Herb Information

Basil

This most popular herb will only grow well in this country during warm weather, it likes a steady 15C(60F) at all times to thrive.

It is an annual plant and therefore should not be allowed to flower; pick off flower buds as they appear.

It is probably best grown in a greenhouse or conservatory. Even a light windowsill indoors is often better than outside.

Basil does not dry well so to preserve it for winter use place freshly harvested leaves directly in the freezer. They can also be preserved by storing them in olive oil. There are better alternatives;

Put the leaves in a plastic bag and place straight in the freezer.
Put the leaves in a bottle of any culinary oil, olive, sesame, groundnut etc. The leaves can be retrieved when required and the oil takes on the flavour of Basil, ideal for dressings.

Varieties of Basil
Sweet or Genovese	Large leaved, most common type.
Greek	Small leaved compact form.
Bush	In between the above two.
Purple/Red	Deep maroon coloured foliage.
Purple Ruffles	Large purple leaves with crinkly appearance.
Green Ruffles	As above but green.
Neopolitan	Extra large leaves.
Cinnamon	Unusual flavour, small pointed leaves.
Thai	Variety used in Far Eastern cookery.

Lavender

There are many types of Lavender, all have highly aromatic foliage and flowers that attract bees and butterflies in mid summer.

Modern compact varieties are now the most popular types more suited to smaller gardens than many of the older varieties that can grow quite large (3-4ft)(90-120cm).

All types benefit from being pruned/trimmed occasionally, especially just after flowering to keep the bush compact and in good health.

Flowers can be picked for drying as they come into bloom. Use the flowers as flavourings in the kitchen or dry for winter use in pot pourri or sachets.

Lavender is a good moth deterrent.

The dates after the description represents the year when the variety was bred.

Varieties of Lavender
Hidcote	15"	Dark blue flowers, grey/green foliage. (1950)
Munstead	15"	Lavender blue flowers silver/grey foliage. (1916)
Dwarf White	9"	Smallest variety with short white flowers. (1938)
White	30"	Tall growing white flowered form. (1880)
Rosea	24"	Pink flowers, grey/green foliage. (1937)
French	18"	Especially aromatic with blue flower bracts.
Spanish	18"	Variety of above with long pink bracts.
Helmsdale	12"	Compact form of French, rich burgundy flowers. (1990's)
Grappenhall	30"	Tall growing with silvery/grey foliage. (1902)
Seal	24"	Old variety with long mauve flowers.
Twickle Purple	12"	Compact, purple flowers, silver foliage. (1922)
Old English	30"	Traditional English Lavender. (1930)

Marjoram /

Oregano

Confusion often arises here since Oreganum is the Latin name for this family of plants and Marjoram is the English name.

What has become known as Oregano in this country is simply Common (or Wild) Marjoram.

There are many forms; the perennials all form clumps that slowly spread.

These can be dug up and divided during the winter months.

All types are very good bee and butterfly attracting plants and have flowers that range from white to deep pink.

Many culinary applications, especially in Italian recipes.

Varieties of Marjoram or Oregano
Oregano	12"	Green foliage & pale pink flowers.
Greek Oregano	9"	Strong flavour but not hardy.
Golden	12"	Bright yellow foliage and white flowers.
Golden Curly	12"	As above with crinkly foliage.
Herrenhausen	18"	Decorative form with deep pink flowers.
Dwarf	8"	Low growing, green foliage with white flowers.
Sweet (Knotted)	12"	Annual plant with good flavour, small white flowers.

Mint

There are many varieties of Mint, the plant cross pollinates to produce new strains very easily and this can lead to confusion when trying to identify varieties, there are over 600!

All mints have strongly aromatic foliage and spreading root systems, some are very invasive. Most types die down in winter, then reappear the following spring. They are best grown in large pots, in mixed beds they can become a problem.

It has been used in religious ceremonies, for flavouring and medicinally by many civilizations going back to the Ancients Greeks and Romans. In Greek mythology Minthe was a nymph beloved of Pluto, she was changed into this fragrant plant after objections from his jealous wife.

Varieties of Mint
Common Mint (Spearmint)	18"	Garden Mint, use in mint sauce etc.
Applemint	30"	Hairy leaves, applet scented, vigorous.
Pineapple Mint	16"	Cream edged leaved variety similar to above.
Peppermint	18"	Dark foliage, purple flowers, use for tea.
Eau de Cologne	18"	Citrus scented dark foliage, use to scent the bath.
Pennyroyal	6"	Low spreading with bright green foliage.
Evergreen Mint	12"	Variety that doesn't die down in winter.
Curly Mint	16"	Attractive crinkly deep green foliage.
Corsican Mint	1"	Tiny spreading plant with peppermint scent.

Rosemary

All varieties of Rosemary have similar properties. They all have aromatic foliage and can be used in the kitchen for their flavour.

Their differences are in their flower colour and growing characteristics and some need a little protection in severe winters.

All flower early in the summer and prefer a sunny site in well drained soil.

Plants can get rather leggy if left unattended.

They should be pruned occassionally when young to encourage a bushy compact habit and clipped after flowering when more mature to maintain plant vigour.

Varieties of Rosemary
Common Rosemary	36"	Pale blue flowers, trim to keep compact.
Corsican	18"	Dark blue flowers, fine narrow leaves.
Sissinghurst	24"	Similar to above.
Severn Sea	12"	Spreading habit, dark blue flowers, tender.
Prostrate	12"	Spreading habit, pale blue flowers.
Miss Jessups	36"	Upright habit, pale blue flowers.
Marjorcan	18"	Pink flowers, open habit, small leaves.
Rosea	18"	Pink flowers, compact.
Beneden Blue	24"	Medium blue flowers, narrow leaves.
Primley Blue	18"	Similar to Common, more compact.

Thyme

There are literally hundreds of varieties of Thyme.

They can be roughly grouped by their growing habits into three types, Low Creeping (C), Mound Forming (M) and Tall Upright (U).

Many have aromatic foliage and all have flowers in shades from white to deep pink.

All will grow well in dry conditions and prefer a well drained soil.

They can be grown successfully in a pot, in rockeries, or between paving slabs.

In the kitchen there are really only two flavours that are used, the ordinary thyme and a lemon thyme.

There are several different plants that can provide suitable foliage for these flavourings, see below.

Varieties of Thyme
Thyme, Common	15"- U	Kitchen Thyme, grey green foliage, woody.
Lemon Thyme	12" - M	Kitchen Thyme, bright green foliage.
Caraway Thyme	3" - C	Aromatic, dark green foliage.
Orange Thyme	15" - U	Orange scented, pale pink flowers.
Doone Valley Thyme	9" - M	Attractive yellow/green foliage.
Silver Posie Thyme	12" - U	Silver/grey foliage, kitchen variety.
Silver Queen Thyme	12" - U	As above with lemon scent.
E.B.Anderson Thyme	6" - M	Bright yellow foliage, few flowers.
Bressingham Pink	3" - C	Earliest flowering, pink flowers.
Minimus	1" - C	Very compact & low growing.
Cicilicus	3" - C	Fine, fruity aromatic foliage.
Broad Leaved	6" - M	Large leaved kitchen variety, pink flowers.
Snowdrift	2" - C	Dense, spreading many white flowers.
Creeping Red	3" - C	Deepest pink flowers of any Thyme.