Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers from Small Spaces by Gayla Trail
Upbeat and Informative
Anyone can begin growing herbs and edible flowers year-round by following the advice found in Easy Growing by Gayla Trail, a book filled with photographs and helpful hints from an experienced and passionate gardener. The book is divided into three sections:
Section One: Growing an Herb Garden. This section provides concise instructions on the basics of growing: preparing pots, soil requirements, growing in the ground, air flow, heat, water, sunlight, drainage, fertilizer, aesthetics, pests, diseases, choosing herbs, keeping weedy plants under control, seasonal maintenance, starting from seed, cloning, growing under lights, extending the season, and preparing for dormancy.
Section Two: The Plants. In this section Trail describes the uses and particular needs of 29 of her most indispensable plant families and some species within that family. For example, under the family moist soil umbellifers, she includes chervil, lovage, and parsley. Each plant description includes a legend indicating the plant’s growing requirements and which part of the plant is edible.
Section Three: Keeping Stock: Gather, Preserve, Eat. So what do you do with all those herbs and flowers you’ve grown? This section discusses using and preserving the bounty and includes several recipes, such as sorrel and potato soup, chive blossom vinegar, and orange rosemary and honey ice cream. Yum!
Easy Growing is a great guide that will help you decide which herbs and edible flowers you want to grow within the space you have available and how to bring them successfully to harvest.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
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