Do you grow herbs?

[Aberdeenplotter]

how quickly Balm Wine can send you to sleep.

just the mention of it <yawns>

[Feral007]

I voted culinary as I didn't have a several uses to choose from.

I grow oregano, basil, french tarragon, savoury, rosemary and moutain pepper to use in cooking. I like the smell of them (and I cook by smelling things and if it seems like a good idea throw it in )
I'm pleased to hear about the oregano for chooks. And the potted version.
Because I grow wormwood for them, but I want to put some down near their house, but figure it might last about 5 mins? So I'll pot some up and swap them around. I have mint which has gone feral in the lawn............but it cheers me up as that's the last part of the lawn that I usually mow, so when I smell mint I know the end is in sight! I usually try to plant basil around tomatoes, apparently if you plant 10 basil plants around your tomatoes you will have basil scented tomatoes...when my tomatoes do well enough I'll try that one out!
And marigolds as well. I chuck a few of them in, and quite a few other plants to mess with the insects heads...........if they can't find a row of plants that smell like onion, or cabbage or something....then they have to fly further to eat my food first. So random plantings with lots of different things and see what happens. Looks good, tastes good, and I enjoy it.

Oh and I'm a homeopath, and altho I don't make my own remedies I do love knowing that I'm growing a lot of plants that I also have in a cupboard in my office. It's amazing when you see how the plants grow and look at what they are used for, often things in common.

[LillyRoseGarden]

It seems, I am the only one who put for medicinal use. Of course, I use herbs I grow in cooking, but my main purpose is to recreate a herb area my grandma used to have for self-healing and occasional spells.

[chilli_grower]

I have to ask, what sort of spells did she cast?

[cardiffsteve]

I try and grow lots of herbs for culinary use.
Got to have rosemary for lamb; sage for sage and onion stuffing; tarragon for chicken and fish; bay for stews and bolognese. Parsley for parsley sauce; thyme in everything.
Lavender in biscuits.

This year might try stevia as a natural sweetener.

oops forgot chives; basil and mint.

Cant have a mint julep without mint.

[Gearoid]

Yes, I love my herbs. I got Jekka McVicar's book many years ago and have grown them in the garden ever since. I grow all the usual ones, plus the tender Mexican sages and Lemon Verbena.

[eirish]

Herbs were the first thing I got interested in growing, as a teenager, and I've grown them most places I've lived ever since. Many are easy to grow in pots even in small and less-than-ideal spaces, much easier than veg in my experience. They're lovely to have around, to cook with and to smell and just to enjoy. Can't imagine a garden without them.

Apart from all the usual suspects I'm quite fond of pineapple sage, which grows quickly into a big lush plant with vivid red flowers, and smells and tastes just like pineapple. Scented pelargoniums are good fun too, with their varied leaf shapes and textures and scents.

[Yorkshire.Dave]

I grow Mint for the Mojito and Cilantro for the curry

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Just the usual ones here too for cooking (mint/sage/basil/coriander/parsley). Have some more interesting things in the seed tins. I should sow more - otherwise I will require a seed chest and then a seed room.....

[Two_Sheds]

... like everyone else on here

[Nelly Undertree]

I ticked 'other' because I grow herbs for all the above reasons plus pet health, laundry and cleaning, candlemaking, tisanes, strewing and historical displays etc. My husband also uses them for flavouring wine and beer.

[Kitchen Gardener]

I have grown herbs for years, I love the large sage and rosemary plants in my borders and the variety of mints for cooking and teas and the conversation topic. Cheaper to grow herbs than buy when you only need a few leaves or sprigs.

[dogsbody]

When I had my drive re-done (concrete and brick) I specified to the builder to put 4 "planting pockets" down the centre (he thought i had gone totally gaga). The two closest to the kitchen door are used to grow creeping thyme and low growing rosemary so even in the pouring rain I don't get too wet grabbing some for the pot!

[MrsCordial]

I voted for culinary use too, as that is what they're used for 99% of the time. Mint and lemon balm go in drinks; sage, parsley, mint, coriander, chives & lemon balm go in salads; and the rest of the time I use parsley and sage as general flavourings. I've discovered recently that sage leaves are fantastic in a cauliflower cheese.

I'm particularly looking for lovage, sorrel and borage for next year, but I'm happy to grow almost any herb I think we'll use.

[jayjaybee]

Mine are for flavouring too, although some might be triffids and are planning to take over the world. Whatever you do, if you are a fastidious gardener, don't let dill or coriander go to seed. Upside is I always have young plants available for picking. Dill in cream cheese as a topping for fresh salmon.... loverly.