When you start to sow your
seeds, don’t forget the herbs
by Caroline Sheldrick MNIMH
HIGHLIGHTING
HERBS
Sometimes we are lucky enough to have warm soil in late won’t grow in
February, and can sow annuals outside, but for the last my garden and I
couple of years it’s been a late start in the ground, and so keep it on an
really good to be able to start seeds off in the warm. allotment. You also
A few years ago I invested in a propagating mat, and can
need to match your
now start the growing season as early as those with a
plants to the space
warm greenhouse. A little heat, and plenty of light, helps
and time you have.
the seeds off to a good start.
For some herbs, if
Either way, when you sow your seeds this spring, don’t
you really only need
forget the herbs.
five plants then
it may be more
Once an optional add-on, herbs are now central to the
economical to buy
kitchen garden plan and many are attractive enough
seedlings rather
to win a place in the flower garden as well. And there
than a packet of
Caroline Sheldrick: ‘Herbs are now central to
is certainly no shortage of recipes using herbs, either,
100 seeds.
the kitchen garden plan’
whether you are a ‘good plain
cook’ of the meat-and-two-veg
The catalogues are full of tempting colour photos of
variety or someone who enjoys
luscious plants, so try something new as well. That way
creating dishes inspired by other
you will discover new plants and new favourite dishes. If
culinary cultures. And what
you are trying to cut back on fats and salt in your cooking,
about some edible flowers? They
then the generous use of herbs (and garlic and spices) will
look lovely in the salad bowl.
ensure your meals are still tasty and appetising.
What a shame to buy a few stalks
For practical purposes, let’s deal separately with the perennials
of a herb in a plastic container
and the annuals. The aromatic herbs used in the kitchen –
Coriander seeds
from a supermarket when it’s so
rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage – are shrubby perennials
easy to grow you own.
that can be raised from seed sown in late spring, but it will
All culinary herbs are
health-giving foods, full of
Pesto
antioxidants and vitamins, and
Start with about 200g each of fresh basil sprigs and parsley
liven up the simplest dish. I
tops. Put 250mL olive oil in a blender, and add about a quarter
of the herbs. Blend for one minute. Add more leaves, blending
find that quantities are often
each addition before adding more. When it’s all in, add 4 cloves
conservative: if a recipe calls for
of garlic and 170g pine nuts or walnuts, and blend again.
a tablespoon of chopped parsley,
probably a couple of handfulls
Lovage, Levisticum officinale, is
are even better. Some garden
a perennial herb that looks like
herbs have recognised medicinal
parsley and is in the parsley, or
Apiaceae family.
properties as well, and can be
used not only in cookery but
also in fresh or dried teas for
their health-giving properties.
When planning for seed sowing,
start with a review of what went
well last year: it makes sense to
build on past success. There’s
no point growing something
you never use, or which will not
thrive in your plot. Everyone’s
Dill - the word origin is Norse
Basil – now available in several inspiring varieties. If you have
dilla, meaning to lull hence
growing conditions are different.
plenty, make your own pesto
used to soothe colic in babies
Myself, I adore lovage, but it
22
Country Gardener
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