Page 26 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

Rosmarinus officinalis
outdoors. Softwood cuttings are used for
mints, thyme, Origanum and other soft
material.
The other main method is semi-ripe
cuttings, now sometimes called semi-
hardwood (I am not sure why as they have
been called semi-ripe since the year dot!).
These are taken from July to September
when the wood is semi-ripe hence their
name, the growth should be current years
with a tiny bit of older growth at the base.
The cuttings should be 75 to 100mm long
and either nodal or heel; to take heel
cuttings find the cutting on the plant and
hold it near the base and then give a sharp
pull so it tears off with a small sliver or old
wood this is the heel. Remove the lower
leaves and dib into pots of trays then water
and place into a cold frame, propagator or
polythene bag. Semi-ripe cuttings are used
for lavender, rosemary, sage, helichrysum
(Curry plant), Myrtus and Santolina (Cotton
lavender).
Whether seed or cutting raised plant
out in the spring into prepared ground and
water in, if the weather continues to be dry
water as required until they are established.
Most herbs are better grown dry as this
concentrates the oils in the plant which
gives a stronger flavour. Hoe or weed the
beds / area regularly to prevent weeds
becoming established as they compete
Mixed herbs
26 Simply Vegetables
Golden Marjoram with the herbs for nutrients and water. Take
care if weeding around Ruta (rue) as the
plants can cause skin irritation especially in
sunny weather. To help reduce the weeding
mulch the area with organic material as this
also helps to conserve moisture and can
look attractive. Woodchip, bark, compost,
spent hops or use a membrane and cover
it with pea gravel. Apply the mulch in the
spring when the soil is moist but not cold.
Herbs do not usually require feeding with
the possible exception of mint or chives if
in poor soil and are not mulched. It is better
to grow herbs hard and avoid soft sappy
growth which can be prone to pest attack
and lack flavour. If the herb is a flowering
one dead head them after flowering unless
you wish to collect the seed; this stops the
energy going into the seed and can prolong
flowering if that is wanted. Woody herbs
like sage, rosemary and lavender are better
is given a light pruning each year to keep
the growth fresh and prevent them going
woody. Trim lightly with shears or secateurs
after flowering or in the autumn, do not cut
back into old wood as some will not regrow
well from old wood. If you wish to keep the
growth young but are not picking regularly
trim them during the season.
Less hardy plants should be either
covered with fleece or brought indoors in
the autumn, the other alternative is to take
Basil 'Purple Ruffles'
cuttings in the late summer and overwinter
these indoors.
The maintenance of herbs grown in
containers is similar to the above, the main
differences are they will need watering
regularly if it has not rained as they have
limited access to water; and they will
require feeding with a slow-release fertiliser
once a year or giving a liquid feed every
two months. In the winter protect the pot
during cold weather to prevent it freezing
which can damage both the container and
the plants roots.
The following is a list of easy to grow
herbs with both the Latin and common
name so there is no confusion if you go to
the garden centre looking for them.
•
Allium sativum – garlic
•
Allium schoenaprasum – chives
•
Angelica archangelica
•
Artemisa absinthium – wormwood
•
Artemisa dracunculus – French
tarragon
•
Borage officinalis – borage
•
Calendula officinalis – pot marigold
•
Coriandrum sativum – coriander
•
Foeniculum vulgare – fennel
•
Glycyrrhiza glabra – liquorice
•
Helichrysum italicum – curry plant
•
Humulus lupulus – hop
•
Hyssopus officinalis – hyssop
•
Laurus nobilis – bay laurel
•
Lavandula angustifolia – lavender
(there are other species as well)
•
Melissa officinalis – balm
•
Mentha x piperata – peppermint
•
Mentha x piperata ‘Citrata’ lemon mint
•
Mentha suaveolens – apple mint
•
Mentha x gracillus Variegata – ginger
mint
•
Ocimum basilicum – basil
•
Origanum majorana – sweet
marjoram
•
Origanum vulgare – oregano
•
Salvia officinalis – sage
•
Salvia rosmarinus – rosemary (it
has been renamed salvia from
Rosmarinus)
•
Tanacetum parthenium – feverfew
•
Thymus vulgaris – common thyme
•
Thymus x citriodorus – lemon thyme