Lemon
Basil herb plants are upright, bushy and grow 26 inches high and 10 to
14 inches wide. The narrow, ovate, light green leaves reach 2 inches
long. Small blooms of white flowers are followed by lemon-scented seeds.
Basil is at its most flavorful when fresh. The best time to harvest is
just as the plant starts to set flower buds, well before flowers bloom.
For harvesting, cut stems just before flowers open, strip leaves and use
fresh, or dry on tray in dark, airy place. Leaves may be frozen.
Sweetly
aromatic, Spearmint, can be used in both cooking and in potpourri and
other fragrant decorative items. Spearmint herb is used to make mint
jellies and sauces and of course, tea! Spearmint also has medicinal
benefits as well. It is a wonderful addition for the garden that can easily be started with Spearmint herb seeds.
This
perennial grows to 3 feet tall and spreads rapidly to indefinite widths.
The 2 - 3 1/2 inch lance-shaped leaves are a unique wrinkled texture.
Oblong terminal spikes of lavender-pink flowers appear all summer. Like
other mints, Spearmint plants are extremely easy to grow. In fact, they
grow so well, it is best to confine them to containers.
As an herb
plant, the oil in the leaves have been used topically for wounds,
sunburns, and general aches and pains. St John's Wort herb has also been
used to treat mild depression and insomnia with some success. St.
John's Wort ground cover is often used to cover areas along side walks
and driveways.
How To Grow
Hypericum From Seed: St. John's Wort seeds are easy to grow. Plant the
herb seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last frost, or outside after
danger of frost has passed. Press the Hypericum seeds into the soil, but
do not cover it as the seed will germinate better with light.
Transplant the Hypericum seedlings when they are 2 - 3 inches tall. The
plants will tolerate most any soil conditions but prefer moist and light
soils. Fertilizer is only necessary in the poorest of soils, and water
in prolonged drought times.
Delicious peppery flavor that is popular in beans and many other dishes; also has reported medicinal uses.
Summer savory
is an annual, not to be confused with its cousin winter savory, a
perennial. Summer savory can be grown in containers or the garden; it
likes the same rich, well-drained soil as tomatoes, and makes a good
companion to this vegetable in the garden; however, it also thrives
alongside beans in leaner soil.
Very
fast-growing, summer savory reaches about 18 inches high and up to 30
inches wide, with long, wiry upright stems bearing small, needle-like
dark green leaves up to 4 inches long. Whorls of lilac-purple flowers
appear in summer, and the plant may need staking if not pruned smaller.
Cut the stems as needed for use in the kitchen; this will keep them
shorter, prevent flowering (which diminishes the flavor of the leaves),
and encourage new growth.
The
Verbena family of plants are perennials which can grow up to
approximately 36 inches tall. Verbenas typically have woody stalks and
are pale green in color with hairy stems.Flowers are very small and blue
in color. They appear on a long, slender spike.
As with any
herb, you should always consult a doctor before using it for any type of
medicinal value. Traditionally, it is reported that Common Vervain is
considered to be a very powerful relaxant, diaphoretic antispasmodic and
emenagogue. It can be used in the treatment of depression, melancholia,
asthma, migraines, insomnia and nervous cough. Some people consider it
to be an effective remedy for infected gums, tooth decay, halitosis and
tonsillitis. Some people apply Common Vervain to insect bites, sprains
and bruises. As an ointment, it acts as a beneficial remedy against
eczema, wounds, weeping sores and painful neuralgia.
Grown from
Passion Flower seeds, this vining perennial can grow to 180 inches or
more, and it produces large, 4 inch pale blue blossoms. Passion Flower
fruit are egg-shaped, orange and edible but not very noteworthy. Passion
Flower Vine is native to Southern Brazil and Argentina, and is popular
all the way to the southern United States. This variety can be grown
further north with moderate success and is hardy down to 10 degrees F.
If it dies back due to a severe freeze it has been known to grow back
from its deep roots. Many gardeners will bring their blue Passion Flower
Vine indoors each winter. Passion Flower is an evergreen in tropical or
semi-tropical regions, but as the winters become cooler it will drop
its leaves. You do need to prune new growth occasionally to promote
flowering.
**PRODUCES FRUIT**
The
perennial, FIREWEED, has slender upright spikes of flowers in shades of
rosy pink in the months of June - September. It gets its name from the
fact that it is often the first weed to colonize in an area that has
been destroyed by fire. Other common names include: Willow Herb, Rosebay
Willowherb, and Yanagiran. Native Americans used the Willowherb plant
as a good source of vitamin C and pro-vitamin A. Medicinally, the herb
seeds can also be grown to relieve inflammation, draw out infection in
wounds, and to treat burns. Fireweed is very attractive to bees and
butterflies, and Fireweed honey has become quite sought after. Fireweed
seeds do best with a cold/moist treatment for 4 weeks prior to planting,
or directly sow the herb seeds outdoors in the fall.
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