In your herb garden in July 2010

The herb garden at
Garden Organic Ryton in July

July should be a delicious month. Flowers are blooming, leaves growing and seeds are ripening. Lots of choices for the table. Some herbs will be nearing the end of their growing season, so it is also a time to start harvesting and storing - and sowing more!

And of course there should be some relaxing - sitting in the garden with tasty, fresh salads and drinks containing herbs, edible flowers and aromatic leaves.

Things to do in the herb garden this month

Keep sowing seed outside - to maintain supplies. See below for information on which herbs to sow
Mulch moisture-loving herbs
Thin seedlings that have been sown direct in the garden
Dead-head where flowers have faded, unless seed is to be collected
Bee on marjoram flower

Cut cornflowers for drying now
Harvest lemon balm, summer savoury, hyssop, tarragon, thyme, lavender, marjoram and most other herbs this month - see below for drying instructions.
Hoe and remove weeds regularly as competition will be great this month
Take softwood cuttings See below for information on taking softwood cuttings
Cut flowers such as lavender and cornflower for drying
Begin gathering seed of caraway and angelica
Cut back lavenders after flowering to keep a good shape
Water regularly any plants that may be showing stress
Continue gathering petals of damask rose for drying

Flavour from the garden this month

July will offer flavour from just about all the herbs. New shoots, leaves and flowers perfect for the kitchen.
Here are a few ...

Edible flowers from the herb garden this month

Using flowers in salads and cookery is an ancient method of adding flavour and colour to food. Pick early in the day, taking care not to bruise the delicate blooms.
- Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Heartsease (Viola tricolor)
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- Violet (Viola odorata)
- Pinks (Dianthus sp.)
- Borage (Borago officinalis)
- Day lily (Hemerocallis sp)
- Rose (Rosa sp.)
- Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum)
Warning!
Only use flowers that are recommended.
Some flowers, just like other plants, can be very poisonous.

See our Edible flowers factsheet for more information.
(Online access to factsheets requires members' password. Find out about becoming a Garden Organic member here.)

Basil (Ocimum basillicum) Annual
There are a great many varieties of this tasty herb available. From The Organic Gardening Catalogue you can choose Lemon, Lettuce Leaved (one of the most productive), Red Ruben, Sweet Genovese and Cinnamon.

Harvest fresh leafy shoots from the top of the plant to encourage bushy growth. Toss torn leaves into warm pasta with a little olive oil for a quick and delicious lunch.

Anise hyssop grows best
in rich moist soil

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Perennial
Originating in North America, this sweet scented herb can reach a metre in height. Long spikes of purple flowers in the summer provide lovely aniseed scent and are especially attractive to butterflies. Leaves are aniseed flavoured and can be used in teas as well as in recipes with fish, rice, salads, jam and desserts.
Anise hyssop grows well in containers. Grows best in rich moist soil.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
This herb is ideal for growing in containers. A popular addition to barbeques and soups and stews. Use the woody stalks as skewers to add flavour to meat and vegetable kebabs.
Organic rosemary seed available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue

Borage
Borago officinalis

Borage (Borago officinalis) Annual
A very pretty, Mediterranean herb. The bright blue, star-shaped flowers can be added to drinks, salads, or frozen in ice cubes and added to summer drinks. Fresh young leaves should be cut for salads. The flavour is reminiscent of cucumber.
Dead-head flowers to prolong the flowering season. White flowered borage is available.
Catnep (Nepeta cataria) Perennial
Although the camphor like aroma is used in teas, this herb is best loved by cats. This is worth keeping in mind, for if there are pest problems of the feline variety, try growing a healthy crop in an area away from tender herbs. The fresh leaves add a light, minty flavour to salads.
The scented dried leaves can be sown into cloth balls. These make a popular toy for cats and kittens. They are also claimed to discourage rats in a hen house.
Clary ( Salvia sclarea) Perennial/biennial
A very attractive pink/mauve flowering member of the sage family. Grows to a height of 90cm (3ft). With a slight vanilla/sage flavour, the leaves are used for soups and salads.
Fresh young leaves can be made into tasty fritters.

Marigolds will grow
in most soils

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Annual
Sow in situ in an area of full sun. Will grow in most soils, except for poor draining, waterlogged soils.
Organic seed available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Perennial
Valerian is a very attractive, sweet-scented flower for the herb garden. Valerian prefers damp ground and grows well near streams and ponds. A tincture of the roots, which has a calming effect, was used to treat shell-shocked soldiers in World War One.
It is said that cats are also attracted to this plant, so grow with catnep. Organic seed is available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue.

Herbs to propagate this month

SEED SOWING

For a continual crop, sow the following in a prepared seedbed, outdoors:

Sweet basil

Coriander

Basil (Ocimum sp.) Annual
Sow in pots or plugs as basil does not like to be transplanted. Sow indoors in a warm site. Once germinated, water sparingly to prevent seedlings rotting.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Prefers well-drained, nutrient poor soil. Grows especially well in chalky, sandy sites. Broadcast seed on prepared site. Should be ready to harvest at about eight weeks.
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Annual
Delicious flavoured leaves used in curries and salads. Thinly sow the large seeds in a shallow drill in a sunny position. Germination takes 2-3 weeks. Prefers well-drained, but moisture-retentive soil. Cut leaves when 15cm (6in) high.
Two types of organic coriander are available in the Organic Gardening Catalogue.
Cilantro is a special selection for leaf production.
Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) Annual
Chervil does not like being transplanted so it is best to sow direct in to a prepared seedbed. Plant in a partially shady spot or protect from the midday sun.
Seed sown now will provide fresh green herbs throughout the winter as it is very hardy.

Parsley
The best known herb

Parsley (Petroselinum sp) Biennial
The most well known herb. Delicious raw or added to cooked recipes. Sow seed in pots or plugs and plant out when large enough to handle. Plant out 23cm (9in) apart into deep, fertile soil. Parsley is a good herb for growing in containers.
Protect young plants from slugs.
Rocket (Eruca vesicaria) Annual
The leaves have a very pungent, peppery flavour. Sow seed in succession from winter through to late summer. Prefers warm position and well drained soil. Can be grown in containers. Perfect for salads.
Rocket can be attacked by flea beetle.

See our Flea beetle factsheet for more information.
(Online access to factsheets requires members' password. Find out about becoming a Garden Organic member here.)

CUTTINGS TO TAKE

July is a very good month for taking cuttings. Herbs are producing lots of lush fresh new growth, which is suitable for 'softwood cuttings'

'Softwood' is the term given to the type of cutting taken from young growth in the spring and early summer.
Here are the main points to follow:

Take cuttings early in the morning
Take cuttings with a knife rather than scissors (which squash the stem)
If cuttings are not to be dealt with immediately, place in water or a polythene bag and leave in the shade
Prepare pot or seed tray with good organic potting compost
Trim the cutting to just below a node (where leaf joins stem) and remove any leaves from bottom third of the stem. This will reduce water loss as well as the possibility of fungus on leaves touching the soil
Make hole with dibber and push cutting in. Make sure the bottom of the cutting touches the bottom of hole
Firm the compost around cutting
Water, but do not leave the pot standing in water
Covering the cuttings with a plastic bag or cloche can aid in germination in some cases. Be careful that the compost is not kept too wet, as the cuttings can rot.

Preserving herbs for winter use

DRYING

Suitable herbs for drying include bay, mint, rosemary and thyme.
Pick leaves for drying early in the morning, when the dew has just lifted.
Hang the herbs upside down in bunches in a dry, well-ventilated, dark place away from dust and insects.
Another option is to strip the leaves from the stems then lay the herbs out on racks or trays and place these in a dry, well-ventilated, dark place away from dust and insects.
Electric dryers are available.
The herbs are ready for storing when they are crisp to the touch, but not brittle. Store them in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place. They should last for up to a year.

FREEZING

Suitable herbs for freezing include basil, chervil, chives, fennel leaves, summer savory and parsley.
Wash and finely chop your herbs.
Cram them into ice-cube trays, cover with water and freeze.
Remove them from the trays and store in labelled plastic bags.
Add to dishes at the end of the cooking time, especially useful for winter stews, soups and sauces.

Garden Organic Members

For more information on growing herbs, take a look at the How to grow Herbs page.

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