Vietnamese coriander

[katynewbie]

 ???

I have one, but have never seen it used or grown. Anyone got any info?

[katynewbie]

[jennym]

Haven't grown it myself, but am fairly sure that someone I went to college with did and they put it by the side of their pond, so maybe it's a bog plant?

[Truffle]

We grow it!

It’s incredibly easy to grow, a perennial but not frost hardy. Ours over winters in the glasshouse. It has a very strong coriander taste but is a bit ‘drying’ in the mouth. Personally I prefer annual coriander, but Vietnamese is so easy to grow that it’s definitely worth having it on standby.

We wouldn’t be without it :D

[okra]

might try and get some seeds - sounds good

[Mouseski]

Periscaria odorata Sometimes called asian mint. We have used it in cooking when the standard coriander isn't available. The flavour is definitely stronger. And it lives in the greenhouse over winter. Fairly tough plant except for the frost hardiness, ours has been going in the same pot for about 5 years.

Be careful - although an aid to digestion, in large quantities it also suppresses sexual appetite ! Apparently  ;) (according to the RHS Herb book) :)

[katynewbie]

 :o

Blimey! Thanks for the info, will watch for that!

;)

[GrowingChillis]

I have never grown it myself, but I met a guy this weekend who grows chillies and some herbs. He showed me some of this Vietnamese coriander, and said it was particularly hard to grow, with seeds only having a 10% germination rate, and several years for plants to mature. I am pretty sure I have got the right thing. He also said it is one on the main flavourings in a lot of Thai food.
I am yet to try it, so I might try and pick up a plant off him next time I see him.

[Multiveg]

Haven't had any luck with Vietnamese coriander-  2 plants have died. Might try again - 3rd time lucky?

[Biscombe]

I just bought a plant from a herb company in Scotland which is perking up a bit after it's long journey! Its delicious, coriander taste but VERY spicy!! Does anyone know if i can take cuttings?

[kelv]

I picked up a plant from Jakkas Herbs (tho', they take ages to deliver and their postage is very expensive), i use it a lot in Thai cooking (soups, etc.) which works really well. I think it's an attractive plant as well. Go out and get some!

[Truffle]

Cuttings are really simple…. Just snip off a stem and stand it in a jar of water, roots in 5 days (temperature dependant).

Enjoy,,

Truffle

[Biscombe]

Cuttings are really simple…. Just snip off a stem and stand it in a jar of water, roots in 5 days (temperature dependant).

Bril!!! sounds easy enough, even for me!!

[GrowingChillis]

The guy I met was saying some people graft it onto a more vigorous root stock so that they get a better crop. I am not sure if you this is easy to do, as I have no experience of grafting.

[Truffle]

Ours, we just take a cutting and when rooted pop it in soil. Once it's going, it's very hard to stop growing... I would say it's already extremely vigorous.
GrowingChillis: Maybe your friend has a rarer and slower-growing variety?

Truffle

[GrowingChillis]

hhmm yeah, I will have to check it with him.

I think I remember him saying it was hard to get roots to grow on the cuttings, but once they had taken they were fine. I am pretty sure he did say that they are slow growing in general taking several years to mature.

[Truffle]

I think we’re definitely talking about different varieties/species! Ours looks just like the pics here: http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Poly_odo.html but I’m willing to bet there’s loads of varieties. Would be great to see a picture, it could be something really unique/interesting  :)

Truffle