Ahhh! Pesto!

[Creemteez]

Got to be my absolute favourite thing I do with something I grow. I grow masses of Basil and make loads of Pesto and freeze it in portion sized amounts so that I can remind myself of summer during the long winter nights in the time it takes to boil a pan of pasta quills.
IT's my "MUST GROW" herb. - Couldn't do without it.
What's your "MUST GROW" item in the garden?

[Bren In Pots]

Think its got to be spinach, its really versatile I can use the leaves in a salad, steamed on their own or cooked with pasta/ricotta cheese or added to a potato curry then its nice also in soup.

My herb would be parsley

[Germinater]

Well I must say I do like my basil to but must say my coriander is my fav in currrys and soup and salads to taste

[VirginVegGrower]

Basil or mint, but then I like all herbs really. Dill too - had it with fish tonight!! Bought Rosemary seed today.

[Florence Fennel]

Coriander here and not even for me (although I do benefit when my daughter makes carrot & coriander soup). There are loads of things I must grow. I suppose my favourite is cauliflower. We still can't get over the difference in taste to shop bought.

[chris]

Hard one, as I'm only in the 3rd year of growing.. I grew Crown Prince last year - the taste was amazing. When people said squash taste nutty - I thought they were mad.. only ever had shop bought ones.

They keep so well - will be growing them indefinately now. Trying similar ones this year too, Jarahdale (or something), and some other similar one..

But yes, the taste of them - nutty, fresh - despite eating it at Christmas (half of it) - the other half kept in the fridge until almost Feb - tasted great then too.

[Kiwi_Soph]

I am new to growing everything but herbs so am yet to decide on a must-grow plant.

As for herbs, For the summer I have to have mint, parsley and chives in my garden. Eat them all nearly daily. I am also loving having my own lettuce - was buying 2-4 bags a week from the supermarket and now I haven't bought it in a month! Wallet is happy and so am I.

My cold-month cooking herbs are usually sage, rosemary and thyme. My girls are looking bountiful so hopefully they will survive up to at least the first couple of roast dinners!

[ginger ninger]

I'm with Kiwi Soph on this one... got to be my herbs...Mint in particular. Love the stuff.

[northepaul]

Pesto is sublimely good when made with watercress!!

[mothhawk]

...I grow masses of Basil and make loads of Pesto and freeze it in portion sized amounts so that I can remind myself of summer during the long winter nights in the time it takes to boil a pan of pasta quills.
IT's my "MUST GROW" herb. - Couldn't do without it.
What's your "MUST GROW" item in the garden?

I love basil (and pesto). Can I grow basil in the garden in the summer? I thought it was tender and needed greenhouse protection (or indoors).

My must grow veg is runner beans as they always produce enough to last right through the winter - means I don't have roon for much else in my small freezer though!

[mothhawk]

Pesto is sublimely good when made with watercress!!

That sounds really good. Do you just substitute, or is the recipe different from basil pesto? Would love the recipe if so.

[Creemteez]

It is possible to grow basil in the garden, though it often doesn't do as well as it would under cover. If you have a warm, sunny corner that is sheltered from the wind, try putting a potful there and keep it well watered. I also feed mine with a weak solution of tomato feed which seems to give them a boost.
As to Pesto with watercress, I believe it is a case of substituting the basil for the watercress. You can also mix and match some of each. Another variation on a theme of "Salsa Verde" uses parsley and capers which is nice with fish, or similar with mint which goes fabulously with lamb. Hugh Fearnley-Do-dah has recipes for both.
Basically ANY leafy herb can be choppped up and transformed into something fab. Don'cha just love it?

[mothhawk]

Ah well, my sunny corner is chocka at the moment - I'll have to plan the basil in for next year then. Deffo going to buy some watercress and try that as pesto though.

[taff]

must grow herb, sage, which is nice because it's so easy peasy, stick a small plant in, watch it turn into a monster in a year or two
must grow veg, tomatoes, every time
must grow other herb that's only once a year...flat leaf parsley, yum yum!