national herb centre - worth a visit

[eospete]

i'm new to growing but keen on developing a herb garden in a small raised bed at home. i will be driving near the nation herb centre near banbury next week and wondered if it is worth calling in for a visit please. i would be looking to buy a new rosemary, a small bay and perhaps french tarragon, though it might be too early for this.
cheers.
p

[ginger ninger]

Rosemary & Bay are very hardy so you should be able to buy them now. French tarragon are easy to grow from seed eospete and much more rewarding than bought.

[eospete]

thanks for the reply. i have some russian tarragon seeds but haven't been able to find french which is supposed to have a better flavour or so i'm told. p

[Two_Sheds]

French tarragon are easy to grow from seed

The French is only available from cuttings isn't it? It's the Russian that is from seed

[FionaH]

You can't get french tarrogan seed, as TS said it is only available from cuttings, or buy a plant. Far superior to Russian which in my opinion tastes like grass

[zazen999]

I've looked at the website - as I do almost drive past there to one of my schools - and it does look a little - erm - dated?

[sbeneli]

I went there last year as it's not terribly far from where I live. It made for a nice little visit, and we did find lots of varieties of herbs that I had been having trouble finding elsewhere. We went during the summer, though, and so I have no idea how it is during February. They have a cafe, as well, and apparently there are some quite good walks around. If you're going past it, I'd say you may as well pop in.

[ginger ninger]

Apparently, French tarragon very rarely set seeds and when they do they can revert back to Russian Tarragon. I've found this link if it's any use to you?

Fresh Herbs French Tarragon Window Box - HealthySupplies.co.uk. Buy Online.

[eospete]

thanks for the replies i'll let you know how it goes. prob call in wednesday morning on the drive back north.
p

[eospete]

a damp miserable day when i visited but ...
there were plenty of mints and thymes outside for sale but little else. there were lots of sections ready and waiting for the right time of year.

i did find the bay, rosemary and french tarragon i wanted, however in the small side room off from the shop. i would call again in summer if i was wanting to stock a herb garden or kitchen but would not make a special effort to visit from a long way away.

too damp and miserable to wander the trails and still had 200 miles to drive home so i didn't stay for so long.

p

[eospete]

Returned this year in April. Wow so many herbs to choose from of so many varieties. Some I had never heard of. They did a great breakfast wrap!!! I bought more black peppermint, some bocking 14 comfrey and chevil. I wish I had bought more morrocan mint. Mine is growing so slowly this year. It might sound strange but I wish I knew how to force it to grow faster cos I just love this mint in tea and my 2 pot plants are only 3 inches high even now in May.

[Rabidbun]

Was going to recommend the food! Just up the road from me so I tend to pop in for unusual herbs now and then. Reminds me, I need to pick some more nice things to grow this year.

My mint is slow this year as well - think the repeated underwater weather is getting to it. ;(

[eospete]

My peppermint has only really started to take off this week. Morrocan mint is lagging behind. Parsely really moving now and I have almost too much tarragon.
I think I'll start taking photos to document progress this year. P