On our farm in East Sussex we now grow over 40 different herbs. What started out as a hobby growing veg and a few staple herbs on an allotment, soon became the basis and backbone of our farm. Herbs not only deliver a wealth of flavours - pineapple, lemon, chocolate and even tutti-frutti but they also produce the most amazing aromatic edible flowers that we use in our herbal bouquets along with the foliage. Loved by pollinators, herbs have been a key element in increasing insect populations and creating a more balanced ecosystem on our farm.
We'll share our favourites, from the culinary greats you shouldn't be without to those that'll excite the taste buds with their incredible flavours, and give our top tips on how we get the best results every year.
5 herbs to grow now
Follow Sinead's advice on growing five popular herbs that every gardener should have at their fingertips
Basil
Basil likes warmth and light, so it's a good time to start sowing seeds now. Regular and deep pinching out of stems just above the leaf nodes will encourage a bushier plant with lots of fresh growth, while also maintaining good flavour. Once the plant begins to flower, the flavour becomes more astringent.
Water regularly, in the morning and at the base of the plant as wet leaves in humid spaces are an invitation to mildew and basil won't like sitting in the wet overnight. When harvesting, cut a few lengths at a time, just above those leaf nodes and then place the stems in water out of direct sunlight. Avoid the fridge as it encourages bruising and wilting.
Esta historia es de la edición April 2023 de Gardeners World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2023 de Gardeners World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A new plot for tasty crops
Taking on a new allotment needn't be hard work. By simply following a few easy tips you can have bumper crops in no time, just like Alessandro Vitale
We love July
July is an island floating between the joy of June and the slightly fatigued month of August. It's a grown-up month: the year has shrugged off its adolescent exuberances, the weather is (hopefully) warm enough for ice cream to be one of your five a day, the sea should be swimmable without (too much) danger of hypothermia and thoughts will be of holiday shenanigans and family barbecues. School's out this month, the next tranche of glorious summer colour is washing across our borders and it's my birthday. Lots of reasons to give three rousing cheers for July!
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
Now, at the height of summer, Frances Tophill shows how to boost your plants' health and productivity with a timely cut
Hassle-free harvests
Flowers are out in abundance this month and for Jack Wallington, many of these blooms make delicious, low-effort pickings
Bite-sized bounties
Glorious doorstep harvests can easily turn into gluts, so let Rukmini Iyer's recipes help you savour every last bit
Upcycled outdoor living
Create unique and stylish garden features for minimal cost using reclaimed materials and simple DIY skills. Helen Riches shares four step-by-step projects and more inspiring eco tips
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
Buildings and landscapes can play a vital role in supercharging your space, as Nick Bailey demonstrates
Greening up a city balcony
Looking for sustainable, small-space gardening ideas? Take inspiration from Oliver Hymans' transformed balcony garden in north-east London - now a lush, green haven for humans and wildlife
The dry and mighty garden
As we adapt our gardens to a more volatile climate, Alan Titchmarsh reveals how to create a drought-tolerant plot and picks his top plant performers
Nature knows best
Carol Klein explains how to choose plants for specific growing conditions, based on what has naturally adapted to thrive there