Herbs, in most cases, are tough wild plants which when spoilt by the lush conditions of a garden, will thrive and romp away. It's a myth that all herbs like full sun, even good old basil likes partial shade at midday. So when planting your garden, you can divide your plants into two sections, those like Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, French Tarragon and Oregano that like full sun and those that like partial shade, such as Rocket, Sorrel, Mizuna, Mustard, Parsley and Chervil.
When growing herbs in containers, use a soil based compost, such as John Innes potting compost, this is because there are very few herbs that grow in peat and a soil-based compost retains moisture which is a must to stop containers drying out. Water containers in the morning rather than evening - this gives the plants a chance if the temperatures are hot during the day, especially for containers grown in full sun. Feed container plants weekly from March to September using a proprietary feed. This keeps the plants healthy and helps them produce leaves, especially on 'cut and come again' salads.
Mace. A spreading aromatic perennial with grey-white leaves. Yellowish white loose flowerheads produced in summer. Height 60cm. Spread 60cm. Fresh green foliage and pretty white flowers. Good in pots or in a bed.
Chives. Aromatic-perennial with green leaves. Dense umbels of bell-shaped bright pink flowers. Grown for its edible hollow dark green leaves. Height 60cm. Spread 8cm. Flowers from May to July. Deciduous. Hardy.
Perennial bushy herb belonging to the daisy family, native to the Old World. It grows up to 1.5m/5ft tall and has narrow leaves and small green-white flower heads arranged in groups. Tarragon contains an aromatic oil as leaves are used to flavour salads, pickles and tartar sauce, anise flavour.
Sweet lemon scented with striking golden-yellow foliage and discrete flowers attractive to bees.
Green and yellow variegated foliage with a wonderful lemon fragrance. Ideal Conditions: Ideal for any conditions, but with free draining soil or compost. Possible Situation: Suitable for herb bowls, pots, baskets, herb gardens and rockeries.
Small leaved variety with leaves roughly half the size of sweet basil. Used chiefly for seasoning - flavour increases on cooking. Height 40 - 60 cm. Annual. Used as companion plant to grow alongside tomatoes to repel insects and aid growth.
Compact strain with tiny leaves and strong flavour. Height 25 - 30 cm. Annual.
Small, quite pretty plant with pinky mauve flowers and deep purple stems. Delicious scent and flavour. Superb in all types of oriental cooking.
Attractive, lemon scented plant with medium sized foliage and pink flowers. Adds a citrus flavour to salads, soups and fish dishes. Annual.
A good quality vigorous red Genovese type Basil. Excellent flavour, with good leaf shape and colour.
Large shiny green leaves used for making pesto, flavouring soups and fruit preserves. Height 35 - 40 cm. Annual.
Bushy plant with large bristly hairy leaves. Attractive to bees, very useful for beekeepers. Used for flavouring cordials. Sprinkle flowers over salads. Height 30 - 50 cm. Annual.
Burnt Jelly Plant Slender graceful stems tipped with orange and yellow flowers all summer. Slender succulent leaves have sap like Aloe vera, good for burns.
Burnt Jelly Plant Slender graceful stems tipped with orange and yellow flowers all summer. Slender succulent leaves have sap like Aloe vera, good for burns.
It is a fast growing, branched, succulent perennial with fleshy, linear green leaves in opposite rows and clasping the stems at the base. It forms spreading clumps with greyish stems often bearing adventitious roots. The small 6-petaled star shaped flowers are carried on an upright, spreading raceme during spring (or occasionally at other times). The petals are either yellow or sometimes orange, which combines attractively with the fluffy yellow stamens to give a bi-coloured look. The fruit is a small, rounded capsule and contains black seeds which are dispersed by wind. When cutting or breaking a leaf a viscous jelly leaks which is said to have a certain healing effect on wounds, skin infections, eczemas, burning and herpes. This is why it is also often called 'Burn Jelly Plant'. Due to its anti-bacterial agents it is the 'first-aid' plant for children and adults with minor scratches. You can either crop a leaf from the plant and spread the leaking jelly on to the skin or take a longer leaf, part it crosswise, cut the edges and lay it on the wound tying it with a bandage.
Leaves have a parsley-dill flavour and can used in soups and salads. Seeds flavour cakes, breads, cheeses, sweets and sauces. Roots can be cooked and served as a vegetable. Height 30 - 60cm. Biennial.
Perennial herb also known as Catmint. Greyish plant with whitish purple flowers. Height 50 - 80 cm. Leaves have mint-like smell and are used fresh or dry in tea and cat toys.
An excellent carpet-forming evergreen perennial also known as Chamomile 'Lawn'. Plant in the border or in stone free soil within rock gardens. Often planted near paths to release aroma when you brush past.
Fine cut dark green leaves can be used a a superior (finer flavour) substitute for parsley. Used for flavouring soups, salads, omelettes and sauces. Height 20 - 40cm. Annual.
Vivid green leaves and stalks with a distinctive celery flavour and aroma. Fast to mature. Use raw in salads or lightly cooked in stir frys and other chinese style meals.
Pleasant mild garlic flavoured foliage used for flavouring salads, soups, eggs and omelettes. Leaves are broader than normal chives. The small white flowers are also edible. Perennial.
Onion flavoured foliage used for flavouring salads, soups, eggs and omelettes. Height 25 - 35 cm. Perennial.
Onion flavoured foliage used for flavouring salads, soups, eggs and omelettes. Height 25 - 35 cm. Perennial. Fast growing variety.
Long established popular herb. Leaves used to flavour soups, salads, curries and Middle Eastern dishes. Height 30 - 50 cm. Annual.
Culinary - leaves used to flavour salads, curries and Middle Eastern dishes. Aromatic - prized in perfumery. Medicinal - aids digestive problems and painful joins.
A compact upright and stable variety of Dill. Very leafy with attractive dark green colour. Especially robust against bolting. Used for flavouring fish and chicken dishes. Height 30 - 45 cm. Annual.
Erect growing plant with dark bronze-purple foliage. Fern-like leaves of aniseed flavour used for flavouring oily fish. Attractive plant for herbaceous borders.
Erect growing plant with dark bronze-purple foliage. Fern-like leaves of aniseed flavour used for flavouring oily fish. Attractive plant for herbaceous borders.
Erect growing plant with dark green foliage. Fern-like leaves of aniseed flavour used for flavouring oily fish such as mackerel or herring. Bulbs used raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable. Perennial.
A vigorous, mat-forming perennial with erect stems bearing whorls of lance-shaped, bright green leaves and clusters of small, star-shaped, white flower from late spring into summer. It is harvested at early flowering and quickly dried in the shade. It has a strong calming effect and helps in intestinal pain from flatulence, cramps and kidney stones. Most, however, used to treat insomnia, overwork and palpitations. When fresh it can be added in small amounts to fresh food and beverages.
A bushy evergreen subshrub with woolly stems and narrow silver-grey to yellowish green leaves. Dark yellow flowerheads from summer to autumn. Height 60cm. Spread 1m. Flowers from June to September. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Protect from winter wet.
A bushy evergreen subshrub with woolly stems and narrow silver-grey to yellowish green leaves. Dark yellow flowerheads from summer to autumn. Height 20 - 30cm. Flowers from June to September. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Protect from winter wet.
The silvery foliage and yellow flowers make this intensely aromatic plant a real head turner. Prefers full sun with free-draining soil or compost.
Aromatic bushy plant with small leaves and blue flowers. Ht 55cm Good for encouraging bees in the garden and vegetable plot.
East Indian strain. Grow as a tender perennial. Height 20 - 30 cm. Used for flavouring and scents.
Lovage. Yellow flowers with dark leaves. Perennial. Used for flavouring soups, casseroles and root vegetables.
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