Herb or ‘erb, however you pronounce it, herbs are very useful plants, and are found in most gardens and kitchens all over the world. Herbs have a variety of uses - food, flavouring, medicine, fragrances, cosmetics and I some cases for spiritual care. For most herbs, it’s leaf or flower, we use - either dried or fresh. Herbs can be grown in pots, containers, and gardens, indoors or out. When growing herbs together in one container, select varieties with similar habits, for example chives, mint, chervil and coriander like plenty of water, whereas rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano prefer well-drained soil. Clipping back and regular picking will help control the rampant habit or some herbs, and promote a continuous supply.

22 LISTINGS FOR HERBS

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aka Lemon verbena

Lemon Verbena. This open and rangy shrub will not win you over with its looks but will wow you with the delicious aromatic fragrance. Likes good drainage, sunlight and tolerant of light frost. Steep leaves in water to make a refreshing drink. Deciduous.

Give this plant a good tidy up every now and then with sharp secateurs - it will respond well. Small sprays of pale lavender flowers appear in summer but it is really the foliage that makes this shrub desirable.

 

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aka Basil

A highly ornamental form of Sweet Basil which adds colour to summer salads. Lush purple foliage with full of flavour and fragrance. Plant in a sunny well drained spot and protect from frost. Pinch back to a new growth point as you harvest the leaves to encourage re-growth. Annual.

 

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This Basil has a strong, spicy flavour that goes particularly well with tomatoes. The leaves may be small, but the flavour is big, so use sparingly! This Basil has a pretty, compact, umbrella-shaped form. Perfect for containers and to form a neat border along the edge of your herb garden.

 

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Mrs Burns' Lemon Basil is a legendary heirloom, nothing short of an idol among fine chefs and gardeners alike. With the strongest aroma and flavour of all the lemon basils, the scent is powerful, resinous, and oily, followed by spicy cinnamon, with a strong floral note. It has a concentrated lemon oil taste, with mild spice and mint.

 

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Spicy Globe Basil is a delightful garden plant because of its very round, compact shape and tiny, flavourful leaves, roughly half the size of sweet basil. The hearty flavour makes it a good candidate for spicier Thai and Italian dishes, in sparing amounts. Grows well in windowsill pots. Annual.

 

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aka Sweet Basil

Where would summer be without Basil to add fragrance and flavour to a multitude of dishes? Large shiny green leaves that taste great fresh - wonderful for Pesto. Leaves can be frozen for future use if you have an over-production. Loves the sun and good drainage. Protect from frost. Annual.

 

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Thai basil is sturdy and compact, has shiny green, slightly serrated, narrow leaves with a sweet, anise-like scent and hints of licorice, along with a slight spiciness lacking in sweet basil. Thai basil has a purple stem, and like other plants in the mint family, the stem is square. Perennial

 

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aka Lemon bee balm

The flowers are very pretty in white or pink with purple dots, growing in typical Bergamot fashion. Young leaves can be used in tea or for any gourmet dish, especially fish, where a strong lemon flavour would add interest. An attractive plant that will attract the attention of bees, as well as people, in any herb garden.

 

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Cat grass (catgrass) is a name used to describe a number of different types of grass which are popular with cats. It would appear that there are two main species of grass referred to as cat grass. Once the grass is an inch or two long, move to a spot easily accessible to your cat. It is also a good idea to have some growing outdoors in an enclosure if your cat has access to one.

 

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A useful and attractive perennial with grey/green foliage and pretty sprays of mauve flowers that appear from spring right through to autumn. Useful as an edging for flower beds. Loves a sunny position and a good haircut every now and then. Hardy, evergreen easy to grow if you can keep your cats off it long enough!

 

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aka Camomile

Chamomile is one of the most popular herbs in the Western world. Chamomile has been used as a medicine for thousands of years; used to calm frayed nerves, to treat stomach problems, to relieve muscle spasms, and to treat skin conditions and mild infections. Chamomile tea aids sleep. Annual.

 

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Traditional groundcover with bright green feathery foliage and erect stems of small, daisy-like flowers. Charmingly scented and magic to walk on. Chamomile Lawn thrive in full sun, but will tolerate dappled shade. Perennial.

 

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This variety of Chives is a vigorous grower with good disease resistance. Nice broad leaves that can be chopped up to add to summer salads etc. Will form a good clump in the vege patch or can be grown in a pot. Prefers the sun and good drainage. Perennial.

 

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aka Garlic Chives

Flat leaves with a mild garlic flavour make these versatile Chives a useful Herb for a variety of dishes. A good substitute for those who find bulb garlic too strong. Plant in a sunny well drained spot. Perennial.

 

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Comfrey should be termed as a 'super-plant' it can be used as a medicinal herb, tea, vegetable, animal feed and green manure. Tall and wide spreading, it reaches a height of 60 to 90cm. With large, coarse leaves and flowers which are blue or creamy white grow in spikes and bloom all summer. It is easy to grow. Perennial.

 

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Highly aromatic Herb that is popular for adding a pungent flavour to Chinese, Thai and Mexican cuisine. This variety is very slow to bolt ( hence the name) and can be grown in a pot or the garden. Likes the sun and fertile soil to do well. Annual.

 

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This hardy and very aromatic, evergreen perennial has upright growth habit, narrow, long silver leaves and yellow flower clusters. It grows up to 60cm (24") high and spreads to 60cm (24") wide.

The leaves of this great structured plant bear a distinct curry aroma, making it excellent for all kinds of cooking and seasoning.

 

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Pyrethrum is a great companion plant, used to keep many of the unwanted insects from your beloved plants. Pyrethrins are an aphid alarm pheromone which can be used to repel pest insects from nearby crops. Can be grown indoors. Perennial.

 

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This culinary herb is particularly popular for adding flavour to fish dishes and pickles. Both the foliage and seeds can be used. The foliage has a mild aniseed flavour. Grow in a sunny spot with nice humus rich soil. Annual.

 

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aka Fennel

A gourmet bulb Fennel with big white bulbs that are not too fibrous and have a delicious, mild, aniseed flavour. The bulb can be eaten raw or cooked and the foliage can be finely chopped and used as a garnish. Likes the sun and fertile, well drained soil. Perennial.

 

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aka Elephant Garlic

This is slow growing and forms a very large bulb. Individual corms have a mild sweet taste (especially when roasted) and are less intense than regular Garlic. Plant in June and harvest Dec. Plant no deeper than 2 cloves depth. Feed well balanced NPK fertiliser and water regularly.

Garlic loves a sunny, well drained spot in fertile soil. Once harvested, around Christmas time, leave to dry in a warm, sunny spot until the leaves wrinkle and turn brownish. Then take the leaves off and store your bulbs whole in a cool airy place until required. NB Elephant Garlic does not store for as long as regular Garlic but once you get the taste of it that shouldn't be a problem. This is a hard necked variety.

 

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aka Garlic

A culinary soft neck Garlic with a premium flavour. Forms large, firm, white skinned cloves. Companion plant as aphid deterrent. Plant in June, in a sunny, well drained spot ('pointy' end up); harvest December. Feed monthly with a general purpose fertiliser, water regularly. Reliable cropper, easy to grow.

Once you have dug your Garlic up around Christmas time (6 months after planting). Leave to dry in a warm dry spot until the leaves die down. Then break the leaves off and store whole in the pantry until you are ready to use. Home grown fresh Garlic has an exquisite sweet flavour that is hard to beat. Bon appetit.