Synopses & Reviews
Garden-fresh herbs impart flavor and fragrance that dried, packaged products simply can’t. Now, anyone with access to a few square yards of soil (or even a sunny patio or windowsill) can enjoy the punch and pungency that only come from fresh herbs, hand-picked from the garden.
Herb Gardening from the Ground Up demonstrates how to design, seed, and nurture 38 culinary herb gardens that are delightful to the eye as well the palate.
Designed to supply herbs for a wide range of flavors as well as a pleasing balance of colors, there are gardens to suit every taste and cooking trend, including a French chef’s repertoire, an Italian trattoria’s menu, the aromatic seasonings of Asia, the closer-to-home flavors of American barbecue, and the piquant profiles for a Tex-Mex feast. There are herbs for flavoring fish and game, soups and salads, bread and other baked goods, and, for the mixologists among us, even herbs for the home cocktail bar.
Herb Gardening from the Ground Up offers historical insight, provides starting-from-scratch, season-to-season basics for planting in the present, and looks forward to the bright future of urban and suburban growing trends.
Synopsis
An updated and expanded edition of Herb Gardening at Its Best, the classic primer for planning and planting 38 culinary herb gardens from America’s largest herb grower and retailer, Gilbertie’s Herbs.Garden-fresh herbs impart flavor and fragrance that packaged herbs simply can’t. If you have a few yards of soil, or even a sunny windowsill, Herb Gardening from the Ground Up will show you how to design, seed, and nurture 38 culinary herb gardens. Also included: a new introduction on today’s herb renaissance; a new chapter on container and windowbox herb gardens; new layouts for French, Italian, Asian, Tex-Mex, and BBQ herb gardens; and a discussion of popular herb newcomers like lemongrass, the new basils, garlics, sages, and more.
About the Author
SAL GILBERTIE is the third generation owner/proprietor of Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens located in Westport, Connecticut. Established in 1922, Gilbertie’s is the largest herb grower and supplier in the United States today. Sal Gilbertie has been at the forefront of the organic vegetable gardening movement for more than 40 years. A highly respected and entertaining instructor, he was voted the 2011 Connecticut Organic Farmer of the Year.
LARRY SHEEHAN’s long list of writing credits include newspapers, magazines, television documentaries, and dozens of books including the best-selling Living with Dogs and The Sporting Life.
Table of Contents
I. Herbs Are for Everyone [1] Herbs: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 10
Stalking the Elusive Pink Hyssop 19
Four Facts of Herb Life 26
II. Building the First Garden [33]
Starting from Scratch 41
What You’ll Need to Start Herbs from Seed Indoors 43
Cluster Sowing Indoors 48
Spot Sowing Indoors 52
Cluster and Row Sowing Outdoors 55
Making Divisions of Spreading Perennials 58
Taking Cuttings of Single-Stemmed Perennials 62
Take Your Choice: Herbs for All Seasons and Reasons 67
Maintaining the First Garden 76
Harvesting and Storing Herbs 81
Steps to Take for the Second Spring 86
Bringing Herb Plants Indoors 90
III. Herb Garden Plans [95]
How to Use the Plans 97
Culinary Garden: Year One 100
Culinary Garden: Year Two 102
Culinary Garden: Year Three 104
Trattoria Garden 106
Taste of Asia Garden 108
Tex-Mex Garden 110
French Chef Garden 112
Annual Garden 114
Perennial Garden 116
Mint Garden 118
Sage Garden 120
Thyme Garden 122
Basil Garden 124
Allium Garden 126
Salad Garden 128
Tea Garden 130
Soup Garden 132
Bread Garden 134
Breakfast Garden 136
Fish & Game Garden 138
Cake & Cookie Garden 140
Home Bar Garden 142
Potpourri Garden 144
Pest Repellent Garden 146
Honeybee Garden 148
Medicinal Herb Garden 150
Dyer’s Garden 152
Colonial Garden 154
Scented Geranium Garden 156
White-Flowering Herb Garden 159
Yellow- & Orange-Flowering Herb Garden 162
Pink- & Red-Flowering Herb Garden 164
Blue- & Purple-Flowering Herb Garden 166
Silver Garden 168
Christmas Wreath Garden 170
Shady Garden 172
Cottage Garden 174
Free-Form Cottage Garden 176
Container Herb Gardens 178
IV. Herb Culture Guide [183]
How to Use the Culture Guide 185
Harvesting & Storing the 15 Basic Herbs 230
Start from Scratch Schedule 236
Sources 238
Index 241