Hi!
I have been checking the bookworm section. i am looking for a good herb book/herb bible. I am looking for detailed info on herbs and their culture, different requirements for different herbs.
I have Growing Herbs by Debaggio.
which one you reccommend?
thank you
Anna
Best herb book
check these http://davesgarden.com/gbw/vbl/h/ - look for herb books
here is another one http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/789/
Thank you very much Rose!
u're welcome.
ma vie
A favorite of mine... mostly for herbs that perform better in the south. I like "Southern Herb Growing" by Madelaine Hill & Gwen Barclay. I found it on ebay and liked it well enough I bought another for a friend. Rob Proctor has two which are great for entertainment and ideas more than for reference. "Herbs in Pots" & "Herbs in the Garden".
Thank you Pod, i will look for them.
Did you come across DeBaggio's Big Book of Herbs? There's a ton of detailed information on individual herbs..... It's my "go to" reference for information on a specific type of herb, and I like to just flip through it and get ideas on plants that I "need" in my garden. I always forget the name of his coauthor in this one, but I can pull it from my shelf & check if you can't find it.
I know I'm always giving the same answer when anyone is looking for an authority on herbs, LOL.... but Tom really knows his stuff!
I've seen "Southern Herb Growing" & liked it also.... I think my MIL has it.... may have to pick that one up myself, even if we are just barely south of the Mason-Dixon line. :-)
Critter, i checked it on amazon and found it for $78!!!
And it is a used book!
$78 for DeBaggios Big Book of Herbs? Out of my league! Have you ever seen Malcolm Stuarts' "The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism"? It is also a pretty thorough reference but a little drier reading than "Southern Herb Growing" The Big Book is probably a far better reference. I will have to look for it but have a flea market budget.
Forgot "Back To Eden" but my copy is paperback and I do prefer photos. Photos seem to help a novice like me... pod
thank you Pod.
WOW, I think mine was about $30 brand new. I bought it at the greenhouse. I'm thinking that's one of those weird "other vendor" prices; you should sure be able to find it more reasonably priced!
I am going to Borders this afternoon. If I don't find any of the ones listed here, I will order from amazon.
I would like the one by Debaggio but it is too expensive. :o((
Well, as I said, keep an eye out for it at a more normal price... That $78 price tag has to be an aberration! I've got a Rodale's Illustrated Encylopedia of Herbs (paperback) on my shelf that I don't use much now that I've got Tom's book... but it's a good reference, and it has some useful charts in the middle that list all the herbs with height, bloom season, hardiness, soil/light requirements etc. We've had it for a few years (published in 1998, but I don't think we've had it more than 4 years tops), but the price on the back says $17.95.
Have fun at Borders!! :-)
Just checked the DeBaggio's catalog.... they have the Big Book (all 688 pages of it, in hardcover) for $40... they don't ship plants, but they might ship books... in any case, that should be the going price for it at the bookstore. That's still double the cost of the softcover Rodale book, but at least it's not $78!
thank you Critter, I love going there!
Critter, what is the address fo the catalogue?
sorry! it's http://www.debaggioherbs.com/
just click on the link for the pdf file.
Critter, I phoned the nursery and they don't do any mail order. :o(
Dang. If you decide you really want the book & can't find it elsewhere, LMK. It's quite possible that I might head down that way again before too long, and I'd be happy to pick one up for you. I'm surprised they couldn't suggest a retail source for the book... I guess you had no luck at Borders?
Hi Critter,
They just said that it has not been pirnted anymore and they have the last copies.
I haven't been to Borders yet but I have no hope of finding it there.
Thank you for the offer.You tell me when/if you are going and I can send you the money for it. :o)
Oh wow.... If I'd known that, I'd have picked up a couple of copies while I was there last month! I don't want to make promises, as my schedule has been a little crazy, and I can't always drive... but I'll see what I can do! I'm sorry they were unwilling to ship you one.
See if you can find the Rodale's book at Borders.... I hadn't really looked at it in a while, but I was flipping through the herb descriptions earlier & thought it was pretty good. You're got a lot of Tom's great culture info & tips in the Little Book. :-)
Go to www.addallbooks.com and you will find used copies from 2.56 to 56.00 for Debaggio's Big Book of Herbs. Make sure you go to the used book section to sort for the book, not the in print section or you will get amazon's over priced selections. Amazon has very high prices for out of print and used books. Addallbooks is not a dealer but a source for thousands of dealers to list in one place their wares. I usually get better deals and a more reliable description of the books from addallbooks dealers compared to eBay ( I do love eBay for most other things) Some titles will come from out of the country, but I often get books from abroad, especially from Great Britain as the postage is reasonable. One of the Big Book of Herbs is listed at 2.56 from England (perhaps it was lbs, but that would still be under 7.00 ) I was a new book dealer for 30 years and this is my favorite source for used books, both rare and used. I also use the independent new and used book dealers for books for the same reason I support local nurseries. I value diversity and choice and a knowledgeable staff , over price and convenience and a big parking lot. My two cents. Patti.
I think Southern Herb Growing by Madalene Hill and Gwen Barclay is the definitive 'bible' of herbs in the south. Although I own others, its the only book I ever even open when it comes to herbs.
Dill blooming in Houston.
Thank you very much Patti.
DMJ, what a lovely photo. I will ordering it from amazone.thank you
I got two books from borders today. The AHS Encyclopedia of Herbs and a very interesting book called Herbs in Bloom. It talks about using herbs to decorate the garden as perennials.
Going to order the ones above.
Who did the Herbs in Bloom? Sounds interesting.
Hi pod, it is written by Jo Ann Gardner.
Herbs in Bloom - "a guide to growing herbs as ornamental plants"
Will have to shop for it, thanks!