Grow Your own Herbs

Notes on Growing Herbs

Peppermint is a sterile hybrid so there are no seeds u can buy. They say spearmint is rank-odored.

Same for French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a sterile plant. They say the Russian tarragon smells like shoe leather.

Calendula - there is no better herb for healing the skin. It boosts cell growth. An oil infusion or salve made with dried petals is good on dry skin, chapped lips, skin irritations, rashes and heals scars. Do not use on open wounds.

Chervil - combo of tarragon and parsley

Basil - they recommend Ocimum basilica ‘Genovese Verde Migliorato’ or ‘Genoa Green’.

Other recommendations are ‘Italian’, ‘Napoletano’ or ‘Genora Profumatissima’

Dill: ‘Bouquet’, ‘Dukat’, and ‘Fernleaf’ (smaller). Bouquet is the most prolific.

Tarragon: only use French, Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’

Garlic:

Ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow to brown, weaken and fall over. Bulbs will have a papery sheath.

Dry in a shade place with 60-70% humidity and temp of 60-70 F for one to two weeks.

Finish curing at 80 -100 F fir 4-6 weeks or until the papery skin changes from pure white to off white and becomes crisp.

Optimum storage; 8-10 days at 68 - 86 F then reduce temp to 32 F.

Horseradish: need sunny location. They dig up the roots every year, store them, and plant root sections in the spring.

Best tasting and most tender roots come from first year plants.

Once dug, the root must be refrigerated (heat causes lose of potency).

Doublemint (combines spearmint and peppermint) Mentha x gracilis ‘Madalene Hill’ is the only true double mint. Can be sold as red-stem apple mint.