Chamomile

Before I started growing herbs, the closest I'd come to chamomile was when I read about the time that Peter Rabbit raced home to his mother after having a bad meeting with Farmer McGregor. Peter's mom put him into bed and gave him a cup of chamomile tea to calm his nerves. Since almost anything liquid that my mom ever gave me as a form of medicine was anything but tasty, I'd permanently closed my mind to the possibility that chamomile could be anything but nasty.

When I placed orders for heirloom seeds last fall, one of the orders came with a freebie pack of chamomile seeds. I put them aside, thinking I'd toss them out into a part of the garden where I plan to let it grow wild. One day, I found the seeds and I ripped them open and tossed them into a flat where I'd had a failed crop of echinacea. I had zero idea that they'd actually germinate.


But, they did. And I got a beautiful flat of healthy, ferny leaves that looked much like carrot tops. Soon little buds appeared, and the ferny greeness was dotted with tiny daisy-like flowers. I was enchanted. As I was clipping some of the flowers to add to a budvase of small blooms, I happened to crush one of the blooms and instantly the room was filled with the odor of fresh-cooked applesauce.


Needless to say, the next time I placed an order for seeds, chamomile topped the list. I'm disappointed that our variety is an annual, but it's well worth planting every year for the lovely flush foliage and the delightful blooms. It's a very determined bloomer, blooming even when kept mowed to lawn-height making walking across the lawn an apple-scented wonder.


The fact that the blooms are edible is just icing on the cake. An apple cake, I suppose. :)

BFF Herbs

Texting has become such a way of life for many that even old man Webster is having to include some of the terms in the dictionary. Even the very word "texting" has been added as a verb, as has 'friending' or 'unfriending' thanks to the rash of Facebookers and Twitterers. 

BFF's (Best Friends Forever, for those of you living under a rock these days) aren't just found on Facebook or the cell phone though, many can be found right in your herb garden. 

Tomatoes and basil are one of the most common pairings found in herb and vegetable gardens. While almost everyone is aware of the special bond that happens when put a few sprigs of basil with a couple of slices of ripe red tomato... but did you know that these BFFs have a relationship that surpasses the one we know about in the kitchen? That growing basil and tomatoes side by side in the garden not only makes that spot in the garden a "one stop shopping" place, but will actually help your tomatoes grow better? Basil attracts bees which pollinate the tomatoes, making them stronger, and deters many of the pests that beat us to the very biggest and best tomatoes so many times! 

There are many other plants that benefit from having their BFFs grown nearby. Including:

` BEE BALM (Oswego): Plant with tomatoes to improve growth and flavor.

` BORAGE: Companion plant for tomatoes, squash and especially strawberries. Deters tomato worms.

` CALENDULA (Marigold):  The workhorse of pest deterrents. Keeps soil free of nematodes; discourages many insects. Plant freely throughout the garden.

` CATNIP: Deters flea beetles.

` CHAMOMILE: Improves flavor of cabbages and onions.

` CHERVIL: Companion to radishes for improved growth and flavor.

` CHIVES: Improves growth and flavor of carrots (and apples). Chives steeped in water makes a great spray to treat powdery mildew disease.

` DILL: Improves growth and health of cabbage, lettuce, corn and cucumber.

` FLAX: Plant with carrots, and potatoes.

` GARLIC: Plant near fruit trees and tomatoes, near roses to repel aphids.

` HYSSOP: Companion plant to cabbage and grapes, deters cabbage moths. 

` LEMON BALM: Great for tomatoes.

` LOVAGE: It’s name makes it easy to remember that most plants LOVE it!

` MARIGOLD (or Calendula): Keeps aphids away from roses

` MARJORAM: Improves flavor of all vegetables.

` MINT: Deters white cabbage moths, and improves the health of cabbage and tomatoes. 

` NASTURTIUMS: (Not an herb per se, but because its blooms are so delicious and the plant is such a good companion, we think it deserves to be listed!) Plant with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, and under fruit trees. Deters aphids and pests of curcurbit family.

` OREGANO: Loves cole crops and grape vines. Repels cucumber beetle.

` PARSLEY: Plant near (as well as sprinkle on) tomatoes, carrots, chives and asparagus.

` PETUNIAS: Like the Nasturtium, they're not usually considered an herb, but...remember grandma planting these along her vegetable garden? She may have only planted them because they’re attractive, but, they repel the asparagus beetle, tomato worm and general garden pests. A very  good companion to tomatoes. Be sure to plant heirloom varieties.

` ROSEMARY: Companion plant to cabbage, beans, carrots and sage. Deters cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.

` SAGE: Companion plant with rosemary, cabbage, and carrots to deter cabbage moths, beetles, carrot flies. 

` SUMMER SAVORY: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and flavor. Discourages cabbage moths.

` TANSY: Plant with fruit trees, roses and raspberries. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants. (Don't plant near livestock pastures because it can be toxic to cows, horses, etc)

` THYME: Deters cabbage worms.

` VALERIAN: Good in compost heaps, promotes earthworms.

` WORMWOOD: A border of it helps keep animals out of the garden.

There are many other great companions, and sometimes gardeners still happen upon a combination that is the start of a beautiful friendship. 

Lavender Blue Dilly Dilly

The absolute best thing about owning an herb greenhouse business is that I can justify spending money for herbs that I might not have been able to afford or justify the expense of before. I've always wanted to "collect" lavender, and now that we're trying to decide what lavender grows best in our corner of the world, I can do just that.

Currently we have about 10 different varieties from Munstead to Lavender Lady to Vincenza Blue. I'm amazed at the difference in each variety. Some of the varieties don't even look like lavender blooms. The first time my Kew Red bloomed, I had to look twice at the tag before I believed it was actually lavender. With its burgundy-ish honeycomb-shaped flower, it was certainly a far cry from the blueish purple spires that my grandmother used to dry... but it has rapidly become my favorite variety!

I have been very disappointed with some of our lavender plants that are growing in gallon plastic pots. The plants look beautiful until you notice that the base of the greenery (silvery?) looks a bit motheaten. I took advantage of the sparse bottom growth to make up several combo pots and I've gotten myriad compliments from the results. The most gorgeous one by far is the Kew Red Lavender with Swiss Mint growing at its base. The Mint winds among the bald branches and fills in with green, so the lavender sprigs and blooms seem to pop out at you. Another favorite is a Vicenza Blue surrounded by a circle of Lamb's Ears. All grey, but such different textures and leaf shapes. I did another combination planting with a striped perennial grass around a French Lavender. With the combo of silvery green and white stripes against the fringed edges (some people call it Fringed Lavender mistakenly) I don't mind that it doesn't bloom as often as some other varieties.

I wish Downy Lavender was a little less tender. I have yet to get mine to go through a winter, although they grow so quickly and so large that it's not really that big a deal to replant every spring. Last year, the butterflies covered the one we had at the entrance to the greenhouse so thick that one of our clients said they thought the plant actually had yellow flowers. They were surprised to see that it was a lavender. One of our beekeeping clients says she plants Downy Lavender near their beehives and have gotten some of the best honey they've had in years.

Lavender isn't just for sachets any more either. There are soooo many things you can do with Lavender. One of the most common craft projects of course is Lavender Wands. I've never tried it, but I think they're gorgeous, and the one that Calera McHenry gave me still smells as wonderful as the day I received it... a couple of years ago. Directions for making wands can be found at http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-a-lavender-wand/

Lavender is now considered a culinary plant and many upscale restaurants include dishes featuring lavender on their menus. While there's no doubt that lavender can add a special something to many recipes, you have to be careful or your dish can end up tasting as if you've doused it with perfume. Lavender must definitely be added with a light hand!

Lavender has astringent properties, and long before alchohol was available in the first aid kit for cleansing wounds, nurses knew to include lavender in their patients' bathwater and as they cleansed wounds. The scent of the lavender had the added benefit of calming patients and allowing them to get much-needed sleep. Many baby bath-wash and powder products include lavender for that same reason. Dusting your pillow with a bit of lavender powder can help ensure sweet dreams to come.

Queen Victoria is probably the one person most reponsible for increasing the herb's popularity; during her reign lavender was used in everything from mop water to linen sprays. Ladies-in-waiting used lavender perfume to mask the body odor that invariably is present when you live in a society that does not include bathing as part of a daily ritual. Victoria wasn't the only queen to prefer the scent of lavender. Over the centuries lavender has become the scent of choice for many queens so it has the reputation of royal significance.

Although I can't bring myself to eat lamb, I am told that European shepherds still feed lavender to lambs before harvest because it makes their meat more tender and sweeter. And lavender is used sparingly in many lamb recipes. Personally, I'll stick to the breads and scented sugars.

I'll keep you posted on how our various lavender varieties are doing and I love for you to share your experiences with the varieties you have purchased from us. We keep a log of what plants and varieties appear to be more hardy in our Zone 7 gardens. At the moment, our Hidcote is blooming, and is giving Kew Red a run for its money as they vie for top spot in my heart (and garden).

Until next time, happy herbin'!