tmilesgantt's Blog

New Book
May 17, 2009 | 6:50 AM PST
Tags: leaf shapes , herbs , cilantro

I'm in Alpharetta, Georgia visiting with my daughter, and last night I ran across an Encyclopedia of Herb Gardening while we were in Barnes and Noble.  I snapped it up for less than $10, and I am dedicated to reading and understanding much of it.  Of course, when I saw the photos of the herb gardens in the book, I had to chuckle at my little garden that seemed so impressive before.  Ha ha.  But it is impressive and pleasing to me, anyway. 

My husband is caring for my garden in my absence (fingers crossed -- he knows how important it is, and I believe he will do it --- but let's hope it rains anyway. ha ha ha)

A couple of things I've learned already .... there are more herbs that I thought, and more things than I thought are considered herbs (if that makes sense).  Secondly, according to this book, "leaf edges are a good clue to help you identify unknown herbs.  By incorporating herbs with different leaf shapes into your garden, you will give it added visual interest."  I really didn't think about the leaves at all when I planted my stuff, other than to admire how pretty the herbs were in their own different ways, but I will go back and pay attention to that when I get home.  I have just learned that there are at least this many types of leaf shapes:

trifoliate, dissected, simple, toothed, entire, lobed, lanceolate, obovate, oblanceolate, linear, oblong, elliptical, and ovate (and combination toothed and lobed)

then there is the leaf arrangement to consider, which is "the way the leaves are placed on the stem":

odd pinnate, palmate, even pinnate, opposite, whorled, and alternate

I still can't tell from looking at the pictures which leaf shape cilantro fits into (sigh), but the book says it has "finely divided leaves."  I looked this one up because it is not doing well in my garden.  I planted two plants in two different areas, and neither is shaping up.  The book says "full sun for seed production but some shade for best leaves."  I have some shade in one area, less in the other.  Maybe I should check the soil pH.  I haven't done that at all yet.

Any tips on growing cilanto?