Where will your garden grow?
Select a container of your choice, any one will do. Growing your herb garden in a big pot is a good idea, because then you can bring it inside in the winter and you can move it around to get the most sun. A window box or individual pots for each herb are also ideal. The best site for your herb garden will be the sunniest and least windy spot in your garden or house.
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Herbal sun worshippers
Location is the key to a successful herb garden. Most herbs grow best in full sun, but partial shade will often do. Herbs need as much sun as possible in order to reach their full capacity for flavour and fragrance.
The rule of the green thumb is for the herbs to get a minimum of four to seven hours of direct sun per day. If this is not possible, your herbs will still grow, but they might be a bit scraggly and disease prone, so give them a little extra attention.
Herbs that prefer full sun include:
Basil
Chives
Dill
Oregano
Rosemary
Tarragon
Thyme
Herbs that prefer partial shade include:
Chervil
Lemon balm
Mint
Herbs for every occasion
Are you crazy about Italian food or do you prefer ze French? Here are some tried and tested herbal gardens to suit your taste:
A taste of Italy
Thyme
Sweet Basil
Oregano
Majoram
Italian parsley
A French connection
Sage
Chives
Tarragon
Chervil
Parsley
Going green
Celery
Rocket
Salad burnet
Garlic chives
Parsley
Heaven scent
Pineapple sage
Lemon thyme
Lemon balm
Rose scented geranium
Lavender
Here are some of the most common and loved herbs and how they like to be treated:
Basil Plant type: annual Soil: rich, moist, well-drained soil Location: sun or partial shade; can grow indoors Days to maturity: 85 Uses: use fresh or dried in pasta sauces, stews, soups. Use fresh basil in salads or liquidise them with pine nuts for pesto. Sprinkle fresh basil on pizzas
Handy tips: pinch the centres as plants grow to encourage bushiness
Coriander Plant type: annual Soil: sun or partial shade Location: tolerates poor soil Days to maturity: 90 Uses: the seeds and leaves can be used in curries, soups and stews or as a stuffing for chicken. Also used in cakes, cookies and breads. Handy tips: Coriander is known as dhanya in South Africa. You can pick young leaves at any time. If you want to dry them, place them on a wire rack in a warm, airy place and then store in an airtight jar
Lavender Plant type: perennial Soil: moist, well-drained soil Location: Sun or partial shade Days to maturity: 60 Uses: dried leaves and flowers can be used in potpourris, cosmetics or
in netting sachets to keep your linen smelling fresh Handy tips: before the last flowers have opened, cut stems and hang in
bunches upside down in a warm airy place. Once dry, remove the leaves and flowers
and store them in an airtight jar. Lavender flowers are very fragrant and the
herb can be used as an attractive landscape plant as well.
Oregano Plant type: perennial Soil: well-drained soil Location: sun, can grow indoors Days to maturity: 60 Uses: can be used in any Italian dish. Fresh or dried leaves
add flavour to soups, stews and pasta sauces. Sprinkle over pizzas, salads,
vegetables and meat or fish dishes Handy tips: pick fresh leaves whenever you need them or cut
stems just before the plant is in full flower. Dry them on a wire rack in a
airy place then pick off the leaves and keep them in an airtight container
Parsley Plant type: biennial, although usually grown as an annual Soil: rich, moist soil Location: sun or partial shade, can grow indoors Days to maturity: 75 Uses: fresh leaves can be used in soups, stews and sauces,
or as garnishing on almost any dish. Parsley is also a natural breath freshner. Handy tips: Soak seeds for 48 hours to speed up germination
Rosemary Plant type: tender perennial Soil: well-drained soil Location: sun or partial shade, can grow indoors Days to maturity: 85 Uses: best in meat (especially lamb) or fish dishes and sauces.
Also used in cosmetics Handy tips: don't worry if it doesn't grow straight away, germination
is often erratic
Sage Plant type: perennial Soil: rich, well-drained soil Location: tolerates poor, dry soil and grows well indoors Days to maturity: 75 Uses: fresh or dried in beef and fish dishes as well as stews.
Good for stuffing and is a common sausage flavouring Handy tips: well-drained soiled is a necessity
Thyme Plant type: perennial Soil: tolerates poor soil Location: sun or partial shade, grows well indoors Days to maturity: 70 Uses: fresh or dried in omlettes, bland soups and stews. Also
a great stuffing for chicken or a flavouring for salads and roast vegetables Handy tips: pinch back new growth to encourage bushiness
Other useful herbs to grow are aloe vera, comfrey, feverfew, lemon balm, marigold
and rosemary.
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