Grow Your Own, Nevada! Spring 2012: Growing herbs
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Grow Your Own, Nevada! Spring 2012: Growing herbs
- 1. Growing Herbs - From Anise to Yarrow
- 2. Kerry Seymour, MS, RD Western Area Nutrition Specialist
- 3. What would you like to learn about growing herbs?
- 4. Overview Why we grow herbs Which ones to grow Where to grow How to grow and harvest How to use and preserve Resources
- 5. Definition of Herb Botanical: An herb is a seed plant that does not produce a woody stem Culinary: The aromatic leaf, stem or flower of low-growing shrubs
- 10. Culinary
- 11. Culinary
- 12. Health Benefits: Nutrition Rich in key vitamins and minerals Antioxidant properties Anti-inflammatory effects Protective pigments: lutein, zeaxanthin Examples:
- 13. Medicinal
- 14. Medicinal Effects Pharmacological activity Herb specific Dose and form dependent Science-based vs. folk lore Examples:
- 15. Be Aware of Health Risks Pharmacological activity Allergic reactions Interaction with medications Examples:
- 20. Choosing Herbs to Grow Ornamental Culinary Aromatic Cosmetic Medicinal Spiritual/sacred/symbolic
- 21. Choosing Herbs to Grow (cont.) Annual • Perennial • Biennial Hardiness Sun/shade tolerance
- 22. Annual herbs… Anise Arugula Basil Burnet Borage Chervil Cilantro Dill Summer savory Sweet cicely
- 23. Perennial herbs… Bay laurel Bee balm Catnip Chives Fennel Hyssop Lavender Lemon balm Lovage Marjoram/oregano
- 24. Perennial herbs… (cont) Mint Rosemary* Tarragon Thyme Winter savory Sweet Woodruff Scented geranium* Yarrow
- 25. Biennial herbs… Parsley Caraway
- 26. Site Considerations Space available Sunlight Drainage Soil fertility pH
- 27. Shade tolerant Chervil Chives Lemon balm Parsley Mint St. John’s Wort Sweet woodruff
- 28. Growing Herbs in Containers
- 30. Where to get your herbs? Start from seed Buy seedlings Make stem cuttings or root divisions
- 32. Favorite seed sources Seed-saving and sharing Local nurseries Online sources:
- 33. Online seed sources: Seed Savers.org Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Nichols’ Garden Nursery Territorial Seed Company Johnny’s Selected Seeds John Scheeper’s Kitchen Garden Seeds
- 34. Start early from seeds… Anise hyssop Basil Catnip Chamomile Chives Feverfew Lemon balm Marjoram Sorrel Thyme Parsley Savory – summer and winter
- 35. Sow directly in the ground… Anise Borage Caraway Chervil Cilantro Dill Fennel
- 36. Buy seedlings and plant after last frost date… Germander Lavender Rosemary Santolina
- 37. Grow from stem cuttings Chamomile Scented geraniums Germander Horehound Hyssop Lemon balm Lemon verbena Marjoram Oregano Mint Rue Sage Santolina Winter savory
- 38. Grow from root division Anise hyssop Bee balm Catnip Chives Echinacea Feverfew Germander Horehound Hyssop Lemon balm Lovage Marjoram/oregano
- 39. Grow from root division (cont.) Rosemary Rue Sage Santolina Sweet woodruff Tansy Tarragon Thyme Valerian Yarrow
- 40. Culture Adequate water Tailor fertilizer: Chervil, fennel, lovage, summer savory Remove flower heads to prolong leaf use
- 41. Harvesting Start as soon as plant has enough leaves Pick leaves before the heat of the day Pick before flower buds open
- 42. Uses for Fresh Herbs Garnish salads and hot foods Fruit and fruit salads Baked goods – sweet and savory Add to simmered foods prior to serving Flavored vinegars, sugar or salt, liqueurs, jellies and jams In flower arrangements
- 43. Making herb sugar or salt
- 44. Edible Flowers Herb Flowers Bachelor’s buttons Calendulas Carnations, dianthus Daylily* Marigold Nasturtiums Rose petals Squash blossoms Stock Pansies/violas
- 45. How do I Preserve my herbs? Wash in cool running water Pat dry Choose whether to freeze or dry Do not preserve in oil
- 48. Winter protection Over-winter tender herbs inside Mulch outdoor perennial herbs
- 49. Books The Complete Book of Herbs – L. Bremness The Cook’s Herb Garden – J. Cox The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices – A. Clevely, et al Homegrown Herbs – T. Hartung
- 50. Resources http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcro p/med-aro/seedsources.html http://www. herbcompanion.com The Herb Quarterly magazine http://herbgardeningguru.com http://homecooking.about.com/libra ry/weekly/blflowers.htm
- 51. Questions?
- 52. Contact Information Kerry Seymour, MS, RD Email: seymourk@unce.unr.edu Phone: (775) 784-4848
- 53. Thank You!
Editor's Notes
- Botanical: … an herb forms new stems and leaves each season. Herbs vs. Spice:: A spice can be from the plant’s bark, root, bud, fruit, berry or seed The first recorded mention of herbs and their uses was by the Egyptians ~2000 BC on papyrus scrolls. The study and use of herbs exploded during the middle ages; all those monks in monasteries.
- We grow herbs to enhance the landscape. Traditional herb knot gardens originated with Druid and Celtic patterns, became popular in Elizabethan England The formal herbal knot garden design moved to America during early Colonial times.
- We grow herbs to enhance the modern landscape
- Does anyone except me have a thyme lawn?
- We grow herbs for culinary purposes. Here fresh mint from the school garden jazzes up some canned pineapple.
- You can make a simple tisane or herb tea by steeping fresh leaves in boiling water. Favorites: mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm Herbal vinegar: Use 3 to 1 ratio of vinegar to fresh herb: Pack herb in glass jars, cover with choice of vinegar: white or white wine to see the color of the herb. Put in cool, dark location for at least 2 weeks; strain through coffee filter or muslin. Favorites: tarragon, chive flower, mint, rosemary, basil, oregano, dill What about herbal oils? Botulism hazard Herbal jams and jellies: classic mint jelly, lavender peach
- Vitamins A, C, folic acid and K, Potassium Anti-inflammatory: turmeric and basil (also ginger) Examples: basil: Vit A and K, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, potassium and iron Parsley: same plus Vit. C, potassium and calcium Rosemary: high in folic acid, as well as A
- We grow herbs for culinary purposes. Here fresh mint from the school garden jazzes up some canned pineapple.
- More than 25% of modern medicines contain plant extracts. We’ve already mentioned anti-inflammatory effects Examples: aspirin from willow bark Digitalis (digoxin) from foxglove Chemotherapy drugs: Vincristine and vinblastine from vinca Peppermint (but not spearmint) to soothe upset stomach; sage tea as a sore-throat gargle
- Being natural doesn’t mean safe and wholesome. Some of the most powerful toxins known are natural: amanita mushroom, botulism is naturally occurring Raspberry leaf is safe to make into teas; Rhubarb leaf – high amounts of oxalic acid –is toxic Fennel – culinary uses are fine; its volatile oil > vomiting, seizures, respiratory problems Rue – skin blisters following topical application and exposure to sunlight St. John’s Wort – photosensitivity dermatitis Interaction w/medications: due to high Vit. K level may interfere with warfarin type blood thinners
- Can be an ingredient in homemade soaps, lotions, lip balms, bath salts. Can you name some? Rosemary mint shampoo; lavender oil Be aware of risk of sensitivity or allergic reactions: skin irritation or rashes Aromatherapy uses: rosemary and the citrus scented herbs are energizing; lavender fragrance is calming
- The pre-Christina druids used herbs for conjuring and rituals: mistletoe was named by Pliny the Elder in 1 st Century AD. Yarrow was used in the casting of spells Herbal Labyrinth from The Gardener’s Labyrinth Thomas Hill 1579 or Didymus Mountaine “… may be set with Isope and Time, or with winter Savory and Tyme, for these do well endure all ye winter through greene. And there be some which set their mazes with Lavender, Cotton Spike, Majerome and such like. But them be ordered in this point, as liketh best the Gardener…”
- Sacred saxon maze as a model
- White sage is traditionally burned by Native Americans in cleansing or purification rituals and also used by modern day Goddess culture practitioners So of these uses, which interest you?
- Clearly there’s a crossover of reasons to grow herbs: they can be all of these things. Among a specific type of herb, the use can determine which variety to choose. E.g, for culinary purposes, I grow sweet basil to make caprese salads and pesto. I like Greek oregano and Tuscan blue rosemary for their potent aroma and flavor.
- Let’s take a minute and check you’re herb knowledge… Can you name some classic annual herbs? Anise, basil, chervil, cilantro, dill, summer savory Perennial herbs? Chives, fennel, lavendar, lovage, marjoram, mint, tarragon, thyme, winter savory Biennial? Parsley and caraway
- Remember that these are just general types, there are many different varieties within each.
- *tender in northern Nevada;
- Can you name some shade loving or at least tolerant herbs?
- Space available: ex. French lavender vs. English lavender Sunlight: most want full sun. Can you name some shade loving or at least tolerant herbs? Good drainage is important: None like soggy conditions; most soils benefit from addition of compost Soil fertility: most like average garden soil; Only a few like additional fertilizer. pH: most prefer more acidic conditions than our native soils provide; though anise is listed as one that likes alkaline soils; amending with compost will help lower the pH a little.
- Can you recognize the herb shown here? Sweet woodruff – a great groundcover for dry shade. Essential ingredient in May wine.
- Christmas basil, has a pine fragrance Highly recommend that mint be grown in containers due to its invasive nature
- Show peat pellets
- Examples of notorious self-sowers: anise hyssop, borage, lemon balm
- Any others?
- One source said thyme may not be true to seed so should be purchased or taken as a cutting.
- … When the ground warms up. These don’t transplant well.
- … When the ground warms up.
- … When the ground warms up.
- Tailor fertilizer : too much will promote rampant leaf growth and minimize volatile oils so flavor will be less intense.
- Example lavender and chamomile
- Classic French Fines herbes: equal parts parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil Bouquet garni: parsley, thyme and bay leaf Herbes de provence: herbal mixture that contains lavender Can you give examples of any personal favorites: Add dried herbs at beginning of simmering a soup or stew to extract the most flavor out of the dried leaves Flavored sugars or salt: mince fresh herb leaf and stir into sugar or salt. Stir well and keep in a sealed jar a few weeks to allow flavor to permeate the salt or sugar. Can you think of examples?
- Can you give examples of any personal favorites: Add dried herbs at beginning of simmering a soup or stew to extract the most flavor out of the dried leaves Flavored sugars or salt: mince fresh herb leaf and stir into sugar or salt. Stir well and keep in a sealed jar a few weeks to allow flavor to permeate the salt or sugar. Can you think of examples?
- Herb flowers: basil, borage, chives, thyme, rosemary Citron Daylily, certain varieties of Asiatic lily Signet (tagetes signata) and Mexican (t. lucida) varieties of Marigold
- If you’re saving the whole leaf, need to blanch for best quality Examples of good herbs to freeze (those with relatively low volatile oil or those whose flavor is lost when drying: basil, parsley,
- Herbs that have a high volatile oil content retain flavor best when dried: Rosemary, tarragon, sage If preserving seed heads, put in a paper bag punched with holes to permit good air circulation