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RHS, Richard Bloom
Herb Garden
The Herb, Potager and Cottage gardens at RHS Garden Rosemoor in June.
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RHS, Anna Brockman,
Helichrysum italicum
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RHS, Tim Sandall
Borago officinalis
A stroll around the herb garden at Rosemoor during the summer, takes you on an aromatic journey through nature, as the warm, sunny days enhance the essential oils from the plants that linger through the air. One of the first scents that greet you as you enter is the heavy, spicy aroma of the curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), as well as various other savoury, culinary Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, fennel and thyme.
In addition to being useful in the kitchen, some have also been proven to benefit our health. For example, research on rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) has found that simply inhaling the aroma, can improve your memory, mood and concentration. Most herbs also produce attractive flowers, like the creeping thyme, Thymus ‘Jekka’ which produces a stunning carpet of pink blooms.
Mediterranean herbs are a good choice for plants that can thrive in our changing climate, as they have naturally adapted to cope with growing in hot, dry environments. This means that they require little watering and can be grown successfully in either pots or in the ground, providing that they are planted in a sunny position, in well-draining soil. Additionally, their tough aromatic foliage also puts off leaf-eating insects and slugs making them a low maintenance option that’s easy to care for.
As you venture further into the herb garden, you’ll also pick up the sweet scent of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), the fresh aroma of moroccan mint (Mentha spicata var. crispa ‘Moroccan’) and the citrusy fragrance of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), all of which can be used to create homegrown teas. This can be done by steeping a teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers or five fresh leaves of mint or lemon balm in hot water for 10 minutes.
However, to get the maximum flavour first lay the leaves on kitchen paper and gently crush them. Crushing leaves or flowers helps release essential oils, so some herbs like pineapple sage (Salvia elegans ‘Scarlet Pineapple’) which may not appear to be heavily scented, come alive with a wonderful pineapple scent when you rub the leaves. This also makes the task of pruning a joy when you use herbs like English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) or sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) for topiary or ornamental hedging, as the severed foliage produces masses of scent.
Many herbs, are happily, easily propagated. Most annuals are very effective at self-seeding which means that as long as you allow them to set seed, you’ll get hassle-free plants the following year that will virtually look after themselves. At Rosemoor, we’ve allowed various annuals like cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), borage (Borago officinalis) and nigella (Nigella damascena) to self-seed in the herb garden. The result is that we have healthy, strong plants which require no watering or staking as their roots are well established. Many perennial herbs are also readily propagated from either softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in late spring or summer.
For more advice and inspiration come visit our Flower Show between 18th-20th August to see a wide range of specialist nurseries and their show gardens, as well as fascinating live talks and demonstrations.
Jobs for July and August
Stake plants Use bamboo canes to stake plants with heavy flower heads like Dahilas and Delphiniums to ensure that stems don’t break under the weight of the flowers. Tie stems to the canes using string in a figure eight.
Deadhead repeat flowering roses Deadheading prolongs the flowering season however, don’t forget to stop in mid-August so that plants can produce rose hips to create both a food source for wildlife and winter decoration.
Summer prune Wisteria Cut back the whippy green shoots off the current year’s growth to five or six leaves after flowering to keep the growth and size of the plant under control and improve next years’ flower display.
Propagate strawberries Insert runners into pots filled with multipurpose compost and peg them down with wire. When they have rooted, sever them from the parent plant.
Houseplant care Remember to give plants a thorough watering before going on holiday. You can also move them into a cooler room or away from a bright window to prevent them from drying out.
Collect seed from garden plants Harvest seed on a dry day as soon as the seedheads ripen, this is usually indicated by a colour change from green to brown, black or red (but must be before they’ve opened and shed their contents). Then lay them out to dry on a warm windowsill.
Emma McFarline, Horticulturist