Book review: ‘Complete Container Herb Gardening’ to use in cooking or natural beauty or cleaning products

“Complete Container Herb Gardening: Design and Grow Beautiful, Bountiful Herb-Filled Pots” by Sue Goetz ($26.99, Cool Springs Press): Readers will like this user-friendly, practical guide to creating a successful, small kitchen garden. The first area of focus is choosing the right pot, preparing it and caring for its contents over time.

As with all gardening, finding the appropriate location is critical. The author, a certified horticulturist, blogger and owner of the Creative Gardener landscape design company in Gig Harbor, Washington, does a stellar job describing all of the possibilities of placement. She offers tips on the best site, from a windowsill or porch to a corner of the yard.

Design is also prominently featured in the 192-page paperback. Impressive photographs of lush, healthy herb thriving in containers highlight the text.

In this clearly-written, how-to guide, herb container projects are described with helpful details. The projects are divided into sections relating to the herbs’ purpose: eating, drinking, healing, inviting pollinators or just looking pretty.

Yes, there are recipes to make something you savor from homegrown herbs and spices, like turmeric, saffron, and ginger, as well as natural beauty and cleaning products.

Goetz’s guide includes information on planting, maintaining and propagating flavorful, aromatic herbaceous plants. There is also a great list of resources to support the gardener’s efforts.

— Sally Peterson