" is now available in paperback. Written by Jekka McVicar, organic herb grower for over twenty years and regular winner of RHS Gold Medals, this work contains her knowledge of over two decades of organic cultivation for both commercial purposes and pleasure. From the commonly known to the more obscure, 335 different herbs are examined in detail. Fully illustrated, each plant is given its historical background, cultivation details and uses, be it medicinal, culinary or fragrance. Mouth-watering recipes are included where applicable including those for fragrant oils and vinegars. The writing has a natural flow and is full of quirky facts and asides making an informative but entertaining read. Common names such as Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus), Balm of Gilead (Cedronella canariensis) and Black Horehound (Ballota nigra) are redolent of their ancient origins. Bee's Balm (Monarda), Meadowsweet (Filipendula) and Evening Primrose (Oenothera) give hints as to their habits and habitats. The less well-known are also covered - the highly scented, aptly named Incense Plant (Calomeria amaranthoides) used in pot pourris, the aphrodisiac Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) with its unusual blotched flowers and the emetic Poke Root (Phytolacca americana) also known as 'Cancer Root'. Original herb garden plans and in-depth propagation details are given together with harvesting, drying and storing techniques. Anyone considering planting herbs be it for pleasure or for their culinary use, in the garden or in containers, cannot go wrong with this valuable well-illustrated guide.

Review
Comprehensive ... practical.... Plant profiles include extensive data on plant culture and uses with clear photos for easy identification (The National Gardener, National Garden Clubs, Inc. 20080601)

This affordable paperback is so well done that it will become dog-eared in my library.. ... sheer inspiration. (Maureen Gilmer, DIY Network The Record (New York) 20080601)

This is the most efficient herb-garden guide on the market today ... sheer inspiration to the culinary aficionado. (Maureen Gilmer, DIY Network Chicago Sun-Times 20080510)

A one-stop reference to the organic cultivation and use of more than 150 herbs. (Back Home Magazine 20080426)

After learning about herbs' habits a gardener can try one of the 10 herb garden plans in The Complete Herb Book. (Courier [Waterloo, IA] 20080404)

An amazing amount of information on organic gardening...in a layout that is easy to read and understand. (Joe Brouillette Taste for Life 20090201)

As vibrantly practical as it is visually stunning, McVicar's encyclopedic guide... more than lives up to its name. (Carol Haggas Booklist 20090701)

This affordable paperback is so well done that it will become dog-eared in my library. (Maureen Gilmer, DIY Network (wire story) Post-Tribune (Merrittville, IN) 20080913)

Culinary uses, a few recipes, and medicinal uses are described... McVicar includes some hard-to-find exotics as well. (Jessie Milligan (wire story) The Tampa Tribune 20080803)

Set up alphabetically by botanic name, and lavishly illustrated, this is a great book for the beginning herb enthusiast. (Susan Banks (LIFE news services) Central Alberta Life (Red Deer) )

From A to Z, you will find all your herb needs here... This is a fine addition to the bookshelf. (Nancy Romanenko Asbury Park Press (NJ) )

A comprehensive A-Z guide to the fascinating world of herbs... This new edition is updated and revised to include expanded entries for 40 additional herbs. (HerbalGram )

Revised and expanded...this established resource has become more useful the second time around. (Nester Mingstern Bloomsbury Review )

This book includes descriptions, medicinal uses and recipes for more than 150 aromatic plants, from lemongrass to dandelion. (Science News )

This extensive study of herbs is a pleasure to read... Entries are colorful and easy to read. (Mary-Liz Shaw Milwaukee Journal Sentinel )

Customer Reviews

The Complete Herb Book
What an extensive encyclopedia of information from A-Z! Complete information in easy to use format with information from propagation, pests and diseases, maintenance, garden cultivation, harvesting, companion planting, container growing, medicinal uses, other uses, and culinary applications & more! I made the Chive Butter and it's hmmmm, hmmmm, good on sweet corn on the cob! Next I plan to try the Sweet Marigold Muffins. It also has info on planning a herb garden with 10 sample plans, beautiful photographys throughout, how to preserve herbs by drying and freezing, and making and using natural dyes! It's a 5 star addition to my extensive herb library.

Great Herb Growing/Using Book
This is another book I checked out of the library and had to add to my permanent collection. This is a great book with color pictures of each plant outlined, how to grow it, how to harvest it, and how to use it. That sounds trite and boring, but let me assure you, this book spends time on each plant, the left page deals with the planting and harvesting and the right page deals with the storage and use of the herb. Each herb has a recipe of some type (for food, for cosmetics, for aromatics, etc.) that has a picture of the completed item. I have a couple of other herb books that I like, but this one I LOVE to look through and will be adding a few more herbs to my garden each season based on this book!

Wonderful
This book has it all -- great pictures, great ideas, even great recipes. A good resource for those who want to build their own herb garden.