Herbs are easy. Not really. In truth herbs are a little complicated.
Fresh herbs have been popular among chefs and home cooking enthusiasts for years. For gardeners, small farmers and homesteaders, herbs can be a valuable crop. Fresh herbs are great in the kitchen for creating a fresher more lively taste in cooking and homegrown dried herbs can be kept intact in jars and then ground or crumbled for a bright fresh taste that grocery store spice rack products are lacking (full disclosure: I have more grocery store bottle herbs and spices than I can keep track of and I couldn't do without them). Herbs can also make a good source of income, supplying restaurants and selling at the farmers' market. Then there is the sheer fun of having ones own supply of ready-to-pick herbs--and they can make very fragrant and beautiful specimen plants.
Growing herbs from seed is a mixed bag. Some have been very simple and easy to germinate and grow, some have been a bit more difficult and some have been nearly impossible.
Borage may be the easiest to grow from seed and germinated quickly when I planted it directly into the garden soil. The young tender leaves taste a lot like cucumber and can be used in salads, but the older leaves get too fuzzy.
Basil was fairly easy to start indoors from seed. Once transplanted in the garden the basil established quickly. I know from experience it will readily reseed itself. We had basil take hold in our lawn in town and every time we mowed we got a lovely pesto smell.
I love lemon grass chicken and I've had lemon grass as a garnish on pho. I'm just beginning to explore using it at home.When I was ordering herb seeds I noticed the lemon grass and clicked to add it to my shopping cart without even thinking. It was only later that I looked up how to grow the seeds. Different sources had slight variations on theme, but basically, lemon grass seeds should be sown on the surface of very moist soil, covered an eighth inch deep, wrapped in plastic and put in a warm, dark place for four to six weeks. That took the wind out of my sails and I decided I didn't need to grow lemon grass. While I was planting other herbs in the greenhouse, I noticed the package of barely visible long, thin seeds. I thought what the heck and pressed a pinch into some soil. A little less than a week later I had lemon grass coming up. It has been one of the easiest plants to grow.
Fennel was something I planted as an experiment. I found fennel a bit tough to start from seed and it isn't growing well in a pot. Fennel is an antagonist plant, meaning it isn't a good companion for anything. The delicate foliage is beautiful and the plant has a distinctive licorice flavor. I'm hoping my fennel develops a bulb soon.
Mint was tricky to start from seed, but once started it is doing well. Mint can be invasive, so I'm keeping it in a pot for now. It repels ticks and mosquitoes and makes a nice garnish and added flavor. I plan to do a future post about the three varieties I'm growing. Friends who grow mint are usually more than pleased to divide their plants and give some away.
Thyme can be grown as a companion with almost anything. I like to top chicken with a few sprigs when grilling or baking. I got mine from a friend who uses it as a ground cover in his flower beds. It's a perennial evergreen and I've grown it outdoors through the winter.
I hang basil upside down to dry. When it's completely dry I carefully remove the leaves and place them whole into a jar. Fresh basil leaves can also be put in freezer bags and frozen, quick and easy.
Marigolds may be the easiest of all to grow and I have had great success starting them in the greenhouse and planting them directly into the garden and flower beds. Marigolds planted among the crops in my garden are good for repelling bad bugs, plus, they attract pollinators and add bright, cheery color.
So far, I've gotten rosemary, marjoram and dill to germinate, but I haven't gotten them to take hold. Cilantro and parsley have done okay, but I want to see serious improvement. Other herbs such as hyssop, lavender and yarrow haven't even germinated for me. There is a learning curve to growing herbs, just like any other kind of gardening, and I plan to do more reading and keep trying, experimenting with different sprouting techniques.
Here's a bonus:
Fresh herbs have been popular among chefs and home cooking enthusiasts for years. For gardeners, small farmers and homesteaders, herbs can be a valuable crop. Fresh herbs are great in the kitchen for creating a fresher more lively taste in cooking and homegrown dried herbs can be kept intact in jars and then ground or crumbled for a bright fresh taste that grocery store spice rack products are lacking (full disclosure: I have more grocery store bottle herbs and spices than I can keep track of and I couldn't do without them). Herbs can also make a good source of income, supplying restaurants and selling at the farmers' market. Then there is the sheer fun of having ones own supply of ready-to-pick herbs--and they can make very fragrant and beautiful specimen plants.
I grow basil with my tomatoes in the garden as companion plants and borage to attract beneficial insects. I don't know how it works, but basil is said to improve the taste and quality of tomatoes.
The blue borage blossoms attract pollinators and beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps.
Borage may be the easiest to grow from seed and germinated quickly when I planted it directly into the garden soil. The young tender leaves taste a lot like cucumber and can be used in salads, but the older leaves get too fuzzy.
Basil was fairly easy to start indoors from seed. Once transplanted in the garden the basil established quickly. I know from experience it will readily reseed itself. We had basil take hold in our lawn in town and every time we mowed we got a lovely pesto smell.
I love lemon grass chicken and I've had lemon grass as a garnish on pho. I'm just beginning to explore using it at home.When I was ordering herb seeds I noticed the lemon grass and clicked to add it to my shopping cart without even thinking. It was only later that I looked up how to grow the seeds. Different sources had slight variations on theme, but basically, lemon grass seeds should be sown on the surface of very moist soil, covered an eighth inch deep, wrapped in plastic and put in a warm, dark place for four to six weeks. That took the wind out of my sails and I decided I didn't need to grow lemon grass. While I was planting other herbs in the greenhouse, I noticed the package of barely visible long, thin seeds. I thought what the heck and pressed a pinch into some soil. A little less than a week later I had lemon grass coming up. It has been one of the easiest plants to grow.
Lemon grass grows readily in a pot and also would make an interesting ornamental plant in landscaping.
Fennel was something I planted as an experiment. I found fennel a bit tough to start from seed and it isn't growing well in a pot. Fennel is an antagonist plant, meaning it isn't a good companion for anything. The delicate foliage is beautiful and the plant has a distinctive licorice flavor. I'm hoping my fennel develops a bulb soon.
Mint was tricky to start from seed, but once started it is doing well. Mint can be invasive, so I'm keeping it in a pot for now. It repels ticks and mosquitoes and makes a nice garnish and added flavor. I plan to do a future post about the three varieties I'm growing. Friends who grow mint are usually more than pleased to divide their plants and give some away.
Thyme can be grown as a companion with almost anything. I like to top chicken with a few sprigs when grilling or baking. I got mine from a friend who uses it as a ground cover in his flower beds. It's a perennial evergreen and I've grown it outdoors through the winter.
I hang basil upside down to dry. When it's completely dry I carefully remove the leaves and place them whole into a jar. Fresh basil leaves can also be put in freezer bags and frozen, quick and easy.
Marigolds may be the easiest of all to grow and I have had great success starting them in the greenhouse and planting them directly into the garden and flower beds. Marigolds planted among the crops in my garden are good for repelling bad bugs, plus, they attract pollinators and add bright, cheery color.
So far, I've gotten rosemary, marjoram and dill to germinate, but I haven't gotten them to take hold. Cilantro and parsley have done okay, but I want to see serious improvement. Other herbs such as hyssop, lavender and yarrow haven't even germinated for me. There is a learning curve to growing herbs, just like any other kind of gardening, and I plan to do more reading and keep trying, experimenting with different sprouting techniques.
Here's a bonus:
Stephen's Lemon Grass Rice Recipe
2 cups water
1 cup rice (I use white rice, but this should be great with brown rice)
1 stalk fresh lemon grass cut into 4 inch lengths
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Combine the water and rice in a 2 qt.sauce pan. Place the lemon grass on top of the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Continue cooking on low for about 20 minutes. When the rice is fluffy, remove and discard the lemon grass. Add the sesame oil to the rice and stir in thoroughly. Serve with stir fry or other dish. The flavor goes well with ginger.
Stephen
All photos are copyright 2017, Stephen P. Scott
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