growing herbs

[lynda66]

i've never been one for herbs in my food, except the occasional sprinkle of dried mixed ones ...... but i have a bit of spare ground on the edge of the patio, between that and the pond, with the shed at the side, about 6 foot square, and i don't really want to put veg in there, as it's in the pretty bit of the garden, the veg are at the bottom

anyway i'm waffling ...... i think i'd like to grow some herbs in it, what (other than basil ... i don't like it) can i basically plant out and leave, either evergreen or perennial preferably whatever, stuff i don't need to mess with .... do herbs over winter well? the space gets lots of sun, and is in a fairly sheltered spot ....... is it too late to grow from seed? as i haven't got loads of cash to spend on plants

any help would be gratefully recieved

Lynda xx

[Demeter]

Rosemary and sage are excellent for planting and leaving. Possibly thyme also, although I never have much success with keeping it going over the winter. For many of the perennial herbs you may be better buying a couple of plants or getting some cuttintgs from someone locally rather than trying to raise from seed, as it's probably not worth the effort. Another option is mint, but it may not be a good idea to plant it directly in the ground as it is pretty invasive, better in a pot or planter. Chives are good too - you get pretty flowers and can raise from seed. I'm trying garlic chives this year and I quite fancy having a go at wild garlic next year.

Other possibilities might include herbs that are annuals but self-seed e.g. borage (good in Pimms apparently, although this is a new one on me this year), or edible flowers like nasturtiums or calendula.

[Tam]

I have a number of Thyme plants dotted about the garden as they are gorgeous in early summer when they are covered in flowers. Eau de Cologne mint would be good for the situation you describe as you could enjoy the perfume as you pass - as Demeter suggests, any of the mints are better to be grown with their roots confined as they are certainly invasive. Oregano is another must, I would think, as it is one of these herbs I find myself picking and chewing as I pass. Demeter's remark about overwintering thyme surprises me as I've had my plants for a few years. They are all in raised parts of the garden as few herbs can be doing with their feet sitting in the water.

[lynda66]

oooooo goody, i like oregano, garlic oregano and lemon chicken .... yummy ..... chives sound good, .... if any of these have pink (spits) flowers, i'll be most upset lol, doesn't really matter if mint is invasive, as theres not really anywhere it can go to cause a problem, other than into the lawn ..... and if it tries that, i'll chop its head off ..... theres a new garden centre opened about 1/2 an hours walk away, so i may take a walk down when i get home, and see if they have any that are cheap ....... then all i have to do is work out what to do with them once i've grown them lol ...... i was never very adventurous with cooking ....... and i really never fancied the idea of eating flowers

thanks for your help

Lynda xx

[Frances]

One of my favorite herbs is lemon balm. It can be used in stuffings and to make home-made lemonade - yum yum. It starts of light green turns to yellow with pretty flowers and smells lovely when touched. I cut it back after flowering and it has over wintered for at least 5 years. Try looking in neighbours' gardens/allotments and asking for a self setter.

[zazen999]

Hi
I've got some chocolate mint cuttings that have just rooted nicely; plus I picked about 40 chive flowers yesterday [which means I have shedloads of chive seed] if you want any.

Plus I also have normal mint and lemon balm growing at the lottie.

All can be packaged up and sent over if you want to send my a jiffy bag.

[geoff]

haven't used herbs much!? try lamb roast with rosemary, plus new potatoes & spring veg... and a bottle of red wine!

Get a rosemary plant from a garden centre, they're not expensive, and it will grow into a bush about 3 to 4 feet high. It will survive a winter outdoors if the roots gan get deep enough to avoid frost .

Good luck!

[geoff]

just re- read your post rosemary is a nice looking plant, too, with lots of blue or white flowers depending on the variety ; it also gives off a pleasant aroma on summer evenings, especially if you give it a bit of a shake -- wait till it's well established though!

[lynda66]

can i do the lamb without the wine lol? ..... well i've just never bothered with herbs, if theres anything green stuck to his meat darling son would always go ... don't fancy that lol ..... so i never bothered, i did get adventurous with a chicken oxo cube once ..... but maybe i'll save that for another time

anyway, why are there no herbs with black flowers??

Lynda xx

[lynda66]

i was in home bargains today, and they were doing a grow your own herb kit for 99p, ie 3 little metal pots, and 3 lots of seeds, thyme, marjoram and parsley ...... so i planted a few seeds, and they are on my windowsill now the herb bed is all dug over, with half a bag of sand i found in the corner of the garden, and some compost, the soil is actually quite good considering it's had nothing done to it at all other than dug once about 3 years ago lol , anyway the soil is all nice, i think i might get some of that short bamboo fencing stuff to box it in, then it will fit in nicely with the tropical bit next to it

now all i have to do is start finding ways to use the herbs

can you grow curry powder?

[Demeter]

can you grow curry powder?

There is a "curry plant" but it just smells like curry, no good for making curry with lol.

For curry powder you would need coriander, cumin, turmeric, cardamom and whatever else mixed together, plus chilli for heat. At least some of these spices can be grown in the UK but mostly not outdoors on a low-maintenance herb bed! Shame, really... only coriander is easy and even that can be a pain in the backside for some!

(I'm having a go with cumin but in a month it hasn't even germinated, nothing, not one. I've banished it from sight in the hope that by ignoring it I will make it grow, but I' not holding my breath...)

[claireg82]

my friends herb garden was grown from the herb plants that you can buy in the supermarket, he just stuck them in and left them and they are going great.

you can also use rosemary sticks as kebab skewers really nice with some cubes of lamb, peppers mushrooms and onions.

[Rac]

i like fennel too, its a pretty leaf, you can use the leaf and the root with fish, very very nice with a nice white wine sauce:-) any white fish really, very quick meal

[ski_tzo]

Lynda dont know if your close to a B&Q but they are doing veg & Herb plants for £1.48

Most of the plants in the store near me look abit ill so will prob be reduced soon then i wont be able to help myself, ill have to buy them or ill feel guilty lol

[sharonr]

One of my favorite herbs is lemon balm. It can be used in stuffings and to make home-made lemonade - yum yum. It starts of light green turns to yellow with pretty flowers and smells lovely when touched. I cut it back after flowering and it has over wintered for at least 5 years. Try looking in neighbours' gardens/allotments and asking for a self setter.

How do you use it to make lemonade?