What's In Your Herb Bed?

[planetologist]

Noone has mentioned lovage yet. It's my second favourite herb after sage: low maintenance perennial and tasty.

[Scarlet]

Garlic Chives werent very vigorous and I wont bother with again as I dont see the point; chives only taste slightly different and the crow garlic (allium vineale) I am growing has the garlicy onion green shoot thing

Interesting. I always have a better crop off the garlic chives and if I bring theist in undercover over winter I have a constant supply. It's probably my number 1 herb.

[Scarlet]

Noone has mentioned lovage yet. It's my second favourite herb after sage: low maintenance perennial and tasty.

What do you use it for?

[Jay-ell]

I haven't sorted out the space for a herb bed yet but some of the plants I want to grow a

sweet cicely
winter savory
lovage
Penny royal (as a green path)
Roman chamomile (in the path also)
Herb fennel
Rosemary
Lavender
Clove Root
Ramsons
Sorrel
Lemon balm
Various mints
Marsh Mallow
Chives
Chinese Chives



The annuals tend to be sown wherever there's space

p.s. The Curry Plant gets it's name from the distinct aroma of curry it gives off. I'd say that it smells more like a Chinese curry rather than an Indian curry but that's subjective and your plant may vary.

Lovage has a distinct celery flavour and the leaves and stalks can be used wherever celery is call for. It is, however, about 5 foot tall but I understand that there is a relative called Scots Lovage which has the same qualities but is of a reduced height

[sparrow100]

My herbs are a bit sparse and something I want to beef up this year.

I've got rosemary, mint of various types and sage on the plot, wild garlic in pots at home (keep meaning to plant them in a shady area) and I use the leaves of my root parsley as a parsley substitute.

I need/want to have more coriander, huge swathes of dill, winter savory, russian tarragon, hyssop and much more basil.

[Ocelot]

I haven't sorted out the space for a herb bed yet but some of the plants I want to grow a

sweet cicely
winter savory
lovage
Penny royal (as a green path)
Roman chamomile (in the path also)
Herb fennel
Rosemary
Lavender
Clove Root
Ramsons
Sorrel
Lemon balm
Various mints
Marsh Mallow
Chives
Chinese Chives



The annuals tend to be sown wherever there's space

p.s. The Curry Plant gets it's name from the distinct aroma of curry it gives off. I'd say that it smells more like a Chinese curry rather than an Indian curry but that's subjective and your plant may vary.

Lovage has a distinct celery flavour and the leaves and stalks can be used wherever celery is call for. It is, however, about 5 foot tall but I understand that there is a relative called Scots Lovage which has the same qualities but is of a reduced height

I have all of those except Clove Root. To be honest I hadn't heard of it before, but now I want some!

[Jay-ell]

Clove root is also known as Wood Avens or Herb Bennett and the roots are supposed to taste of cloves. I like the idea of growing equivalents to exotic spices.

[Mark Lottie]

Interesting. I always have a better crop off the garlic chives and if I bring theist in undercover over winter I have a constant supply. It's probably my number 1 herb.

Interesting; could just be i got a duff packet or messed up the sowing. Will give it another go if I see packets on my next seed run


I've grown lovage this year but it didnt do so well. currently overwintering and will pot up with a load of compost to give it a better chance next year

Borage is also great for pollinators. Once it gets going it grows like the clappers too

[PyreneesPlot]

Thanks for reviving this thread - some lovely lists up there for me to trawl through.

Despite all my efforts loads of bindweed, bramble and creeping buttercup have reappeared, so it is probably a good thing that it hasn't been planted up. Masses of borage at the moment!

Here's a photo of the bed in September once the clearing had finished and Mr PP had built the plug ugly but very practical path.

[Scarlet]

Interesting; could just be i got a duff packet or messed up the sowing. Will give it another go if I see packets on my next seed run


I've grown lovage this year but it didnt do so well. currently overwintering and will pot up with a load of compost to give it a better chance next year

Borage is also great for pollinators. Once it gets going it grows like the clappers too

I tend to use big pots and sprinkle seeds liberally on the surface of the compost and lightly cover. Keep in the GH until germination and then they are moved out. I haven't got any growing area outside the kitchen door and as I like my herbs near me when I'm cooking most of my herbs are grown in large containers so I haven't tried direct sowing. Give them another go and let us know how you get on.

[Mark Lottie]

will do,

also, maybe the 2 pots i sowed will come back. Currently in the GH

[FlawlessVictory]

Really interested also in getting a few herbs on the go. I class myself as a bit of a foodie so I would like the option of spicing things up! Also like the occasional cocktail! Chocolate Mint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Cinnamon Basil & Thai Basil are things I really want to try... I've already got Thyme, Sage, Lemon Thyme, Oregano, Parlsey, Mint, Basil & Lavender... (The usual suspects). Need to get some coriander seeds for when its warm enough! I just can't justify spending anymore on seeds!

[Aliss]

Those are some long lists..I don't have many right now, just thyme, basil and salvia but I really liked some of the suggestions in here.

[Ocelot]

Clove root is also known as Wood Avens or Herb Bennett and the roots are supposed to taste of cloves. I like the idea of growing equivalents to exotic spices.

Thanks. I looked up Herb Bennett and the first thing Google came up with was a dentist in the US!

[veggiechicken]

^^^ Clove oil is used for toothache - so its all makes sense in a strange way