May 2008
Whether you live in an apartment, sprawling farmhouse or a house on a suburban cul-de-sac, growing herbs at home is the simplest way to bring fresh flavor to your meals. Add a pinch of fresh oregano to tomato sauce, thyme sprigs to chicken soup or slices of basil to a sandwich or scrambled eggs. This month we move onward in our culinary quest through the garden to discuss growing and cooking with herbs. Enjoy!

“Pounding fragrant things -- particularly garlic, basil, parsley -- is a tremendous antidote to depression. Pounding these things produces an alteration in one's being -- from sighing with fatigue to inhaling with pleasure. The cheering effects of herbs and alliums cannot be too often reiterated.”
- Patience Gray, food writer
1917-2005

May Edible: Herbs, delightful herbs! There are so many wonderful herbs to discover in your garden. Here are our growing, harvesting and storage tips.

Growing:

  • Most herbs like six to eight hours of full sun. Don’t worry, in our coastal regions the sun is still penetrating through the fog.
  • Well-drained soil is essential. If drainage is poor, work in plenty of organic matter or grow in raised beds or containers.
  • Work in a complete fertilizer (EB Stone Organic All Purpose, Tomato & Vegetable Food, SureStart or Alfalfa Meal for vegetarians and vegans).
  • Water regularly until the plants are growing steadily. Then most will need only occasional watering. Exceptions are basil, chives, mint, and parsley (which prefer evenly moist soil).
  • Herbs can be tucked in established beds and borders or in a pot close to the kitchen door.
  • Many herbs attract beneficial insects if they are allowed to flower (see sidebar).
  • Annual herbs like basil should not be allowed to flower (though if they do, basil buds are delicious tossed in a salad)
  • Keep herb plants pinched back regularly.
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Read more about growing & harvesting herbs HERE »



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May Edible Recipes: HERBS
 These very delicious recipes are the perfect way to use fresh harvested herbs!

Basil Garlic Butter
Use as butter for garlic bread, croutons, steamed zucchini, or simply tossed with egg noodles.

1 stick softened butter
2 Tb. finely chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh oregano
1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme
1 large garlic clove, minced or pressed

Allow the butter to soften for ease of preparation. Cream together all ingredients. Spoon mixture onto a 12" x 12" sheet of parchment or wax paper and form into block. Refrigerate until firm. Can be used for up to 1 month refrigerated
or frozen up to 6 months.

More Recipes: Pesto using fresh basil from your garden, Goat Cheese Herb Dip & Fresh Yogurt & Herb Dressing. Read more »

 


The Garden Guru dives into your edible garden

The Sloat Garden Guru answers your fruit, vegetable and herb questions.

Dear Garden Guru,
I recently started a small, potted
herb garden on my condo balcony: rosemary, thyme, spearmint and
sage. I love having fresh herbs when
I cook! A friend told me that many herbs thrive despite a bit of neglect
and that, as I'm new to gardening, to make sure I don't become overenthusiastic and water my herbs to death. How can I gauge when to water my plants?

- Jean in San Francisco

Visit our Guru for the answer HERE »




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Read last month's issue of The Kitchen Gardener -- we discuss recipes & growing tips for the tomato. More>>

 

 

 

 

 
   


Growing Benefits Companion planting is the practice of combining plants in ways that produce extra benefits for one or both. It is an aspect of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) and one of the keys to successfully growing herbs organically. Below is a list of herbs that do double duty in the garden:

BASIL - Repels flies and mosquitoes. Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor.

CARAWAY - Good for loosening compacted soil so it benefits all shallow rooted crops. Attracts beneficial insects.

CATNIP/CATMINT - Deters flea beetles, aphids, squash bugs, ants and weevils. It will also repel mice!

CHAMOMILE - Improves the flavor of cabbages, onions and cucumbers. It accumulates calcium, sulphur and potassium, returning them later to the soil. It is also a host for hoverflies and good wasps. Increases the production of essential oils in herbs.

CHERVIL - Improves the flavor and growth of radishes. Keeps aphids off lettuce and is said to deter snails.

CHIVES - Improves growth and flavor of carrots and tomatoes. Keeps aphids away from mums and sunflowers. When planted by roses it helps prevent black spot.

CORIANDER - Repels aphids, spider mites and potato beetle. Coriander tea made is a good spray for spider mites.

DILL - Improves the growth and health of cabbage and lettuce. Plant by tomatoes to trap the tomato hornworm. Attracts many beneficials. Do not plant by caraway or carrots!

HYSSOP - Highly attractive to bees but do not plant near radishes.

LEMON BALM - Deters many bugs, especially mosquitoes and squash bugs

MINT - Deters cabbage moth, ants, rodents, aphids and fleas. Attracts hoverflies and predatory wasps. Attractive to earthworms.

ROSEMARY - plant with cabbage, carrots, beans and sage. Deters cabbage looper and bean beetles.

TARRAGON - Beneficial to plants throughout the garden as is Thyme.

 

 

SEMINARS
To learn about more gardening seminars at all our locations. Visit our Seminars & Events page

Pruning/Culture of Citrus
Marie Miller shares how and when to prune citrus as well as feeding/care.

Edible Containers
Jennie Strobel shows how to grow your own veggies with limited space.