-
A short introduction to basil
Basil is one of the most aromatic and recognisable herbs, and a key ingredient in much Italian cooking. It grows wild in southern Europe, but it actually originated in India, where it’s considered sacred. According to wikipedia, the word basil comes from the Greek ‘basileus’, meaning “king”, as it is believed to have grown above…
-
Growing basil from seed
As with growing most plants from seed, hedge your bets. You’re not expecting every single seed to produce a whopping great basil plant, so expect to lose some along the way. But if you sow enough seeds, you improve your odds of ending up with at least a couple of plants. It’s important to start…
-
Tips for healthy basil plants
When basil flowers appear, pinch them off. This encourages the plant to put its energy into producing leaves instead. It’s difficult to keep basil going in the winter because of the lack of sunshine and chance of frost. Your plant will probably look a bit sorry for itself. However, if you can just keep it…
-
Common problems with rosemary
Tired looking plant? Sprinkle some dried, ground up eggshell around the plant on top of the soil. Do this after about a year, and then repeat every year. This will refresh the plant. White powdery mildew on the surface of the soil? Rosemary needs good air circulation. Without this, rosemary plants can develop a mildew…
-
How to take cuttings from rosemary
It’s usually best to take cutting in late autumn or early winter. Cut a 2 inch stem for new growth on a well established plant. Snip off the bottom leaves rather than pull them off. Dip the bottom tip into a hormone rooting powder. Pop the cutting carefully in a pot of dampened peat moss…
-
Growing rosemary at home
Rosemary is a wonderfully fragrant and useful herb. It’s an evergreen perennial shrub, and a member of the mint (Labiatae) family. Its Latin name Rosmarinus officinalis means ‘dew of the sea’, as in the wild it grows within reach of the sea spray. It’s particularly suited to Mediterranean cooking, and great with meats (particularly lamb,…
-
Companion planting with herbs
Companion planting is about using one species to benefit another. Some herbs are a natural deterrent for pests and diseases, or can improve the growth and flavour of other plants. The following is a list of herbs and their relationships in the garden.
-
How to grow chives
Chives make a great addition to plenty of meals. They are a hardy herb that don’t need fertilising, and will even tolerate a bit of neglect, which is a comfort if you’re new to indoor gardening. You need… a [amazon asin=B009M64MBQ&text=herb pot] or [amazon asin=B003H70S3C&text=window box] soil-based [amazon asin=B0080R38P4&text=compost] a [amazon asin=B005A2YG6M&text=saucer or dish] underneath…