On a cold November day, I go out in the garden to cut fresh herbs for the kitchen. Sage, rosemary and thyme are evergreen here in my zone 7 garden. On frozen mornings, I wait until the early afternoon to harvest my herbs. I place the stems of rosemary and sage in a glass of water on my counter until time to prepare the evening meal. I often store these herbs in the water up to a day in advance.
Sage leaves are great for poultry, stuffings and dressings for poultry. Sage provides a nice flavor for autumn dishes that also include butternut squash or pumpkin. Sage officinalis grows in zones 5-11 to a height (in bloom) of up to three feet in full sun with well-drained soil. Just one sage plant in my garden is now about three feet wide in its second year of growth.
I use rosemary for roasted vegetables, roasted chicken, Tuscan beef stew, Italian sauces and breads. Rosemary and lemon work well together for roasted chicken. Rosemary and tomatoes for the Tuscan beef stew. In zones 6 and colder, rosemary can be grown as a container plant. Rosemary grows best in full sun with well-drained soil. As with many herbs, it benefits from trimming. Thyme grows right by my front steps in a micro-climate that is protected from frost. The thyme stays fresh and fragrant into the cold months. Because of this convenience, I pick the thyme right before preparing a meal. I like to use thyme with rice to add just a little flavor. Thyme grows in zones 4-9 in full sun or part shade.
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Aside from the culinary uses, rosemary, sage and thyme are great garden plants. All three bloom, with sage providing the biggest color show in mid-April. Cascading rosemary has been blooming for several months now in my cottage garden. The rosemary bloomed off all spring and summer as well.
Thyme makes a great, low groundcover and spreads rapidly. Upright forms of rosemary work well mixed in a border with perennials and shrubs while cascading rosemary works well on slopes and above retaining walls. Sage is a nice edging plant and provides soft leaf textures among perennials. However, it can be short-lived and has to be replaced every few years.
These herbs are also great for container gardens on decks, terraces or balconies. All three of the culinary varieties of these perennial herbs are deer and rabbit resistant as well as drought tolerant. For the best varieties for your zone, check with your local nursery.
Story and photos by Freda Cameron
Love herbs in the garden. I have all of these except rosemary; which does not like my garden:( It is okay though. Your herbs just love your garden:)
ReplyDeleteTina, can you tell I was tired from cooking and could only think to write about herbs last night? :-)
ReplyDeleteDid you have a great Thanksgiving? I didn't make the blog rounds yesterday afternoon -- in-laws were here and I crashed after they left.
My husband grilled the turkey and it was perfect. I have a great photo of him, but he didn't want me to post it on my blog.
Cameron
Hi Cameron - gathering fresh herbs from my garden whilst I'm cooking is one of my gardening pleasures. It brings a smile to my face every time.
ReplyDeleteI often use various thymes as a border edging. It sends a great waft of scent up every time you brush past it on your way to other parts of the garden.
Wonderful.
VP -- I love thyme and have grown 3-4 varieties. Here in the full sun, you'd think they'd be fine. However, only the culinary garden thyme and the lemon thyme do well in direct southern sun. The rose-color (name escapes me) blooming variety just browned up in the sun, but does well shaded by other perennials.
ReplyDeleteCameron
I haven't done much with herbs yet, but you've inspired me to try these herbs. I do have culinary sage in the garden, planted just this year, and am hoping it will winter over in our zone 5.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the bluegrass music and company of friends.
It's too bad you husband doesn't want you to post that picture of him grilling. I'd love to see it! :) The grilled turkey sounds delicious, and what a great idea!
Good information! I've used rosemary for both an ornamental and a culinary herb. It grows very well here in our area.
ReplyDeleteI should have added that a nicely shaped potted rosemary makes a great indoor holiday tree, decorated with miniature ornaments. Rosemary is easily pruned into shape. Very fragrant and your dogs and cats won't bother a rosemary tree!
ReplyDeleteNo, I could not tell you were tired of cooking at all. Very nice post. We had a good Thanksgiving. I only boiled the potatoes and onions dry. Not a good thing, but at least the turkey and stuffing were okay:) I can understand if family members don't want their photos posted. I always ask mine before posting. I myself get a bit embarrassed seeing my own photo, but every now and then it is ok. Then when folks meet me they might not get too shocked. You have a great day. That grille turkey sounds good and we may do that for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I decided to add Herbs to my garden next year for cooking Cameron. I ordered a purple basil which should not only be great in my pasta dishes but pretty to look at too.
ReplyDeleteThyme and sage are easily grown from seeds. Rosemary roots easily if you take a 'heel' with the cutting.
ReplyDeleteOregano is evergreen for me, wonderful for pizza! I love these touchy-feely plants for a sensory garden.
Nell
P.S. Judy of 'Imagine What I'm Leaving Out' is making lists of new words from the word verifications on blogs of others. Mine here was hunation
Nell
Cameron how blessed you are to still have fresh herbs growing outside! I have had to harvest all mine and dry but that's OK because I know they are fruits of my labor..love all the herbs that you post but I have say rosemary my all time fav. and Lavender!
ReplyDeleteHi, Cameron--Gorgeous herbs--I think herbs are my favorite plants, and I love it that we have them year round. I harvested armloads of oregano a few weeks ago--I let it dry on baking sheets on the counter, and the fragrance fills up the house. Isn't it great to have Thanksgiving with homegrown herbs?
ReplyDeleteHerbs are great. I need to try drying them. I appreciate the advice on that.
ReplyDeleteI also have oregano, chives and lots of lavender in the garden. I grow bronze fennel for the black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
The chives, oregano and lavender are also evergreen here. The deer recently ate the chives -- first time ever, but didn't destroy the plants. I love to eat the chive blossoms.
I don't grow the culinary lavender varieties, but I buy the lavender buds from a nearby farm (see cooking topic for Lavender Scones).
I started growing herbs at my first apartment, where I didn't have much room, but the landlord let me plant some things in the ground. These 3 are among my favorites. I don't have them year round, but they are still doing OK so far. I like the idea of putting them in water. I haven't done that.
ReplyDelete