In your herb garden in June

Things to do in the herb garden this month

• Grow French tarragon - find out how to grow French tarragon here
• Plant out pots of basil and other tender herbs
• Keep sowing seed outside to provide continuity of supply
• Thin seedlings that have been sown direct in the garden
• Trim shrubby herbs such as cotton lavender and box
• Hoe and remove weeds regularly as competition will be great this month
• Take softwood cuttings - Instructions on how to take softwood cuttings below
• Cut cornflowers for drying as the flowers open
• Gather elderflowers for making 'champagne'
• Begin gathering petals of damask rose for drying

Flavour from the garden this month

Anise hyssop grows best
in rich moist soil
• Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Perennial
  Long spikes of purple flowers in the summer provide lovely aniseed scent. Leaves are aniseed flavoured and can be used in teas as well as in recipes with fish, rice and salads. The flowers can be added to fruit salads for a splash of colour.
  The large, purple flower spikes are very attractive to bees and butterflies
• Borage (Borago officinalis) Annual
  A very pretty, Mediterranean addition to the herb garden. Fresh young leaves should be cut for salads. The flavour is reminiscent of cucumber.
  The bright blue flowers can be frozen in ice-cubes to add colour to summer drinks. See how to make Borage ice cubes below
• Catnep (Nepeta cataria) Perennial
  This herb is loved by cats. This is worth keeping in mind if there are pest problems of the feline variety in your locality. Try growing a healthy crop in an area away from tender herbs. The fresh leaves add a light, minty flavour to salads.
  The scented dried leaves can be sewn into cloth balls. These make a popular toy for cats and kittens. They are also claimed to discourage rats in a hen house.
• 
  Clary sage in flower
  at Audley End
• Clary ( Salvia sclarea) Hardy biennial
  A very attractive pink/mauve flowering member of the sage family. Grows to a height of 90cm (3ft). With a slight vanilla/sage flavour, the leaves are used for soups and salads.
  Organic clary seed is available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue.
• Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Annual
  Mediterranean native, so sow in situ in an area of full sun. Will grow in most soils, unless really waterlogged. Flower petals make good culinary dye for rice, scones or butter. They also look great in salads and omelettes.
  Organic seed available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
  A popular addition to barbeques and soups and stews. Use woody sprigs as barbeque skewers.
  See our factsheet on sustainable barbecue fuel
  (Online access to factsheets requires members' password. Find out about becoming a Garden Organic member here.)
  
  Organic rosemary seed available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue
• Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) Perennial
  NOT grown for its flavour as it is, in fact, poisonous. It is, however, a sweetly scented, attractive, cottage garden herb. The tall ruffles of pink flowers can sprawl, so stake early in the season. The roots are still used today to make a gentle wash for ancient tapestries.
  This herb is generally grown as an ornamental. The saponins contained in the plant can be made into a gentle shampoo.
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Perennial
  Attractive herb with delicate, sweet-scented flowers. Flowers are white, often tinged pink. Historically used as a sedative or relaxant.
  Organic seed is available from The Organic Gardening Catalogue.

Borage flowers

How to make Borage ice cubes

• Pick fresh flowers when they are fully open.
• Fill the ice cube tray with water.
  Use boiled water that has been left to cool as this will help to keep the ice cubes clear.
• Add a single flower to each cube. Use tweezers if you find the flowers difficult to handle.
• Place in the freezer for at least 12 hours.
• Add to drinks and fruit salads.

Other flowers can be added to ice cubes, such as;

• Chicory, pick the blue flowers when they are fully open
• Heartsease, perfect for fruit salads
• Pineapple sage, beautiful red flowers are great in cocktails
• Primrose, lovely yellow flowers.

Herbs to propagate this month

SEED SOWING

For a continual crop, sow the following outdoors:

• Arnica (Arnica montana) Perennial
  Sow in trays or modules of multipurpose compost, adding some gravel to aid drainage. Place in cold frame as heat can inhibit germination. It can take up to two years to germinate!
  Arnica is used in homeopathic remedies. Do not take internally except under supervision of a qualified herbalist.
• Borage (Borago officinalis) - See information about Borage above
  Broadcast seed on prepared site. Borage does not like to have its roots disturbed. Prefers well-drained, nutrient poor soil. Grows especially well in chalky, sandy sites. Should be ready to harvest at about eight weeks.

Chives in flower


Hoverfly on fennel flower
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) Hardy perennial
  Chive seed needs temperatures of 19°C or more to germinate, so now is the ideal time to sow. Chives need a rich, moist soil and a sunny position.
  Chives grow well in pots on a window sill or in a window box. Keep well-watered to ensure that leaves stay green and succulent.
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Hardy perennial
  Sow directly into well-drained, fertile soil in a sunny position. Thin to 50cm apart. Do not grow fennel near dill as cross pollination will reduce seed production.
  The large umbels of flowers produced by fennel in late summer are particularly attractive to hoverflies.
• Rocket (Eruca versicaria) Annual
  The leaves have a very pungent, peppery flavour. Sow seed in succession from winter through to late summer. Prefers a warm position and well drained soil. Can be grown in containers. Perfect for salads.
  Rocket can be attacked by flea beetle. See our flea beetle factsheet for information on this pest.
  (Online access to factsheets requires members' password. Find out about becoming a Garden Organic member here.)
• Summer savoury (Satureja hortensis) Annual
  The aromatic leaves are a popular addition to bean dishes. The tiny seed can be sown direct or in seed trays and planted out. Do not cover the seeds as they need light to germinate. Prefers well drained soil in a sunny position.
  Do not let Summer savoury flower as flavour will be impaired.
• Winter savoury (Satureja Montana) Perennial
  As with summer savoury, winter savoury prefers full sun and a poor, free draining soil. It makes an interesting edging plant, but keep trimmed to maintain shape and promote new growth.
  Grow winter savoury in containers if your soil tends to get waterlogged.

CUTTINGS TO TAKE

June is a very good month for taking cuttings. Herbs are producing lots of lush fresh new growth which is suitable for 'softwood cuttings'

'Softwood' is the term given to the type of cutting taken from young growth in the spring and early summer.
Here are the main points to follow:

• Take cuttings early in the morning
• Take cuttings with a knife rather than scissors (which squash the stem)
• If cuttings are not to be dealt with immediately, place in water or polythene bag and leave in shade
• Prepare pot or seed tray with good organic potting compost
• Trim the cutting to just below a node (where leaf joins stem) and remove any leaves from bottom third of the stem. This will reduce water loss as well as the possibility of fungus on leaves touching the soil
• Make hole with dibber and push cutting in. Make sure bottom of cutting touches bottom of hole
• Firm compost around cutting
• Water, but do not leave pot standing in water
• Covering with plastic bag or cloche can aid in rooting in some cases. Be careful that the compost is not kept too wet, as cuttings can rot.

Take cuttings from all mints, rosemary, sage, variegated lemon balm, French tarragon, thymes and marjoram.

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