Book Review: The Complete Herb Book

Title:	The Complete Herb Book
Author:	Jekka McVicar
Publisher:	Firefly
ISBN:	1-55407-365-0
Pages:	304

I first discovered this book at our local library and after returning it found that I couldn’t live without it. In a word: superb.

While this book is not available in hard cover the quality of the paper and printing more than makes up for that. One thing that stuck out immediately to me was the quality and quantity of full color photographs throughout.

The first 10 pages of introduction and instructions are to the point and definitely shows the “no fluff”, yet fun, attitude throughout. Many horticulture reference books read like textbooks but not in this case. The author is able to present what is essentially reference information in a quite interesting, and readable way.

Starting at page 10 you get an A-Z of perhaps 150 herbs, many of which I had never heard of until reading it. Each entry contains information on etymology, varieties, cultivation (propagation, pests & diseases, maintenance, garden planting), companion planting, container growing as well as culinary, cosmetic and medicinal uses. If the plant is toxic or dangerous in any way, warnings with details are visibly noted.

The last 40 pages of the book contains information on herb garden planning, natural dyes, drying, essential oils and harvesting. These are short chapters and are not meant to be a treatise on each subject, however there is still quite useful information.

Since purchasing my copy I have given it as a gift as well. If you have friends or family that are herb gardeners this is the perfect gift. I have used it as reference to help customers as well as for greenhouse crop planning.

If all you can have is one book on herbs, make it this one.

Zone 5: Tomatoes

Well, here's my first post in my new series named Zone 5. What does that name mean you ask? Well, I'm going to be writing about topics specific to my growing zone which is, you guessed it, zone 5.

What's a zone you might ask and why is it important? Well, the USDA splits the US up into zones based on winter low temperatures. Plant breeders and growers test their material to be "hardy" to different zones. So, if you buy a plant that says it's hardy to your zone you have a much better chance of it surviving the winter. Notice I didn't say guarantee, there's no guarantee. You can find your zone here or here.

With that, here's something I've noticed: why do people in zone 5 buy Tomato plants in April? If you check the USDA zone map our last frost is towards the end of May. Guess what, frost KILLS things like tomatoes. Despite that, even if there wasn't a frost, tomato plants won't have noticeable growth until the soil warms up to around 70 degrees. Couple that with the fact that even if the tomato has a flower on it, they won't produce fruit until the air temp is between 70 and 80 degrees.

Moral of the story here: wait until May. Spend your money on perennials or shrubs and get them in the ground. Well, so long as they're hardy in zone 5!

Concord Magazine Hoop House

Just ran across this great DIY for a hoophouse bender via the hightunnels mailing list. Just because they did it at the White House suddenly it's all the rage? Looks like an interesting way to make some tunnels for crop protection.