Indoor Herb Garden Kits and Herbal Remedies

There is something remarkably rewarding in growing plants which have so many features and attributes. The thought of herb growing is possibly a trifle challenging to some, but once undertaken it is likely to become an almost addictive hobby.

Many herbs can reside in a small area. Unlike most plants herbs are not only for show. They may not be terribly showy but who can withstand the stunning blue color of the borage blossom or even the lovely blue of rosemary flowers? Who can ignore the delightful scent of lemon verbena, lavender or lemon balm wafting through the evening air.Not to mention the satisfaction of their inclusion into a favourite meal.

In the event that an apartment-dweller aspires to the indulgence of garden-fresh herbs, a selection of containers in a windowsill, a window box or simply pots on a balcony may well be all you need.

So which herbs should one grow? This must depend upon the personal taste of each individual – do you crave the light onion taste of chives, or are you going to prefer an all round lifter such as basil or marjoram? Are you a devoted ‘mint-saucer’ with lamb, or do you need fennel with your fish and chicken?

Influenced by personal taste and a good deal of response from readers, may I offer the following guidelines to start out with:

• Chives for flavour and bite.
• Thyme for soups, stews and bouquet garni.
• Basil for tomato dishes.
• Fresh coriander for salads and curries.
• Chervil for egg dishes and fines herbs.
• Sage, Marjoram or Oregano. Plant oregano in a separate pot.
• Tarragon.
• Mint for lamb. Mint takes over so plant in it’s own pot.
• Fennel for fish.
• Parsley for everything- buy seedlings and transplant.
• Rocket for zesty salads.

chamomile lawn section

In the 1970′s a trend emerged for creating herb lawns. There was a glorious example of a chamomile lawn at Buckingham Palace – and for all I know is still there. As with most things there are simple caveats to choosing a herb lawn. The following are considered most suitable:

Hardy:

Choose Chamomile anthemis nobilis to create a lawn that will give you as much wear as conventional grasses.  This makes for a beautiful lawn hardy enough to stay verdant even during hot weather. It is tough enough to compete with more conventional lawns insofar as withstanding wear and tear due to traffic.

A chamomile lawn will grow in most soils except clay, but light sandy soil is best. Water and keep your chamomile herb lawn watered and weedfree to achieve a dense matted greensward.

Sow seeds in seed beds or growing boxes in Spring – transplant to the desired lawn area when large enough to handle. Alternately buy plants from your local nursery and plant these approximately 100mm apart during Spring or Fall. Mow when 75mm in height initially and thereafter mow regularly to prevent flowering.

Suitable for low traffic and filler areas:

• Thyme Thymusserpyllum. This is the toughest and most diminutiveof the thymes – it makes a fragrant carpet as opposed to a hardy lawn meant for strolling across: Although it will not take much traffic, it exudes a superb fragrance when walked on and crushed. This lawn is great in a decorative corner or around a garden feature, as a pathway or planted between paving stones. Works best when best planted from well-formed roots in Spring. Weed and water well as it is not a particularly fast grower and takes a little time to establish a decent spread. It can be mowed if required, but it is a bit of a shame to dispose of the attractive lilac blossoms.

• Pennyroyal Mentha requiem. This is one of the smallest of the mint family and like thyme is not really hardy enough to bear much traffic. Apply the same planting and propogation rules as given above for thyme.

Passion Flower, Granadilla, Maypop flower

Passion Flower, Maypop, Granadilla

Passiflora incarnata

Description

Passiflora is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants. The majority are vines but include herbaceous and shrub types.with some being shrubs,

Passion flowers have a singular structure, whilst some are self-pollinating, most require pollination via bees or hummingburds.

Dependant on the type, most species have circular or ovoid edible fruit ranging from two to eight inches long and an inch to two inches across.

History

The Passifloraceae family is found worldwide except for the Poles.The family Passifloraceae exist in Africa, but the passiflora are not native to Africa.

Passiflora species are native to America, many species are native to South America, China, New Guinea, Southern Asia and Australia with one native plant being found in New Zealand. The purple and yellow passionfruits are grown commercially in many tropical and sub-tropical regions.

The species is an important sources of nectar for numerous insects.

Many Passiflora types secrete nutrient-rich fluids from their leaf stems. These attract ants which protect the plants from harmful pests.

Also known as maypop. they consist of a woody vine with unusual flowers reminuscent of the passion of Christ.

• The blue and white flowers of many speciesstand for Heaven and Purity.
• Pointed tips of the leaves resembled the Holy Lance.
• The radial filaments represent the crown of thorns.
• Tendrils are reminiscent of the whips used in Christs flagellation.
• Ten petals and sepals are likened to ten apostles (St. Peter and Judas Iscariot excluded).
• Three stigmas are the 3 nails and the 5 anthers the 5 wounds.
• A chalice-shaped ovary represents the Holy Grail

Usage

Always check with your health professional prior to embarking on a remedial course of alternate remedies.

Passionflower has a tranquilising affect on the nervous system and is indicated specifically for anxiety and insomnia. It is a non habit forming remedy for anxiety, passionflower has been used for assisting in alleviating alcohol, nicotine and opiate withdrawal. The gentle action cause it to be considered for anxiety based insomnia prior to using Valerian.

Granadilla, Maypop, Passion Flower vine

Maypop leaves and roots were used by Native North Americans. Fresh or dried leaves are used for a tea to treat hysteria, insomnia and epilepsy; also valued for its analgesic properties.

Passion Flower is classified as a naturally grown medicinal herb for the treatment of insomnia and nervousness. Passion Flower reduces spasms and depresses the central nervous system.Also used as a sedative in nervous disorders (including gastrointestinal complaints of nervous origin), difficulties in sleeping, anxiety or restlessness.

Propagation

Passion flower likes moderately fertile, well-drained but reliably moist soils. Full sun or semi shade is best, but sheltered from cold, drying winds by a south, south-west or west-facing wall.Thrives in any soil type regardless of acidity or alkalinity.

Passion flowers do well in a container with a good quality multipurpose or peat-free compost. Water passion flowers well in the growing season but more sparingly during the winter, allowing the compost surface of container grown plants to start drying out between watering sessions.

Use a general fertiliser by following the recommended dosage indicated on the pack.

Camellia Sinensis
(The “Tea Plant” camellia)

Appearance
Many camellias are cultivated for their flowers – 3,000-odd cultivars and hybrids are thought to be extant.

Although frequently denied recognition as a camellia – the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is by far the most prolific and well known. The Japanese Camellia (C. japonica) and C. sasanqua are popular varieties grown primarily for their blossoms as the fruit of camellia plants is merely a dessicated pod split in several compartments, each holding 6 to 8 seeds.

Camelias are evergreen and can achieve a height of some 40 to 60 feet 14 to 18 metres. Leaves are alternately arranged, thick, saw-toothed and shiny.Flowers are typically big and prominent.Colors of the flowers mostly vary from white to red. The commercially grown tea variety are typically grown in high, misty lush valleys making the tea plantations a feast for the eyes.

History
The camellias are a genus of flowering plants native to eastern and southern Asia.The genus was named by Linnaeus after the Jesuit botanist Georg Joseph Kamel.

The vigorous tea trade in the latter 18th century brought new types of tea to Europe and particularly England. The many intrigues and politics of the tea trade are better read in history books than here, where the plant is the primary hero and not some or other commercial war.

Camellias were grown in the Far East for centuries before they were introduced into Europe, where Engelbert Kaempfer reported the “Japan Rose”, growing wild in woodland and hedgerow.

Usage
The tea plant, is of primary commercial concern since our everyday cup of tea is made from the top leaves picked young by hand and dried. The finest teas are produced by C. sinensis due to many generations of genetic manipulation, various other varieties are capable of producing some very fine ‘cuppa’s’.

A sweet seasoning and cooking tea oil made by pressing the Oil-seed Camellia (C. oleifera), the Japanese Camellia (C. japonica), and other varieties. Almost unknown beyond East Asia, this is the primary cooking oil for countless millions in southern China and nearby regions.

Cultivation
Generally camellias require copious amounts of water either from irrigation or rain, and the plants will not tolerate droughts. Most camellia plants respond well to acidic, humus-filled soil; conversely most species do poorly in calcium-rich or chalky soils.

Depending on location and soil, camellias may typically grow vigourously at about a foot a year (30cm) until they are fully grown.

Get a plant from your local nurseryman, (or -woman) who will advise you regarding types suitable for your local conditions

See With Your Nose

Many years ago I was involved with setting up a fragrance garden for the residents of a home for sight deprived men and women. My Lions Club was the sponsor and I got co-opted onto the organising committee.

Our first task was to decide what plants to incorporate as a precursor to planning the layout and various candiddates were propounded; prominent amongst these were the classsical scented plants such as lavender, jasmine, roses and several others. At this point, as a result of the hiatus of additional suggestions, we approached the manageress of the facility – herself a partially sughted person – for her advice on the plant inclusions list.

Her suggestion was terse, if a bit cryptic: Go to a nursery and see with your nose.

In those days, nurseries were not big on herbs, flowering annuals being the flavour of the period, but certainly had wonderfully fragrant floral examples to add to our short list. So off we went, literally blindfolded one another and toured a local nursery with a guide attached. Silly it might sound, but our lady guru had hit the nail on the head.

The nursery owner, intrigued by our antics, sent us off to a private nursery specialising in herbs to add to our experience and our short list. I truly do not remember more than a handful of species chosen by us for the fragrance garden, but the herbal contingent certainly included lemon verbena and lavender amongst its ranks. More importantly, it gave all of us an insight into another way of observing things.

To this day I close my eyes the better to enjoy some or other wonderful fragtance wafting past my nose.

Having said all that, what I am trying to do is give you a better appreciation of herbal (And other) fragrances and list the herbs you might consider for a fragrance herb garden. By planting such a garden you get a double whammy out of your herbs.

Herbs For Fragrant Gardens (My Personal Top 10)

• Lemon Verbena
• Lavender
• Bergamot
• The French, Apothecarys or Damask Rose
• Hyssop
• Lemon Balm
• Calamintha
• Lemon Scented Tea Tree
• Pineapple Sage
• Rose Scented Geranium

Note that there are many more scented herbs in my life than the list above, but these are my top essential fragrance garden herbs. This entire post is essentially in reply to the mail I received after the “Herbal Fragrances Examined” article in January 2011. This should be seen as supplementary to that particular post.

Thanks to all who enquired about the original fragrance post. It is really wonderful hearing from you all.

Chervil
Anthriscus cerefolium

Appearance
Chervil is an annual herb from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24″) with a spread of up to 30 cm. (12′) Characteristic Flowers are an attractive lacy white and are best in midsummer. Remember though that flowering will reduce the flavour so split your container, beds and border sowing to take this culinary versus showy factor into account.

History
Chervil is native to the Caucasus – the Romans carried it throughout much of Europe, where it thrives to this day.

Usage
Chervil’s distinctive taste will enhance most dishes, even salads. Harvest some chervil for adding in to caesar salads, red fish, roux’s and potatoes. The flavour of chervil has been likened to the taste interpretation of the smell of freshly cut grass with undertones of fennel.

In times past, pregnant women bathed in a chervil infusion. Chervil was used for curing hiccups by infusing with vinegar. It was widely used as a digestive aid, a skin cleanser and a blood purifier. Medically it was used to treat high blood pressure. ,

Chervil has the virtue of attracting butterflies to a garden and is worth growing for this trait alone.

Propogation
Chervil likes a sunny or partly shaded domicile, but prefers moist soil and shaded roots. Chervil does not take well to transplanting. The recommended method is to sow seeds in situ and do this at intervals during the growing season for continuous availability. Allow plants to flower in order for them to self seed where they stand for the following season.

Aromatherapy Theory

The concept of aromatherapy, which uses fragrant essential oils that possess the capacity to make us feel good is thought to stem from the thought that the sense of smell was humans first sense; an important part of our’old brain’ which is not controlled by will or reason. Much like the fight or flight reaction, that which you smell triggers an instant, automatic response within our body, influencing heartbeat, body temperature, desire for food, digestion and remembrance.

The majority of the fragrances connected with aromatherapy are natural ones, testifying to the healing, soothing and life-giving powers of herbs. Growing to be aware of the potency of fragrance provides another dimension to the herb garden and increases the pleasure of cultivating herbs. Fragrant herbs don’t have to be confined to the herb garden either. They can be spread throughout the flower and vegetable garden.

Fragrant plants, such as lavender, rosemary, lemon verbena and scented geraniums, have to be handled or brushed against in order to liberate their fragrance so they are commonly used as borders, along paths, in containers or next to seats where one can easily brush against them or stroke the leaves using your fingers.

Varieties Of Fragrance

Broadly speaking, aromatic herbs can be divided into two groups – those that have an energising or invigorating effect and those that are relaxing and soothing. There are some herbs, including rosemary and lemon verbena, that may possess both.

• Calming herbs include Roman chamomile, bergamot, lavender, clary sage, and marjoram.
• Alternative energising herbs comprise peppermint, aromatic sage, pineapple sage, basil, feverfew, citronella geranium and lemon-scented tea tree.

There is a link between colour and aroma; ‘hot’ hued herbs, like pineapple sage (it has red-colored flowers), are invigorating while the colour and fragrance of purple herbs, such as lavender, can be relaxing.  It’s possible to also make a link involving the healing actions of herbs and their fragrance. The scent of the herb comes from it’s volatile natural oils; these oils are important active constituents in the therapeutic actions of plants.

Perfumed Natural Herbs That Delight The Senses.

Lemon Verbena Aloysia Triphylla
Lemon verbena grows into a large bushy shrub with strongly ” lemon ” perfumed leaves. It produces sprays of small white flowers in summer. It has calming and digestive properties but also provides a tonic that helps to elevate the mood and counter depression. It needs full sun and free-draining garden soil; when grown in places that receive frost it has to be planted in a sheltered position. Cutting it back hard in springtime will inspire fresh growth off the old wood.

Rose-Scented Geranium Pelargonium Graveolens
The lovely rose fragrance released from the deeply green leaves of P. graveolens is unsurpassed. It grows into a compact garden shrub which also does well in large pots. It develops best in maximum sun yet will tolerate limited shade. It requires free-draining earth plus weekly watering, and can be trimmed back if it gets untidy.

Citronella Geranium Pelargonium Citronellum
The deeply indented green leaves of P. citronellum are pungently fragrant when crushed, liberating lemon-scented plant oils. It’s regarded as a mosquito repellant, when its leaves are applied over surfaces. It can also be used in potpourris and herb cushions. It is frost tender and can be cultivated in a sheltered garden as well as in pots. It enjoys sun, free-draining earth and weekly watering.

Passion Fruit Daisy Tagetes Species
The leaves of this small perennial shrub smell strongly of passion fruit. It bears golden yellow-colored daisies almost all the year, especially in winter. It grows in sun or part shade and is drought tolerant but does best with regular sprinkling and feeding. It’s frost tender but rebounds swiftly.

Pineapple Sage Salvia Elegans
This shrubby perennial sage is an appealing garden plant. It’s quick growing and produces an abundance of red blossoms and has green pointed leaves with a powerful pineapple scent. It does best in full sun and damp, fertile soil that drains well. After flowering it can be pruned to maintain form, but you must steer clear of chopping into the old wood.

Making Use Of Fragrant Herbal Plants

Using the herbs is often as straightforward as just harvesting them and inhaling their aroma but there are many more ways of infusing their fragrance into your daily life:

• Make a fragrant cushion from dried herbs, apple-scented chamomile constitutes a soothing tea for a good night’s sleep.
• For a calming bath, place the leaves and flowers of calming herbs in a cloth bag or old stocking and hang it beneath the warm water tap while running a bath. You can also create a good infusion and combine it with the bath water.
• Make use of blossoms and leaves to make a fragrant posy or table bouquet.
• Employ energising herbs in cold and hot beverages and breathe in their aroma while you drink
• Make your own household cleaning agent by combining one part vinegar and nine portions of a robust herb infusion. It’ll kill germs, smell good and clean almost any surface area.
• Make use of the dried herbal products in spicy or sweet potpourris.