Herbalicious....

Even if your thumbs are more brown than green and you live in a city apartment with a balcony the size of a cupboard, you can still have the pleasure of growing your own herbs without too much fuss.

Herbs are really quite easy to grow and not only look great, they're useful in the kitchen as well. Herbs can also be planted as a green backdrop to flowering plants in a container or garden bed which makes them not only practical but beautiful as well.

One of the most useful and easiest to grow would have to be Parsley (Petroselinum crispum). It's bright green leaves may be added to a multitude of dishes and the stems are often used to flavour soups and casseroles. 

    
Pictured left is the common 'Curley-leafed Parsley'.

                                                                                          

Another often used variety is the 'Italian' or 'Continental leaf' parsley which has a flatter leaf and more distinct taste making it very useful for cooking.

One of my favourite herbs to grow has the most amazing smell....it reminds of of summer. Basil or Ocimum basilicum, must have one of the most recognisable smells of all herbs!

What would Italian cooking be without basil? Basil is actually a part of the 'Mint' family Lamiacece and actually originates in India! Yes...India where it has been cultivated for over 5000 years!! And if you've been fortunate enough to travel through Southeast Asia I'm sure you'll have tasted the widely used 'holy basil' or Ocium tenuiflorum which is widely used in the cuisines of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia. 

Not only useful in cooking, basil has also been used for it's medicinal properties in Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal system in India.

Now, as a 'true blue' Aussie, who could go past a lamb roast??? And what's a lamb roast without two of our favourite herbs?? Mint and Rosemary.

The mint family is divided into 13 to 18 species. (this is not completely clear as there has been some hybridisation among the species and there are many cultivars) Mint is an extremely recognisable aromatic herb which is perennial, which means that it will last through the year and does not need to be replanted every season. Mint grows well in damp to moist soil and will spread through underground runners in the right condition. Ideally it should be grown in a pot or in a contained garden bed on it's own and kept quite moist.

  

Mint was originally used as  a medicinal herb and is still used today to treat stomach upsets. Mint is also thought to stimulate the mind!!! In ancient times it was strewn across the floor to mask the smells and odours of the day...as people walked over the mint they crushed the leaves, releasing its pleasant scent. Today it is the most predominant flavouring used in toothpaste due to it's refreshing and reviving taste.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis) is a woody perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen needle-like leaves. Funnily enough it is also a member of the 'Mint' family 'Lamiaceae' as are many other herbs. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region and is very drought tolerant and hardy in exposed windy and salty conditions. The forms of rosemary range from bushy and upright, to trailing ground-cover.

Being such a hardy but attractive herb, rosemary is used in many garden situations and is useful as a hedge. Depending on the species it will flower with white, pink mauve or blue blooms. Rosemary is traditionally used as a flavouring for lamb and casseroles; small branches of rosemary will impart flavour to food when it's burnt in a bbq or grill. 

Medicinally rosemary was used as a tonic to aid memory loss and is still used in Australia today, small sprigs of rosemary pinned to the lapel to honour and 'remember' those that fell in the great wars. Rosemary grows wild on the Gallipoli Peninsular.

Plant rosemary in a pot of well drained soil and water sparingly. Pinch it back regularly to encourage bushy new growth.

                                           

Other herbs that will grow well in containers and pots are Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Oregano (Oreganum vulgare) and Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculuc) all of which will grow happily together in the same pot as they have similar growing conditions and requirements.

Even if your not the world's best gardener or an award winning chef, herbs are easy to grow and will bring colour and fragrance to a garden, balcony, terrace or even into your home.

Get creative and pot a a miniature herb 'garden' such as the pictures above or plant up small individual herbs in smart modern pots as practical and personal gifts for family and friends. A 'herbalicious gift' is the perfect gift for that special someone who has everything!