New Book of Herbs [Paperback]

"Once you start growing and using herbs, I defy anyone not to become hooked." ~Jekka McVicar

If you are thinking of growing your own herb garden, I can't think of a more detailed and interesting book on the subject. You will find information about how to attract butterflies to your garden or the reason Queen Victoria requested that jam be made from Chilean guava berries. Have you ever read about a "curry leaf" in a recipe? Well, there is information in this book on how you can grow your own plant, but probably only in a greenhouse. A greenhouse seems essential if you are really serious about gardening.

Jekka McVicar is a popular radio and television personality. She has helped to revitalize the traditional use of herbs and shows how herbs can enhance your home, health and garden. Jamie Oliver calls her the "queen of herbs." Now I understand why he loves cooking with so many herbs.

My favorite section was the "kitchen" section where you can learn how to make everything from "borage ice cubes" to "roasted vegetables with herbs."

Some of the highlights include:

1. An A-Z of the top 100 herbs - Half the book is dedicated to pictures, cultivation techniques, harvesting tips and uses. 'After trying to grow French lavender from seeds (Hardy Lavender has more of a chance), I see the plants are best grown from cuttings taken in the spring. It seems only the "lavandula stoechas French Lavender" will grow from seeds and probably only inside with extra warmth, in "coir/bark/perlite," and covered with perlite (naturally occurring siliceous rock with a neutral pH).

I had never even heard of "perlite" before and this was all very enlightening for me. Coir is the outside layer of husk surrounding the shell of a coconut and bark would just be tree bark, but you need a fine grade bark and not fresh green bark. Finally, I realize why the poor little seeds I planted had no chance of germinating.

2. Organic Gardening - Many of the herbs can be mixed in with your vegetable garden. If you grow beans, you might want to grow "blue borage flowers" alongside as they will attract bees that will pollinate the beans, producing a larger harvest.

3. Lists of plants that will grow best in sand, clay, chalk, loam type soils.

4. Designing an Herb Garden

5. Detailed information on growing herbs from seeds, hardwood cuttings, layering, root cuttings and root division.

6. Using Herbs in Petcare

Ever since discovering a lavender furniture oil, I wondered how I could make my own. In the "Home" section, there are recipes for Natural furniture polish, upholstery shampoo and even herbal window cleaner. You might also want to make up an herbal first-aid kit. If you have ever steamed your face, you will appreciated the added benefit of herbs like lemon verbena or spearmint. There are recipes for mouthwash, shampoo, face packs, nail strengthener, bath tonics, bath bags and a foot bath. Having trouble sleeping? You can make a "hop pillow."

The Top 100 herbs include: Yarrow, Anise hyssop, Lady's mantle, Onions, Chives, Aloe, Lemon verbena, Angelica, Dill, Chervil, Horseradish, Arnica, Silver artemisias, Green-leaf artemisias, Borage, Box, Pot marigold, Incense plant, Caraway, Balm of Gilead, Bachelor's buttons, Gotu kola, Chamomile, Goosefoot, Chicory, Coriander, Sea fennel, Lemon Grass, Cardoon, Foxglove, Wild rocket, Echinacea, Cardamom, Wild rosemary, Joe Pye weed, Queen-of-the-meadow, Fennel, Wild strawberry, Sweet woodruff, Ginkgo, Licorice, Hops, St. John's Wort, Hyssop (gorgeous blue-violet flowers), Elecampane, Woad, Juniper, Bay leaves, Hardy Lavender, Colorful bract lavender, Tender lavender, Lovage, Flax, Luma, Gypsywort, Yellow loosestrife, Purple loosestrife, mallow, mandrake (toxic), White horehound, Lemon balm, Classic Mints, Peppermints, Meu, Wild bergamot, Curry Tree, Myrrh, Myrtle, Catnip, Black cumin, Basil, Eastern basil, Evening primrose, Olive tree, Hardy Oreganos, half-hardy oreganos, Scented pelargoniums, Fruit-scented pelargoniums, Shiso, Vietnamese coriander, Parsley, Pokeroot, Purslane, Primrose, Australian mint bush, Rosemary, French sorrel, Rue, Sage, Aromatic sages, Elder, Salad burnet, Lavender cotton, Soapwort, Savory, Virginia skullcap, Houseleek, Goldenrod, Betony, Comfrey, Mexican marigolds, Siler tanacetums, Green tanacetums, Germanders, Wood sage, Upright thyme, Creeping Thymes, Mounding thymes, Nasturtium, Chilean guava, Valerian, Vervain and Viola.

On each page there are cross-reference "buttons" to give you information on where to find uses for the plants in the home, garden and kitchen.

This beautiful book will also be of interest to writers trying to describe herbs or to cooks who want to know what an entire plant looks like.

A fascinating study of herbs that can also double as a fun-to-read coffee table book. There is a good helping of folklore, history and health information. Now I really want to know what jam made from the "Chilean guava berries" tastes like. I'm intrigued! ;)

The "New Book of Herbs" would make a perfect present for all your gardening friends.

Quite Impressive!

~The Rebecca Review

I can recommend Jekka McVicar's "New Book of Herbs" for anyone who has an interest in herbs.
The focus is on growing herbs, which makes a lot of sense since Jekka is the UK's leading herb expert and has won more than 60 Royal Horticultural Society gold medals for their herb exhibits around Britain.

This book provides a wealth of information but doesnt just limit itself to growing herbs. I love that it also covers a multitude of uses for the herbs you have grown. From cooking with herbs, making beauty products, a first aid kit and even treating your pets with herbs, "New Book of Herbs" is a great all rounder for people who wish to enter the world of herbs.

Great reference to answer a lot of your questions.

I think this book is perfect for any herb gardener. Full-color photographs on every page and concise, clear explanations lend to a thorough, all-in-one guide to herb gardening and herb use.

Pro's:
* great photos
* clear, concise explanations
* step-by-step guides to gardening & harvesting
* recipes for lots of uses for herbs (food, pets, first-aid, medicine, relaxation, etc.)
* easy for beginners but still FULL of information

The first part of the book walks you through gardening (preparing, maintaining, and harvesting), using herbs in the kitchen (cooking), and using herbs at home (cleaning, freshening, medicine, and other health care uses).

The second half is one- to two-pages per each of the author's chosen "top 100 herbs," alphabetized by scientific name (don't worry, you'll learn them quickly as you reference the book; otherwise, the index directs you from the common to the scientific name). Within each herb type (for example, "Origanum") are several specifics: "Oregano Acorn Bank," "French Marjoram/ French Oregano," "Oregano/Wild Marjoram," "Cretan Oregano," and "Sweet Marjoram." Most of the herbs have a larger-than-life photo to help you identify them, along with words pointing to descriptions of the leaf, stem, size, etc. Each entry has cross-reference page numbers which are especially good for finding a particular herb's use in the kitchen and home.

Con's:
* huge (only a con if you're looking for pocket reference; this is more of a coffee-table book)
* cross-references don't always point to the relevant harvesting entries

The only complaint about the book is the sometimes confusing layout. I mostly use the book for home recipes (cleaning & air freshening, etc.), so I haven't really noticed, but my husband finds it hard to quick-reference some of the items in the "gardening" section. You really need to do a full read-through of the sections on maintenance and harvesting so you'll know where to find this information because it is not consistently cross-referenced from the herb pages (example: you can't pick up the book, turn to "Basil," and find from there how to harvest basil). Once you're familiar with the layout and especially the "garden" section, though, you'll be able to find it all on your own.

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