Herbs.....

[stevefarr440]

hi!

was thinking about starting a small herb patch! are there any herbs that are guarenteed winners out in the great british weather or any to avoid?

i was thinking of...

rosemary
basil
parsley
corriander
mint
lemon grass

any advise would be amazing! thanks a million in advance!

[stevefarr440]

[manicscousers]

lets see, we grow all of them and do well, most years
rosemary likes poor soil,
basil, slugs like it and it's frost tender
parsley, the same, I grow it inside the poly with the basil and coriander, mint likes it's own pot or it goes mad,
lemon grass I grow inside, don't think it would like it outside
thyme and sage can be grown with the rosemary, I also grow lemon balm in it's own pot, it's a bit like mint, a thug, just in case you're tempted  ;D

[markfield rover]

Thyme and oregano  hardy and tasty oh and lavender for the more fragant dishes(and drawers)

[stevefarr440]

oooh sounds good! its going to be nice not tro depend on tesco! and their "i'll live for three days if your lucky" herb pots!  ;D

[ceres]

You can grow all of these.  Rosemary is a weed, don't let it take over!  Basil is tender, it will be fine outside in the summer but won't survive the winter.  Take cuttings before it gets cold and grow them on indoors in a pot for the winter.  Parsley is 50/50.  My patch came through the winter, was still able to pick stems and it's back in full growth now.  But I'm in a mild area.  Coriander is tender, won't survive the winter but you can let it self-seed for next year.  Mint is another weed that will take over.  Sink a pot in the ground to contain the roots.  Lemon grass is best in a pot so that you can bring it in for the winter.

Sage, fennel, lavender, chives all do well.

[froglets]

Coriander does well as an annual - you'll have it appearing year on year if it's in a sheltered spot.  I have it appearing in pots & tubs & places I have no idea how it got to now, but it smells great & weeds out easily.  Give it a go too.


oops, just read through your post properly & it's on there already.    :)

[stevefarr440]

Corrianders the most important one! its conna be salsa a go go this year! all with fresh lottie ingreadience! (apart from the lime juice hehe)

any other exotic herbs i should try! i'm getting quite excited about it all  :o

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

with coriander, keep doing repeat sowings during the summer, as it tends to go to seed, and of course, you use a lot

lemon verbena is a lovely little shrub though we don't use the leaves. Tender, but will overwinter.

with basil, mint, thyme, sage you can get all different flavours, colours etc

[posie]

I've got spearmint, peppermint, ginger mint, pineapple mint and orange mint started off at the moment, but all in pots, I made the mistake of putting it in the ground in the garden last year and it had a little riot all of its own!  The ginger mint is my favourite though.

[stevefarr440]

GINGER MINT?!?! i feel some cocktals coming on.... Ginger Mint Mojito anyone???

[shaunster]

get a lime tree stevefarr440  ;)

[Georgie]

any other exotic herbs i should try! i'm getting quite excited about it all  :o

In addition to those already mentioned I grow Fennel (you can get green or bronze), Anise Hyssop, Chenopodium giganteum (also know as Tree Spinach with the most gorgeous purple young leaves) and Allium tuberosum (known as Garlic/Chinese Chives) to name but a few.  I warn you, once you start growing herbs it becomes an addiction!   ;D

G x

[calendula]

winter savoury, fenugreek, ajwain, chervil, dill (if not already mentioned)

I think your original post said "small' herb patch  ;D

[stevefarr440]

I can see myself having to extend the spot i've planned by a foot or two! everything mentioned sounds great! :0) cant wait to get experimenting!

[Barnowl]

Coriander comes in two different types some mainly intended for leaf and some for seed.  I used Coriander Cilantro (from Nicky's Nursey) for leaf last year. Sown in August it produced plenty of leaf and it over wintered well in a container outside the back door. Started flowering about three weeks ago, so will have to  re-sow. but I'm very pleased with it.

[markfield rover]

Have you tried 'Alberto's Quillquina'?
I am doing so for the first time,as it is good in salsa and fried beans. So I am told!

[greyhound]

Mint is another weed that will take over.  

That's what everybody says, but it never does for me.  I am fed up with planting it only for it to disappear by the next year.

[valmarg]

Another is french tarragon.  I bought a pack several years ago from the reduced counter at Sainsburys, used the tips as cuttings and have kept it (in pots and indoors in Winter) for several years.

valmarg

[manicscousers]

savoury, summer and normal, great with beans, sweet cicely, good with rhubarb.. ;D

[pippy]

You really can't beat the classics - Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.  I've set them all over the last couple of years and I'm just adding a few more unusual ones - lemon balm and bergamot.

I'm doing bergamot as its the main thing that flavours Lady Grey tea and I love the stuff!!  Yum!

Dill is the other one no-one has mentioned yet - lovely with fish and in omlettes.