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Angelica
Sow outside in August or early spring. In a
shallow drill and spaced apart. Cover with fine soil
and keep moist. Transplant when large enough. Likes
rich moist soil, sun or partial shade.
Harvest the young leaves anytime, the roots
during the first year of growth and the stems when
young. Seeds ripen in July/August.
Dry the leaves spread on a tray in a cool oven (door
ajar) or in airing cupboard. Roots should be sliced
and dried ASAP. The dried leaves when stored can be
used for tea. The young stems can be candied. The
main ribs of the leaves are blanched and boiled like
celery and also cooked with rhubarb. Medicinally
Angelica can be a very useful. The leaves, roots,
stems and seed may be used to treat colds, coughs
etc.
Anise
Sow Outside in April in shallow drills; cover
lightly with fine soil. Thin to about 12inches apart.
The seedlings will not easily transplant. Water if
dry. Likes light soils with some lime full sun and
sheltered position.
Harvest when tips of fruit have turned
greyish-green, cut stalks at ground level and tie in
bundles and suspend upside down putting paper
underneath. Collect the seeds. It will be a week
before the seeds are properly ripened.
The seeds can be used in fish and poultry dishes.
Cakes and biscuits are enhanced by the aniseed
flavour. The fresh raw leaves can be used in salads.
Lemon balm
Sow in
the spring into open ground and cover the seed
lightly with fine soils or compost. Thin out
seedlings as they grow, to 60cm apart.
Basil Sweet
Genovese
Sow April to June harvest June through to
September.
Sow indoors from April in trays or small pots
maintain temperature of 25c. It may help to cover
with glass until germination takes place. Put into
small pots when large enough reduce temperature to
20C, Can be planted outside after mid June.
If sowing outdoors wait until mid June, not advisable
in the North. Grow in a rich soil and water at
midday.
Leaves can be used for flavouring especially good with tomatoes.
Borage
Sow March through to September direct into the
growing site. When seedlings are large enough to
handle thin out to 60cms apart. Harvest leaves
any time harvest flowers when fully open.
Wild chamomile
Sow outside in mid spring. In shallow drills
and cover lightly with very fine soil. Thin young
plants when large enough. Can be sown in autumn as
well. Grows in most soil types likes full sun,
Harvest the flower heads when fully open.
Chives
Sow outside in early spring in a shallow drill
not too thickly and cover with fine soil. Keep well
watered.
Grow in rich soil in sun or half shade.
Harvest any time once established cut to 5cms
from the soil. Dry by cutting it into small pieces
with scissors and spreading on a tray in a low oven
with the door open. Store in airtight jars and keep
in a cool and dark store. You can use chives on
any dish requiring a delicate onion flavour.
Coriander
Sow late March to mid May. Sow into open
ground and thin out seedlings as they grow to avoid
over crowding.
Dill Hera
Sow March to July in open ground in short rows or
blocks. Do not transplant but thin out seedlings, as
they grow to 20cm apart
Feverfew
Sow in early to mid spring and cover lightly
with fine soil or compost. Likes well drained soil
and full sun.
Harvest the young leaves before flowering as
can become more bitter
later on. Should be used fresh if possible. Freshly
applied leaves can relive insect bites. Thought to be
helpful against rheumatic pains and migraines if 2 or
3 leaves eaten daily.
Sweet Marjoram
Sow inside in March in seed trays or pots. Use
a soilless compost and cover seeds lightly keep at
20C. Cover with glass put into small pots when large
enough to plant out at end of May.
Sow outside in May and cover with very fine soil.
Water well, seed is very small and germination will
be erratic. It likes any good garden soil and the
full sun.
Harvest the leaves anytime. Dry in a cool oven
door ajar or in airing cupboard and store in an
airtight jar in a cool dark place. Use by rubbing
leaves into roast meats, game and poultry. Goes well
with Thyme.
Marigold pot
Sow outside in March/April in a shallow drill
or scatter the seed and rake it in. seed is large so
space it out.
Harvest the flowers when dry and fully open
first flowers should appear in June.
Dry in a warm airy place out of strong light. When
petals are crisp they come away from the stem. Store
in an airtight jar in a cool dark place.
Use in cooking as substitute for saffron. Can be used
in salads and omelettes.
Parsley
Sow outside in shallow drills in late spring
when the soil is warm about May-June. Can sow in
summer until September to get a good crop the
following year. Likes good garden soil that
does not dry out semi shade is best. After sowing
keep the soil moist and do not let plants dry out or
they may produce little leaf and run to seed. Thin
plants to 40cm.
Sage
Sow indoors (March-April) can be in pots or
cold frame. Prick into trays about 5cm apart as soon
as large enough. Plant into growing site 40-50cm
apart in Sept or Oct. Sowing outside (May to June)
into a seed bed very lightly covering with soil.
Plant into growing site Sept to Oct 40-50cm apart.
Harvest following Spring.
Rosemary
Sow April to May direct into open ground or in
pots or boxes in a cold frame. Seedlings should be
thinned as they grow
put in a nursery bed when 5cm tall and plant
out in September.
Thyme
Sow March to April thinly into pots or trays
in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. When large
enough to handle prick of individually into 9cm pots.
Grow on and plant out in their permanent site in
September 25cm apart.
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