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78<br />
Award Winner<br />
Grow a herb garden<br />
this summer<br />
by Angie Barker<br />
Herbs are some of the easiest plants you can grow<br />
– provided you get the conditions right as not all<br />
herbs will flourish in the same conditions. Broadly<br />
they fall into two groups: those that like it dry and<br />
sunny (like me) or those that prefer a little more<br />
moisture and can take some shade (like hubby).<br />
Some are evergreen, others not but they are all<br />
worth growing and they are good for you, each<br />
one having its own beneficial health properties.<br />
Home grown herbs taste SO much better than<br />
any shop bought ones. There are a couple of<br />
things to think about before starting. Firstly,<br />
there is a huge variety to grow but its best to stick<br />
to growing what you actually like to eat. For instance it<br />
would be a waste of time growing coriander in my garden<br />
as hubby doesn’t like it. However, offer him a sprinkle of<br />
garlic chives on his egg mayonnaise and he’ll snap your<br />
hand off! Secondly, don’t be tempted to site your herb<br />
garden at the bottom of the garden. You need easy access<br />
from the back door for picking even when its raining. So,<br />
which herbs fall into which category.<br />
Those which prefer a well drained soil (ie. add lots of grit<br />
and site in a sunny spot) include:<br />
Thyme – there is a huge variety to chose from, generally<br />
evergreen and very fragrant<br />
Sage – again lots of types including variegated varieties,<br />
available for picking all year round<br />
Rosemary – delicious flavour added to meat dishes<br />
Characters requiring a more moist soil include:<br />
Parsley - best grown as a hardy annual each year and<br />
very useful in the kitchen<br />
Mint – great with your Sunday roast and the spearmint<br />
variety is even better in a Mojito cocktail. Be aware<br />
however that Mint should only ever be planted in a pot. It<br />
will take over your entire plot if allowed to<br />
Chives – very useful as even the flowers can be added to<br />
dishes as a garnish and they look very pretty in the garden<br />
There are of course many more to chose from, for instance<br />
I’ve not mentioned Basil, which is a popular one but it can<br />
only be grown outside in the height of summer as it is<br />
tender and likes lots of warm sunshine (again like me).<br />
So there you are, pour yourself a Mojito and give it a go<br />
this summer. Cheers!<br />
Angie is a qualified awardwinning<br />
garden designer<br />
who will plan your garden<br />
to your needs from start to<br />
finish, supplying reputable<br />
contractors and the ideal<br />
plants.<br />
Call Angie now for your free consultation!<br />
Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons)<br />
Garden Design For All Seasons<br />
Tel: 01942 522 405<br />
Mob: 07857 008 383<br />
www.angiebarker.co.uk<br />
Award Winner
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