Jekka McVicar is passionate about herbs and this passion permeates her authoritative and immensely practical book. Here she covers over 150 herbs - from the most common such as mint and basil to the more exotic, such as turmeric and lemon grass. For each herb she outlines various species, its history, cultivation, propagation and harvesting and then looks at cosmetic, medicinal and culinary uses, with over 250 recipes. Having grown herbs for over 30 years, Jekka knows the most common pitfalls to avoid. She offers plans for planting herb gardens, be it for aromatherapy or cooking, and guidance on propagation, harvesting, herbs in containers, pests and diseases as well as a yearly calendar. This definitive sourcebook is the herb gardener's essential companion.