Herb ideas?

izzwizz_2

staceysteve wrote: »

I'm a bit of garden newbie but dreaming of having a herb garden.
I've set it up outside in pots and troughs.
I've tried corainder a few times now to no avail it either dies or shoots up into flowers so should I try inside now?
Other than that I have growing well: sage, thyme, chives, tarragon, rosemary, oregano and a scotch bonnet pepper.
I had mint but it took over the trough so thinking of maybe trying it in a pot in its own?
Any others that would do well outside?

Thanks for any help!

Fennel, parsley, lavender, applemint, sweet marjoram, lemon thyme... Agree about the coriander, you need to sow fresh seed every couple of weeks to keep a constant supply (and make sure it doesn't get too dry or it bolts very quickly). If you'd like to try some medicinal herbs, you might also like to grow chamomile and feverfew - both are pretty and easy to grow. Good luck with your herb garden, it's my favourite part of our garden

dixie_dean_2

Dill will work well.

m33r4

moutard wrote: »

hi there
can i ask you how you freeze youre herbs iv wanted to do this but always find they go soggy after i de-frost them i would be greatful for any tips you have
thanks

After harvesting my herbs, I wash them thoroughly. I then drain them thoroughly (a few hours or even a day for this). I then chop them or break them in small pieces and freeze it in freezer bags. I take quantities I want from the freezer bag straight into food - do not defrost herbs first as that is what makes them soggy.

I do this successfully with coriander, parsley, basil, chives, spring onions.

m33r4

My garden is prone to pests, slugs being the worse offenders. This year I have grown my herbs in a basket off the ground attached to the fence. This has proven successful. This is how it looks:

m33r4

Baskets cost 99p from Wilkinson.

kerleytops

m33r4 wrote: »

My garden is prone to pests, slugs being the worse offenders. This year I have grown my herbs in a basket off the ground attached to the fence. This has proven successful. This is how it looks:

What a great idea! Space saving too. Will try to remember this for next year.

westiea

Hi

also worth remembering when planting a mixed herb basket the conditions that these plants need to thrive.

The Mediterranean herbs e.g. Oregano,sage, rosemary, basil and thyme love a hot well-drained position.
Herbs from a cooler climate like parsley, chives, sorrel, and mint require a more slightly shady, moist and cooler area.

Both lemon balm and mint are all best grown on separate containers rather than with others. (bit of a beast!) Also do not grow more than one variety of mint in a pot or one will completely dominate the other.

If you are interested in a wider variety of herbs (either culinary or medicinal) take a look at Jekka Mcvicar's site. If she does not have it it's not worth growing!
If you are near or can get to Bristol next weekend, she has a (rare) open day , she has won many gold medals - really interesting day out. (be careful or you will get carried away and spend a fortune !!!)

m33r4

kerleytops wrote: »

What a great idea! Space saving too. Will try to remember this for next year.

You're most welcome:)

gillian62

I chop fresh herbs up and freeze in ice cube trays with water, and once frozen put into a sealed bag. So when I need to use herbs in a recipe I just take a frozen cube or two of the ones required.

wssla00

My herb garden contains the following: I start them all off in small pots and then just place them all together on the patio.

-Greek Basil
-Fennel
-Genovese Basil
- Red Basil
-Mint
-Sage
-Rosemary
-Catmint (for the cats)
-Marjoram
-Borrage (cucumber flowers great frozen in ice cubes for drinks)
-Loveage
-Lemon Catmint (for the cats)
-Lavender
-Chives
-ramsons wild garlic
-Welsh onions (really good perennial onions)
-Garlic chives
-Parcel (tastes like celery)
-Parsley
-Oregano
-Tarragon
-Winter Savory (for meat)
-Lemon balm (amazing in water with ice and bits of lime)
-Coriander
-Chamomile (for tea and for a rinse for my itchy skin)
-Bay

Er.... that's it so far but it's nice to have a huge variety. I keep the softer herbs in the greenhouse or indoors when it gets a bit cooler.

Remember some of them do overtake so mint will strangle other herbs if you let it. It's pretty massive. I just cut it for mint ice cream or tea and then it regrows like mad