Herbs that are looking good this week…

I thought I would start a thread on what herbs are looking good each week.

For those of us who grow herbs already, it gives an idea of regional variation.
For those who don’t, an idea of what they are missing!

The thought was inspired by this week’s harvest for the local food bank, showing how the winter herbs are giving way to spring.


From 12 o’clock:
Sage,
bronze fennel,
rosemary (just thinking about coming into flower),
marjoram (stems still short, but starting to get a good flavour)
Chives (this clump has really thick leaves!)
Lemon balm (not sure if this will be popular, but it was looking and smelling good, so I cut some)
French tarragon (not much smell to it yet, the first cut of the year)

 

Growing herbs is not something I’ve ever been any good at, so this should be an interesting thread. Funnily enough, I’ve just split and repotted a basil plant from the supermarket! I was getting fed up with the plants dying off before I’ve eaten a quarter of it. I’ve now got at least six pots, but they aren’t actually looking very good!

 

They will be suffering from the transition from hot house to s/market to home. To have basil at this time it will have been forced to grow at 30 deg C and then shipped about. Best option might be to select a few stems that are still healthy and place in a jar of rain water to root cuttings. Keep in good light at 25 degs or so. Should take 10-14 days, then when clearly showing roots transplant in to compost, maintain warm conditions. This can then be repeated all season.

 

This week's herb harvest, showing the difference a fortnight makes. Loads of marjoram, fennel and tarragon!
So, starting top left we have marjoram, fennel, chives, thyme, and tarragon.



Silly me forgot about the sage on the window sill!

 

A pause, and then we are back to the weekly harvest

From 1pm, clockwise
Rosemary, marjoram, chives, bronze fennel, and sage