Hi,

I have just been the lucky recipient of an allotment and have got a wooden structure with 24 sections within which I would like to grow herbs all year round. Problem is, I only really know of 8 herbs which I could grow! These are Mint, Lemon Balm, Camomile, Sage, Chives, Thyme, Rosemary and Chervil. Does anyone have any suggestions of Herbs which can be grown all year round in the UK?

Thanks in Advance

Mick

Hi Mick,

There are absolutely hundreds of herbs you could choose from, it really depends one what you want them for. I'm assuming from your existing list that you're primarily looking for common culinary/ tea plants to which my first thoughts on additions might be:

Lavender
Oregano
Marjoram
Winter Savoury (Satureja montana)
Chicory(Cichorium intybus)
More than one type of mint (eg. peppermint, garden mint, ginger mint etc)

If you have the space you should also consider:
Fennel
Globe Artichoke
Bay

You could also try growing garlic (Allium sativum) which, in my experience, develops a strong flavour even though it doesn't produce the nice bulbs of cultivated garlic.

If you want some more medicinal/less culinary plants, I would certainly be inclined to add:
Hyssop
Echinacea
Feverfew
Meadowsweet
St.John's Wort
Yarrow
Valerian
Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Also, although they're not perennial, I would highly recomment giving things like coriander and basil a shot. Awkward though they may be to get going, growing your own is far far cheaper and more satisfying than buying half dead stuff from the shops. (Says I who is currently growing nothing of the kind)

And marigold (Calendula officinalis), which is also an annual, really ought to be included because it's just so easy to grow and will look after itself in no time. The same goes for nasturtium, the flowers of which are delicious.

Be warned though, I'm very pro-wilderness personally so many of my suggestions are plants which might run rampant and take over given half a chance. You might want to check my recommendations against those of some of the more sensible gardeners around here.

Kristina

Hi

Basil is one of the easiest to grow (lots of types) Sweet Genovese (usual supermarket type) is best indoors or outside in unheated greenhouse during summer. Loads of Basil such as Thai (liquorice flavour and Greek) can be grown outdoors it is an annual and will need to be sown each year, although certain types can survive a mild winter. Supermarket Basil can be propagated by root tip cuttings in water (after 10 days pot up) or division. This then brings out the true flavour as the plant originally bought has numerous seeds when one suffices (my Sweet Genoves reached at least 1m tall last year in the greenhouse.) Just remember to pinch out the tips on such plants (except Greek) to provide a bushy plant. When growing Basil never water from the top (place in dishes) and don't remove more than 1/3rd of the plant once at the height of 6" (when I would recommend harvesting) otherwise you will kill it and supermarket sell by/use by dates make me laugh on such plants. Re - Coriander, depends whether you want leaf or seed, I tend to grow Cilantro for leaf which quite naturally doesn't bolt for obvious reasons. Grown loads of different types of herbs for years so ask away! Good luck

Re - Calendula - depends on what variety you grow as to whether they are annual or short lived perennial, always have some to hand though, easy to grow and not to late to start them off in the next cpl of weeks, I prefer to start in unheated greenhouse and pot on, if sown now should have strong healthy plants to transplant into final positions within 6 weeks