Herbs.....

[valmarg]

/quote]
I think you'll find that the bergamot that flavours Earl Grey tea is a member of the citrus family, ie oil of bergamot.

The herb bergamot aka monarda has nothing to do with the flavour that is used for Earl Grey tea.

valmarg

[valmarg]

[PurpleHeather]

The list is endless.

However, growing herbs for the table means that perennials like sage thyme rosemary and lavender get very woody after a year or two and need to be replaced with freshly sown seed or cuttings.

Softer herbs like coriander, parsley, basil are best grown fresh each year too.

Chives and mint seem to go on coming up for years without any problem.

I prefer to grow each herb in a large container rather than have a herb bed. It saves weeding and means that the herbs can be moved about, even brought indoors to extend their life.

Pick one or two leaves from each herb to add to a green salad. You may find the flavour strong when you try tasting just the herb on it's own but a mix, chopped and sprinkled on to lettuce and the like means that there is no need for salad dressings, the herbs provide the flavour. Young tender herbs are essential.

In June, cut back your herbs down hard to prevent them getting leggy and flowering then going to seed. A fresh lot will grow in no time.

Buy a pack of seeds from the grocer (those intended for cooking like coriander and fennel, these seeds are a lot cheaper than a packet from a garden centre and do grow into decent greenery for table use.

If you have coriander seeds left, they are lovely crushed in a mortice and pestle (put through a pepper mill or crushed in a coffee grinder if you need to) sprinkled over carrots.

[stevefarr440]

wow! cheers for the masterclass!

think i like the idea of growing herbs in seperate pots instread of a bed! think i'll get cracking at the weekend :0)

[manicscousers]

some of mine  ;D

[Georgie]

I grow many of mine for the flowers which attract beneficial insects.  I can't remember if I've posted this before but here's a short slide show of some of them (mostly in pots).  Click on the picture to start.  G x

[pippy]

I think you'll find that the bergamot that flavours Earl Grey tea is a member of the citrus family, ie oil of bergamot.

The herb bergamot aka monarda has nothing to do with the flavour that is used for Earl Grey tea. - Valmarg


Gosh - yes you are right valmarg, but my research says you can use monarda for tea and to flavour meat.  The one I have is Monarda Fistulosa - Wild bergamot which is supposed to have strong scented flowers too.  It's a bit of an experiment so I'll let you know how I get on.

I love Earl Grey - the decaffeinated too as the bergamot seems to work just as well as caffeine!!

[loopyloulou]

ive got golden margoriam too and mint, will be adding to my herb collection tho :) i love herbs :)