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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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Bushy perennial it has fragrant, ferny foliage and composite white flowers with yellow centers.Plant it in full sun, or light shade. Is widely used as a medicinal herb which is known to help reduce headaches and inflammation pain.

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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 Jun, harvest Dec. Plant no deeper than 2 cloves depth. Feed well balanced NPK fertiliser.

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 a sunny, well drained spot with the 'pointy' end up in Jun, harvest Dec. Feed monthly with a general purpose fertiliser, water regularly.

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.

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aka Orange Sweet Potato

Another tuber (edible root). Kumara is a marvellously versatile vegetable. Like potatoes, it can be cooked in many ways and has the added advantage of being packed with antioxidants and a lower GI. It has a pleasant, sweet taste and when mashed is delightfully smooth. Great for kids. Perennial

Hybrid Kumara

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aka Purple Sweet Potato

Another tuber (edible root). Kumara is a marvellously versatile vegetable. Like potatoes, it can be cooked in many ways and has the added advantage of being packed with antioxidants with a lower GI. It has a pleasant, sweet taste and when mashed is delightfully smooth. Great for kids. Perennial

Plant maturity is approximately 120 days and depends on sunshine hours. Heirloom Kumara

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Lemon balm loses much of its flavor when dried, so it is a seasonal delight to be enjoyed while the weather is mild and the plant is green. However, enough of the fragrance remains when this herb is dried to make it a delightful addition to potpourri.

Like many other herbs, lemon balm can lose its flavor in cooking, so add it near the end of the cooking process. The fresh lemon fragrance and flavor go nicely with both chicken and fish dishes, as well as fruit and fruit juice drinks. Create your own herbal tea by cutting a few stems of lemon balm (plus any other appealing herbs), putting them in a pitcher, pour boiling water over them, and allow them to steep for about 15 minutes. Enjoy your tea hot or over ice.

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aka Lemon grass

Tall, densely tufted, aromatic clumping stalks. Foliage is cut before fully mature. The tender white part of the stalk is used for adding to dishes, the remainder can be used for stocks, dried or a cuppa tea. Arching leaves of pale blue green colour to 90cm long. Semi-hardy perennial that goes dormant in winter.

Used in Asian cookery. Pour boiling water over sliced leaves and steep for 5 minutes for Lemongrass tea. Sweeten as desired. Can be dried for tea, potpourri or cooking.

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aka Citronella grass

Fragrant swaying grass that will add texture and movement as well as contrast among more compact plants. Used in cooking and for making tea. Ideal container plant or in a border or garden bed.

The oil is antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral. Also used as an antidepressant, to soothe aches and pains, to relieve stress. If drunk before bed will induce sleep. Effective for headaches and respiratory problems. Pour boiling water over sliced leaves and steep for 5 minutes for Lemongrass tea. Sweeten as desired. Can be dried for tea, potpourri or cooking.