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The Minute Mag’s Purpose: basil, coriander and some varieties of lavender. Keep in mind, growing herbs indoor, they don’t like the cooking fumes and fluctuating heat in a small kitchen and the hot, dry air directly above the heat vent. You can root rosemary, basil, and thyme in water. When the plants form an abundant root system, transplant them to soil. I plan on trying more herbs in this way. You can join a local herb society, or at least attend a meeting or two. Gardeners are renowned for their friendliness.
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hose herbs which perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but, being trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wild thyme and watermints. Therefore, you walk or tread. ~ Frances Bacon Cultivating a culinary herb garden is an excellent way to blend gourmet cooking and the art of gardening. You can produce savory dishes by using the freshest herbs, grown outside your own back door. Using and planting herbs from your own culinary herb garden can be easy as well as save you money at the grocery store, and it also tastes sooo much better. Make a list of what herbs you cook with and how often you eat dishes that contain them. Write down what herbs are in the recipes. Plant herbs you frequently use in your recipe list along with common kitchen herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro, and dill. If you choose not to cook with herbs simply enjoy them by making potpourri. The foliage and fragrance is also pleasing to brush against when walking along paths by the herb bed. One of my favorite tricks is to plant mint under the faucet. Simply stepping on it when you need water is absolutely fabulous.
The best location for placing an herb garden will be right outside your kitchen door. This way it won’t be too hard to get to when cooking. You will use the homegrown herbs more frequently when they are easy to access. Of course you have to harvest before winter, but during the summer they are much better fresh. Herbs need at least 10 hours of sunlight a day (full sun). Many will thrive in much less. If ground isn’t suitable, you can grow them in a bright window sill. Plant herbs in colorful pots on your porch. Be sure each variety of herb gets the correct light and water at the
intended location. Use containers that are at least 8 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches across for each plant. To group several like plants, with similar needs- in one container, simply allow 6 to 8 inches between plants. Buy small herb plants at a greenhouse or nursery for an early harvest. You can easily start herbs from seed. You can get also get an early start with a cold frame or even use a heat pad for plants. Herbs like the heat so August will be the perfect time to plant from seed. There will still time to harvest before frost. First, decide which herbs you want to grow. If planting in containers, fill with a quality, well draining, potting soil, mixed with coarse sand and mushroom compost. Ensure good drainage by setting the pots on a tray filled with gravel. Set new plants into their new quarters at the same depth they were growing in their nursery pots and water well. Follow directions on seed packs if planting from seed. Be careful not to overwater. A good soaking once or twice a week is sufficient. When plants are actively growing feed once a week, using seaweed extract or fish emulsion. Be sure your dogs don’t get into your pots if using fish emulsion. They seem to like the fishy smell or any other nasty smell if you get right down to it! If you can’t find the seaweed ask your local seed store to order it for you. They will be more than happy to accommodate you. It really makes a difference in your plants. Harvest herbs with care. Clip outer leaves or sprigs as you use them, but always leave plenty of vigorous growth on the plant. Last week I was picking my tomatoes, I have a basil planted at the bottom of one, a bee was buzzing the blooms unnoticed by me, up my shirt he went and stung me three or four times. I had to peel off my shirt to get the bee out. My husband just laughed at me when I came inside without a shirt. From now on I will be trimming the basil before it blooms. This will actually make a bushier growing plant and hopefully prevent the bees from stinging me again. Actually I was in his territory. By the way, we live secluded way out in the country. If it wasn’t for the bees we wouldn’t
have seed. You can save the seeds from basil for the next years planting. The many varieties of this herb have seeds that can germinate after 10 years. I keep my seeds in the freezer labeled in zipper bags with dates on them. Basil is an annual so you will have to plant it every year. The frost will kill it in our area. Basil is a member of the mint family, native to central and tropical Asia and Africa (some say it originated in India). It is an important ingredient in Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian cuisine. It is a must have on my pizza. Today it is cultivated commercially in California, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Italy, Madagascar, India, Mexico, and in my backyard! It has been grown in areas around the Mediterranean since antiquity, but Britain did not begin using basil until the 16th century. In addition to culinary uses, basil is also used in perfumes, soaps, shampoos and dental preparations, In Mexico it is supposed to keep a lover’s eye off others, and is considered a powerful protector in Haiti. During British colonial days in India, magistrates would have Hindu witnesses swear on this holy herb. It is recommended by Herbalists for the relief of dysentery, gas pains, nausea, and as a cure for worms and warts. The ancient Greeks and Romans thought basil would only grow if you screamed wild curses while sowing the seeds. Salome hid John the Baptist’s head in a pot of basil to cover up the odor of it’s decomposition. It is a strong and unforgettable scent if you have ever smelled it. If you ever use it fresh you will never go back to dried from the store again. It is that special to grow your own, so much better than store bought. Sort of like the rain water and well water, very different, like night & day. In general, bushy perennial herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and winter savory, perform better indoors than those with soft stems, such as mint and tarragon. Scented geraniums make wonderful, fragrant herbal roommates, as do lemon verbena,
Books you may be interested in reading: Cooking with Herbs: 100 Seasonal Recipes and Herbal Mixtures to Spice Up Any Meal by Tina James. Rodale Press, 1999. Garlic Lovers’ Cookbook by The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association 1980, Celestial Arts. Jeanne Rose’s Herbal Guide to Food by Jeanne Rose. North Atlantic Books, 1979. Cooking with Herbs from the Good Earth, Simple & Delicious Herb Recipes, by Toni McArthur. According to the LSU Planting vegetable calendar it is time to plant for August: snap & lima beans, beets, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage collards, mustard greens. Late August carrots, kohlrabi & lettuce. September plant beets, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, Swiss chard, & Irish potatoes. Late September plant radishes & parsley. This is a recipe I pulled from The Seedling a newsletter for the Master Gardeners, submitted by Billy Tillman. Herbal Cheese 1 box of cream cheese (8 oz.) 1 cup margarine or butter Fresh or dried herbs of our choice* (2 tsp. fresh herbs equals 1 tsp. dried herbs) Minced garlic (optional) With the cream cheese & margarine at room temperature, mix well. Add garlic & herbs mix well. Cover & chill overnight. Add a sprig of fresh herbs on top when serving. Good with crackers or celery sticks. Recipe makes a little over 1 cup of herbal cheese. * Note: Use a total of 5 to 6 tsp. of fresh herbs or ½ that of dried herbs. Snip some fresh herbs from your garden or use some of dried herbs for this recipe. Also, you can use low fat cream cheese, if you like. It’s great on many vegetables. It is a great time to start a compost pile for Autumn and spring. Remember to have fun gardening, put on your bonnet and at least SPF 50 sunscreen before going out in the sun. Any questions or comments contact the Minute Magazine. Be sure & check us out on Facebook.