Grow Your Own

June Grow your own

Latest Article: Added on 31st May 2017

What you will need:

  • Trowel
  • Watering can
  • 4 Terracotta pots (39cm, 32cm, 27cm & 21cm diameter)
  • Drainage material (broken crockery, pebbles or gravel)
  • Potting compost
  • Herbs of your choice or see our suggestions below

Simply follow these steps:

  • Place drainage material into the bottom of the largest pot (39cm) to cover the base
  • Add a layer of potting compost on top to cover the drainage material.
  • Place the next smallest pot (32cm) on the layer of compost on one side and with it’s rim above the lip of the first pot.
  • Fill the gap between the bottom and top pot with compost and plant your first row of herbs into the compost.
  • Do the same again with the third and forth pots, keeping them all on the same side of the pot stack and planting into the compost layers as you go.
  • Water thoroughly and protect from bright sunlight.
  • Herbs

Why not try using some of the following combinations in your miniture herb garden:

RosemaryA Traditional Herb Selection
Use Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Chives, Parsley, Thyme and Mint.

 Lemon BalmA Spicy Herb Garden
Use Tarragon, Oregano, Coriander, Lemon Balm and Rocket.

 
BayA Winter Herb Garden
Use Rosemary, Sage, Bay and Thyme in your container, as these can all survive outside in the winter if looked after properly.

Some Clever Hints!

  • Space the herbs out when you plant them so that they have room to spread.
  • Use trailing herbs in the upper pots so that they can trail over the side of the stack.
  • Why not try using a Strawberry Pot (a terracotta pot with cusped holes) and have your herbs trailing down the sides of the drum.
  • Make supermarket herb pots last longer by easing them out of their pots and potting them up into a container with the plantlets more spread out.
  • Herbs such as parsley also grow well on window sills in a warm, sunny position.

Three great ideas for using your herbs:

Refreshing Ice Cubes
Place a few fresh leaves of a herbs such as Mint into an ice tray before filling it to give your summer drinks a lovely fresh flavour.

Herb crusted Lamb
Sear a joint of lamb and coat with 2 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary, 2 tbsp fresh chopped thyme, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil and salt & pepper before roasting it in the oven.

Home made Pesto
Blend 2 cups of basil, 3 cloves of chopped garlic, ¾ tbps salt, pepper, 4 floz olive oil and 1½ oz of toasted pine nuts in a food processor until smooth and then add 3 oz of grated parmesan cheese and pepper to taste.

Material courtesy of www.the-hta.org.uk

 

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