Growing Herbs and Vegetables: From Seed to Harvest

Sometimes reading like a botany class textbook, this volume is for gardeners who want to follow their plants from conception onward; it is also a great source for those wanting to start a nursery or catalogue seed business. Experts Terry and Mark Silber provide a wealth of information on how to propagate seeds and how to detect the difference between "responsible" catalogues and irresponsible ones, as well as illuminating sidebars about often baffling subjects such as soil pH and the importance of those hard-to-remember botanical names. The book is organized into general directions about germinating seeds--chapter subheadings include 'choosing the right container' and 'buying plants locally.' This general lesson is followed by focused directions for herbs and vegetables, and finally a specific guide to growing 39 vegetables and 48 herbs.

Not for the beginner or the halfway committed gardener, this is nevertheless illuminating reading for someone who wants to understand the garden's life cycle. And while I was taught by my grandmother that growing from seeds meant you were a "glutton for punishment," the Silbers don't seem like masochists at all--they just seem thoroughly immersed in the complexities of plant life. --Emily White