Transcript Herbs - University of Maryland Extension

Growing Herbs
Kent Phillips
mailto:[email protected]
College of
Agriculture and
Natural Resources
What is an herb?
• Botanists: a small, seed bearing plant with fleshy,
rather than woody, parts - "herbaceous“.
• Trees, shrubs, annuals, vines, and more primitive
plants, such as ferns, mosses, algae, lichens, and
fungi valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and
healthful qualities, economic and industrial uses,
pesticidal properties, and coloring materials (dyes).
Bown, Deni.
The Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses.
New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2001. p. 18
Our Definition of Herb
• A plant or part of a plant valued for its medicinal,
savory or aromatic qualities.
• When discussing herbs, the topic of spices naturally
arises and the differences between the two are often
questioned. For simplicity, we will use the definition
that herbs are leaves, fresh or dried, while spices are
generally made from seeds, roots, flowers, or bark.
• Our discussion will mostly be limited common herbs
and to leaves, fresh or dried.
Why Grow Herbs
• Health benefits
– Culinary uses
• Enhance the flavor of food
• Reduce salt use
– Aroma therapy
• Attractive plants in a mixed bed
• Some are fantastic for attracting pollinators
• Most are deer resistant because of essential
oils in leaves
Growing Herbs is Easy
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Full / part sun
Tolerant of average soil
Wide variety of cultivars available
Can start from seed, cuttings or divisions
– When starting seed follow instruction on back of packet
• Grow well in containers & the garden
• Great mixed in landscapes as ornamentals
• Some attract pollinators (good bugs)
Soil Test
• Do a soil test
• $15 is cheap compared to the money spent on
seed and transplants
• Soil pH from 6.2 to 6.8 is fine for herbs
• Some herbs, specifically those from the
Mediterranean like well drained soil
• Don’t over fertilize
– Can cause excessive growth, dilute essential oils
leading to less intense flavor
– Compost added to soil is sufficient
Herb Bed Soil Test
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
Last Frost Dates
NORTHCENTRAL
MD
Station
10%
1 yr. in 10
33%
1 yr. in 3
50%
1 yr. in 2
67%
2 yrs. in 3
90%
9 yrs. in 10
Balt. Airport
April 26
April 20
April 13
April 09
March 31
Baltimore
City
April 11
April 01
March 26
March 20
March 10
Bel Air
April 30
April 24
April 20
April 16
April 09
Clarksville
May 17
May 09
May 05
May 01
April 23
Frederick
April 29
April 20
April 15
April 10
April 01
Westminster May 04
April 25
April 21
April 17
April 08
Unionville
May 11
May 06
May 01
April 23
May 19
My Herb Garden
Annual Herbs
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Basil
Chamomile
Chervil
Cilantro/Coriander
Dill
Summer Savory
Basil
• Many varieties
– Genovese (sweet), lemon, Thai, dark Opal
• Heat loving plant
– Transplant after all danger of frost is past (June 1)
• Starting from seed
– Start 6 to 8 weeks in advance of plant out date (mid April)
– Provide bottom heat
• Pruning
– Pinch frequently above leaf nodes to keep plant bushy
– Remove all flowers
Coriander and Dill
• Direct sow in garden
• Both leaves and seed have culinary uses
• Cool weather plants
– Go to seed rapidly in hot weather
– Continuously sow seed throughout season
– Self sows readily
• Attracts pollinators
– Dill is a host plant for swallowtail
Summer Savory
• Start seeds indoors
– 6 to 8 weeks prior to last frost
– Seeds need light to germinate
– Provide bottom heat
– Move to separate pots after second set of true
leaves
• Plant transplants outdoors after last frost
• Prefers higher pH soils
Biennial or Perennial Herbs
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Chives
Fennel
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Sorrel
Tarragon
Thyme
Biennial or Perennial Herbs
• When grown from seed, varieties, if not
specified will be common varieties
• If, like French tarragon, a specific variety is
desired, transplants must be purchased
– Many specific types of rosemary, thyme, mint and
oregano can be purchased as transplants
– I taste a purchased transplant to insure it’s labeled
correctly
• Plant after last frost
Chives
• Onion and garlic
• Cool weather plant blooming late spring
• Blossoms can be eaten, used as garnish or
used to make chive (vinegar)
Fennel
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Cool weather plant if grown for bulb
Anise flavor
Frons and stems used in soups
Host to swallowtail caterpillar
Attracts pollinators if allowed to flower
Can self seed
Lavender
• Mostly grown for aroma
• Harvest deep purple buds (stems) prior to
bloom, strip leaves and hang to dry
• Munstead and Hidcote are culinary varieties
whose blossoms are used to add a subtly
sweet citrus flavor to dishes
Mint and Oregano
• Both of these herbs can be invasive in the
herb garden
– May want to grow them in pots
– If they bloom, can self seed and pop up in other
parts of the garden
• Oregano
– Greek, Italian, Mexican
• Mint
– Peppermint, orange, chocolate, spearmint, etc.
Parsley
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Curly leaf and Italian
Start from seed indoors or out
Cool weather plant
Host for swallowtail caterpillar
Rosemary
• Half hardy perennial in our area
• Many different varieties
– Arp, Hardy, etc.
– All noted for piney sent
• Prefer well drained soil
• Stems and leaves can be dried
• If container grown, bring indoors in winter and
water sparingly
– See GIEI website and search for rosemary
Sage
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Prune out dead wood in spring
Some varieties have variegated leaves
Benefits from well drained soil
Can be mulched over the winter to improve
survival
Sorrel
Tarragon (French)
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Anise flavored leaves
Needs a cold dormant period
Prefers well drained soil
S/B purchased, seed is normally Russian
variety
• Use a good champagne vinegar to make
tarragon vinegar
Thyme
• Thrives in well drained soil
• Many varieties
– English, lemon, caraway, orange balsam, etc.
– Variegated
– Prostrate or upright forms
Insects and Disease
• Less susceptible possibly because of
their fragrance and flavors
• Major insects:
Aphids
Whiteflies
Mites
Slugs
Control of Diseases and Insects
• Healthy plants resist insect predation,
stressed plants invite insect predation
• Mechanical control – preferred for light
insect infestation
• Chemical control of insects:
– Home Remedies - insecticidal soap, Neem oil,
lemon or vinegar spray
– Registered pesticides - Safer’s Insecticidal Soap
and EcoBlend Organic Insecticidal Soap
References
• https://www.herbsociety.org/herbs/documents/BeginnersHerbG
arden_pdf.pdf
• http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/srb9606.htm
• http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm
• http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/boulder/horticulture/pdf/Yea
r-Round%20herb%20Garden.pdf
References
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http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=7751
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http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/mg/gm_tips/Herbs.html
•
Herb gardening from ground up , 2012 by Sal Gilbert and Larry Sheehan
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Homegrown herbs, 2011 by Tammi Hartung Call no. 635.7 H
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Beautiful easy herbs, 1997 by Laurence Sombke Call no. 635.7 S
Resources
• Grow It! Eat It!
http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
– We have all types of practical food gardening tips and
information. Check out our popular blog!
• Home and Garden Information Center
http://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic
– Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You
can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter.
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• Maryland Master Gardener Program
http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg
– Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!
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