Parsley, flat leaf (Petroselinum sp.).
Parsley (Petroselinum sp.) Easy going parsley is an excellent starter herb for indoors.
Parsley is not so demanding when it comes to sunlight, and it remains productive across a variety of indoor tempera- tures. Cool windows work just fine! Start fresh parsley from seeds, or cut summer plants down to the base in September and allow them to grow back up indoors. The curled types yield best in pots, while flat leaf Italian variet- ies are often voted most flavourful.
Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) A lesser know herb, but absolutely a winner! This tarra-
Rosemary, Tuscan Blue (Rosmarinus officinalis).
gon-mimic is actually an edible marigold with a fine tarra- gon-like flavour. The herb is grown extensively outdoors in southern climates, and thrives in a bright, warm setting indoors. Harvest the fresh leaves for use in everything from savory entrees to fruit based desserts. Mexican tarra- gon can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) With a little luck you may catch rosemary in bloom
through the winter indoors. The shimmering blue flowers are edible, with a honey-rosemary flavour. Many varieties of rosemary exist, all variations on up-right or cascading growth styles, and all are roughly equal when it comes to complementing your next pan of roasted potatoes. Rose- mary is best started from cuttings, so pick up a nursery grown plant and winter in a bright but cooler location.
Sage (Salvia officinalis) The warm, hearty flavour of sage pairs impeccably with
Above: Sage (Salvia officinalis). Below: Thyme Provencal (Thymus sp.).
many important winter dishes (think Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners). Colourful cutting-grown sages are available and perfectly at home indoors, while simple seed started plants also make excellent kitchen companions. Sage prefers lots of light and seedlings take six to eight weeks to establish – but the fresh taste is worth every bit of wait.
Thyme (Thymus sp.) From seasoning soups to roasts, thyme is a kitchen clas-
sic. Just as with oregano, thyme selections possess a wide spectrum of deliciousness and suitability for indoors, so it is worth sampling before bringing one home (choice thyme varieties are generally grown from stem cuttings). Among the best for indoors is the gourmet Provençal thyme, a grey needled, up right variety that has such genuine French tones. Thyme thrives on ample sun and a fine balance between lots of water and just the right amount of drying, and a cooler windowsill suits thyme well through winter. x
Dave Hanson is a gardening columnist and media personality with a life- long love of all things herbal, and the co-owner of Sage Garden Green- houses in Winnipeg, Manitoba. For more information visit
herbs.mb.ca.
24 • Early Spring 2015
localgardener.net
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40