Book Review "Herb Gardening for the Midwest" by Debra Knapke

Another run to the library, another selection of books I've formed opinions about! Today's selection is "Herb Gardening for the Midwest" by Debra Knapke and Laura Peters.

I selected this book because it was compact and titled to indicate being specific to our region. I must say, I love the binding and cover, a water and tear resistant material. The paper is a high gloss, making the photos really stand out. The majority of the book is devoted to an alphabetical listing/description of individual herbs (with a little cross over from hard to define plants like Arugula). Each entry is fairly detailed, with each herb getting their own introduction, features, growing, tips, recommended varieties, harvest/processing, and uses. Some entries even include recipes for things like soap, oils, and lotions. The information is a concise overview for the herb.

I'm not rushing out to acquire my own copy, however. Once again, this is a good introduction book but isn't going to last long as a useful reference guide. There isn't enough information about specific growing conditions. The book is titled "...for the Midwest" but nothing in the book gives reason for that distinction. The only hint is found in the introduction which includes a zone hardiness map but the selection printed is now out of date (due to some very recent changes by the USDA) and, more importantly, doesn't include 5 states commonly accepted as "midwest." One of the missing happens to be Missouri.

The biggest reason for not recommending this book is the fact that unless you're willing to read through 200 pages of herb listings, there's no way to intelligently decide which herbs you want to focus on. The information in the book is readily available in many locations (including online).

Pros: Detailed, well organized entry for each herb listed in the book.

Cons: Not enough specific growing information, nothing specific to midwest

Bottom Line: If you know what herbs you cook with but no idea how to grow them, this book would be a good place to start - but borrow it if possible. If you can't borrow it, just check the 'net.

Would I buy this book for my library? No.