Simple Herb garden

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Simple Herb garden
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Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 05 9:33 pm Post subject: Simple Herb garden

I was thinking of doing an article on simple garden herbs, just a bit of background and some tips on growing.

It's easy to assume that everyone is into cooking and knows all their common herbs, so for people starting out it might be useful and stimulate debate.

Something like this for each herb, but in a bit more detail.

Quote:

Bay (Laurus Noblis)

An evergreen shrub that can grow up to 10m in a UK climate, well suited to pot life it rarely needs repotting. Prefers a sunny area although protection from the wind is advisable. Requires very little attention unless you wish to prune for decorative purposes.

Bay is an essential ingredient in bouquet garnis, it adds a fragrant flavour to soups and sauces, and especially when left to infuse (it should always be removed before serving). Bay has a great affinity with fish, pop a crumpled leaf in a fish cavity before barbequing.

Bay leaves can be dried and stored, but tend to lose their flavour over time.

Bay is traditionally used in the laurels that Olympic medallist wear, legend has it that Apollo�s temple at Delphi was roofed with bay leaves.

Probably do something on

Basil, coriander, dill, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, chives, parsley and a few others

Any interest?

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 05 9:36 pm Post subject:
Definately. I have a few books on herb, but a more concise reference would be something I would like to see,. and I am sure others would find it useful.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 05 9:44 pm Post subject:
(Precis of the above ) ! That would be bloomin' handy mate. My ability to grow herbs is at best, described as retarded! Last edited by Lloyd on Fri Apr 29, 05 9:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 05 9:45 pm Post subject:
I shall get typing!!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun May 01, 05 7:35 am Post subject:
V good. I can provide photos of Rosemary, Marjoram, Oregano, Thai Basil, Vietnamese Coriander, Coriander, Garlic Chives, Welsh Onion, Bay, Lavender, Cardomom and several Thymes if you need.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Sun May 01, 05 8:45 am Post subject:
Looking forward to this one. I've been so busy with the veg this year that our herb garden has been somewhat overlooked. Maybe this will urge some of us to get cracking with this important kitchen plot. It would be handy to know which are the perennials so we can reserve permanent spaces for them.

JYC

Joined: 12 May 2005
Posts: 11
Location: Near Glasgow

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 12:00 pm Post subject:
Hello, Your herbs info would be great. I'm looking for extra resources all the time to give to primary schools and community groups. I've posted a link below to a healthy herbs pack from the Lanarkshire Greenspace team. https://www.greenspace.org.uk/data/greenspace/HealthyHerbs.pdf#search='healthy%20herbs%20lanarkshire%20greenspace'

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 2:20 pm Post subject:

I know herbs are supposed be tolerent of dry, infertile type conditions, but which of them are really tough? I've got two gaps I want to plant up with them - one that was a gravel strip, but has gradually silted up I think (parsley seems to do very well here already) and one that's under a corkscrew hazel, on the south-west facing side. They both get lots of sun, and the nominations are:

Another rosemary bush (can't have too much rosemary) an oregano plant (how big do they get?) a bay tree (difficult?) or some thyme (always dies on me, but I persevere)

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 7:09 pm Post subject:
Oregano is quite a small plant, maybe 8" high, very easy, sage is tough too

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 7:17 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

a bay tree (difficult?)

I have a couple of Bays planted in really poor spots, after 2-3 years they are still only about a foot high, but they do seem to be persevering

Blacksmith

Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 5025
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 7:27 pm Post subject:
Sounds great ! Grow a few on my patio. ( garden mint, spear mint, lemon verbina, cat mint{if you can see it from the cluster of cats} parsey, marjoram, fennel, sage, purple sage,) Could do with some info, save me buying new plants every year!) Dave. BTW Will ask my mate Winston, he tells me 'e grows some good 'erb !

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 8:11 pm Post subject:
Hehe..he probs won't be able to give a sensible reply, man / brother etc.!

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun May 15, 05 8:29 pm Post subject:
Thyme doesn't like being rained on, so might do well under the hazel.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon May 16, 05 8:18 am Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

a bay tree (difficult?)

We live at the 1000 foot mark, right on the ridge of the hill. The winds can be spectacular. We also get quite a bit of snow. I have a bay tree in my garden, planted by the previous owner. It is now about six feet tall and very bushy.
I think if you want a pompom on a stick in a fancy pot, then you have to mollycoddle them through the winter. But if you plant them in the ground and leave them to get on with it, as long as the soil is reasonably free-draining then they are fairly hardy.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon May 16, 05 9:22 am Post subject:
That settles it then - a bay tree in the gravel, and thyme in the hedge! Presume they are tough enough to stand the occasional sprinkle from the dogs?

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