Storing Herbs
Herbs are best picked in the morning before full sun for best flavour. Soft leaved herbs such as Parsley and Basil are best chopped and frozen in ice cube trays with a teaspoon of herb per cube. Woody herbs such as Rosemary and Thyme are best air dried by tying them into small bunches and hanging them in a warm dry place until crisp. For herbs where their seed is required place the seed head into a brown paper bag when the seeds are almost ready to be picked, place the bag in a warm dry place until the seeds have dropped. Other alternative ideas for herbs are to make herb oils or vinegars by preserving sprigs of herbs in your chosen bottles of cooking oil or vinegar for at least 4 weeks prior to using.
Written by Day Lily on 2007/02/11 | Permalink to this article
Perennial herbs
Herbs described as perennial will generally come up every year although some may be tender in this country resulting in a limited life dependant on its climatic conditions.
Bay (Laurus mobilis)
Bergamot (Monarda didyma)
Chives (Allium Schoenoprasum)
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Horesradish (Armoracia rusticana)
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
Mint (Mentha Spicata)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
The above list are the most common grown of perennial herbs and have many ornamental uses as well as culinary. Bay trees and Rosemary’s can be clipped and used formally in the garden or used to mark the corners or centre of a formal herb garden.
Clipping these will result in regular supplies of fresh herbs for cooking or drying whilst benefiting the plant with their removal.
Written by Day Lily on 2007/02/11 | Permalink to this article
Maintaining Herbs
Herbs require little maintenance other than regular picking to keep tender new growth coming through. Herbs such as Mint, Horesradish and Lemon Balm are best grown in pots unless you are happy to let them take over your garden. Do remember these are things that you intend to eat so avoid using pesticides near where they are growing and only feed with an organic feed and avoid planting them near roads where pollution can stick to the leaves.
Written by Day Lily on 2007/02/11 | Permalink to this article
