Jekka McVicar was crowned the "queen of herbs" by Jamie Oliver and is one of Rick Stein's food heroes. Her Herb Book has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide in 12 languages. Now McVicar returns with a comprehensive book with specific growing information on over 500 varieties of plants. The book encourages organic practices and caters to both first-time and experienced growers by combining basic information and trouble-shooting with more specific advice on cultivating particular species.Beginning with an overview of the nature of seeds, including how they are pollinated and fertilised, McVicar draws on her extensive experience of farming herbs, describing when and how to harvest, sort and store each seed.With the foundation laid, the main scope of the book begins: how does one grow specific plants from seeds? With practical growing instructions and planting recipes, the book covers over 500 genera, with many more varieties and cultivars, in practical and extensive detail. The range is enormous: alpines, annuals, aquatic plants, trees, herbs and cacti are just a few of the many categories of plants discussed, with helpful cross-referencing and photography to spur the reader into action.