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Basil  Borage  Chamomile Chives Coriander Dill  Fennel Lemon Balm  Marjoram Mexican Tarragon Mitsuba Parsley Peppermint Sage Thyme Vietnamese Balm  Zaatar

Growing herbs will not only add colour and beauty to your garden, but will have other, more subtle benefits. The dried herbs bought from the supermarket may have been irradiated to prolong their storage life, and are a world away when compared to the flavour and nutritional value of fresh herbs.  So, always consider growing your own!

Herbs also provide a food source for honey bees more info on growing bee forage

BASIL

Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum americanum

Basil is an annual warm season plant that does well in a range of climates. It is suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. Easy to grow, it can be sown from spring to mid-summer. Sow seed in warm conditions, the best germination soil temperature is 23 - 30°C. Germination will take 3 - 9 days. Sow into a seed-raising tray and cover seed lightly to 5 mm (¼”) deep. Plant the seedlings out into a position in full sun with moderately rich, well-drained soil. Improve the soil before planting by adding compost; the pH range should be between 5.5 - 7. Space rows 30 - 45 cm apart with 20 cm between plants. The plant should be tip-pruned and the flower spikes should be removed regularly to increase bushiness. Use basil to flavour tomato dishes and to make pesto. Make extra pesto to freeze early in the season before the leaves become bitter. Always add basil at the end of the cooking time to maximise its flavour.
 

Basil - Sweet  'Genovese'                                Organically certified

Aromatic annual herb to 75 cm with shiny green leaves. An essential herb in the summer garden, use in tomato dishes and to make pesto. Sow spring and summer. Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas.

Days to harvest: 80

SB125 300 seeds $3.50 add

SB126 25g $9.00 add

SB127 100g $25.00 add

Basil ‘Cinnamon’           Organically certified
Ocimum basilicum

SB224 300 seeds $3.50 add

SB225 25g $10.00 add

Basil ‘Greek Mini’                  Organically certified
A pretty, compact, small-leafed basil growing into a domed shape. The vivid green, 1.5 cm leaves are very aromatic and have a robust basil flavour. Ideal for pots and borders, grows to about 30 cm in height.

SB183 300 seeds $3.50 add

SB195 25g $15.00 add

Basil ‘Lime’             Organically certified

Annual with a zesty lime aroma; compact plant has 4 cm long, bright green leaves; use in soups, salads and fish dishes.

SB128 300 seeds $3.50 add

SB157 25g $9.00 add

Basil ‘Nufar’         Organically certified

Nufar has a dark green, large  leaf (up to 10cm long) on strong, upright plants. It is resistant to Basil Fusarium wilt, one of the most devastating diseases for basil growers. It is very high yielding and can be harvested several times. It is hardy, vigorous and slow to bolt. It has an excellent mild flavour and strong fragrance with just a hint of anise. This is an F1 hybrid so is not suitable for seed saving.

Days to harvest: 77

SB129 300 seeds $3.50 add

SB130 25g $15.00 add

SB191 100g $50.00 add

Basil ‘Sacred’
Ocimum sanctum
Syn. Tulsi, Holy Basil, Tulasi, Kraphao

Sacred Basil is native to India and revered by Hindus; it is often planted around shrines. The long purple flowers appear late spring to early winter; the smooth green foliage has a spicy, clove-like fragrance. The leaves are used for herbal tea and added to salads. In herbal medicine the distilled oil is used as an antibiotic and insect repellent. It is attractive to bees and beneficial insects. It does well in containers and is traditionally grown for good luck near the front door of the house. Sacred Basil is an annual in cool areas, and a short-lived perennial in frost-free areas.
 

SB255 150 seeds $3.50 add

Basil ‘Thai'             Organically certified

SB131 300 seeds $3.50 add

SB184 25g $15.00 add

BORAGE                Organically certified

Borago officinalis
Annual, attracts bees, leaves and pink and blue flowers are edible; accumulates potassium & silica; self-sows. Sow spring and summer; autumn in frost-free areas only.  Suitable for temperate and subtropical areas.

SB132 60 seeds $3.50 add

SB234 10g $9.00  add

CATNIP   Organically certified

Syn. Catmint
Nepeta cataria

Catnip is a perennial evergreen herb. It is a hardy, compact, bushy herb to 80cm high that is frost tolerant. The grey-green, heart-shaped leaves are downy; the flowers are pale white with pink splashes and appear in summer. It has a pungent fragrance which is highly attractive and exciting to most cats. The leaves can be dried to make stuffed toys for cats to play with. The leaves are also used as a herbal ‘nightcap’ tea. It is attractive to bees and butterflies. Sow spring and summer; autumn in frost-free areas only.  Suitable for temperate and subtropical areas.

SC321 250 seeds $3.50  add

 

GERMAN CHAMOMILE  Organically certified

Chamomilla recutita syn. Matricaria recutita
German chamomile has white and yellow, small, daisy flowers with a delightful apple fragrance; it is mainly used for making chamomile tea. It is hardy, drought tolerant and has a tendency to self-sow. The flowers can also be used as a hair rinse. It grows to 60 cm high with small daisy flowers. It prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position. Sow seed in spring.  Harvest the chamomile flowers when fully open, they can be used fresh or dried and stored for later use. Suitable for temperate and Mediterranean areas.

SC338 500 seeds $3.50 add

CHIVES

These are perennial plants that grow in clumps and are handy for edging garden beds or growing in containers. They act as a natural pest repellent; both the leaves and flowers are edible. Sow spring and autumn.

Onion Chives             Organically certified

Allium schoenoprasum

Mildly onion flavoured soft leaves with edible lavender pompom flowers; we won’t make scrambled eggs without them!  Suitable for temperate and subtropical areas.

SC146 100 seeds $3.50 add

SC207 25g $12.00 add

Garlic Chives syn. Chinese Chives             Organically certified

Allium tuberosum

Flat leaf variety of chives with a garlic flavour, attractive white flowers; leaves and green flower buds used in Asian cooking. Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. H    More information

SC147  100 seeds $3.50  add

SC208 25g $18.00 add

CORIANDER syn. Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Coriander is a frost hardy, fast growing annual to 60 cm high, with small white and mauve flowers in summer; it will self-sow readily. It likes a well-drained soil and full sun. Sow in spring; autumn in frost-free areas Sow seed direct where it is to grow, lightly cover with fine soil or compost. Thin plants to 10 cm apart. The green leaves are used in curries, salads, pesto, chutneys and salsa, the seeds are dry-roasted and used in curries, pickles and soups. The flowers attract beneficial insects including tachinid flies and bees.

Coriander 'Slowbolt'           Organically certified

The most common form of coriander grown. Sow spring, autumn in frost-free areas only. Suitable for temperate and subtropical areas (cool season only).

SC149 100 seeds $3.50 add

SC150 25g $7.50 add

SC151 100g $18.00 add

Coriander 'Mexican'                           

Eryngium foetidum

Perennial with a very similar flavour to coriander but able to cope with hot, humid weather. A better choice for subtropical and tropical areas than common coriander as it also dries well and stands up to cooking. H

SC307 400 seeds $3.50 add

SC308 10g $33.00   add

DILL                               Organically certified

Anethum graveolens

Syn. dillby; dill weed; shubit; adas manis (Indonesia); pak chee lao (Thai); thi la (Vietnam)

Annual, the leaves and seeds are used in cooking; the flowers attract a wide range of beneficial insects. Sow spring and summer, autumn. Suitable for temperate and subtropical areas.

SD100 500 seeds $3.50 add

SD101 50g $10.00 add

LEMON BALM

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm is an herbaceous perennial with a delicate lemon scent. It is a non-running member of the mint family. The leaves are shiny with scalloped edges; small white flowers appear in late spring through midsummer. It attracts bees and butterflies. The fresh or dried leaves are made into a calming herb tea that is used to treat stress, indigestion and headaches. Sow seed in spring; in a cool, semi-shaded position. Suitable for temperate and subtropical areas; unlikely to do well in the tropics.
SL194 200 seeds $3.50 add   Organically certified

SL199 5g $6.50 add  untreated
 

MARJORAM - SWEET              Organically certified
Origanum majorana
Syn. Knotted marjoram; small greyish-green leaves with a milder flavour than close relative, oregano. It is an essential herb in Italian cooking and used in soups, salads, vinegars. It is especially good with egg, tomato and cheese dishes. It does well in a terracotta pot. Container growing is preferred in areas with cold, wet winters or humid, wet summers.

SM142 100 seeds $3.50  add
 

MEXICAN TARRAGON                Organically certified

Tagetes lucida

An easy to grow perennial, native to Mexico, it prefers full sun and a deep, fertile soil. It grows to 70 cm, producing a cluster of erect stems with long, narrow leaves, 4 cm long and 1 cm wide. Bright golden yellow flowers, 1 cm across, occur in clusters of up to 15 at the top of the plant in summer. The leaves have a distinct aniseed scent and flavour which is similar to French Tarragon but much stronger. Use sparingly as a substitute for French Tarragon in any recipe or make an aromatic tarragon vinegar. Suitable for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas. Sow spring. More information

SM127 100 seeds $3.50 add

MITSUBA

Not to WA
Cryptotaenia japonica syn. C. canadensis
Syn. Trefoil, Japanese hornwort, Japanese parsley.

A perennial, leafy herb, 50 - 75 cm high, which has a tendency to self-sow in shaded, cool,  woodland areas. It is short-lived in hot areas. The leaves are similar in appearance to flat leaf parsley and are used in a similar way. Stems can also be lightly steamed and chopped finely for use in soups and stir-fries. The flavour is reminiscent of celery mixed with a bit of parsley and coriander. Suitable for tropical, subtropical and temperate areas. In temperate areas sow the seeds in spring when the soil is 20 - 25°C. In subtropical areas sow March - May. In tropical areas sow April - June. Days to Harvest: 50

SM123 150 seeds $3.50 add
 

PARSLEY

Parsley is a staple herb, to 30 cm high. It can be planted as a productive, attractive edge to garden beds. It will also grow well in containers. It is the richest in iron of any vegetable. In cooler, temperate area it is biannual. In subtropical and tropical areas it rarely survives the wet season. It germinates best between 12 - 25°C soil temperature.  In temperate areas sow late September, early October - December. In subtropical areas sow early spring and autumn. In tropical areas sow April - August. Germination is slow, taking 3 - 6 weeks,  soaking the seed overnight helps to speed it up. Days to harvest: 70 - 75 days; always pull the whole leaf away from the base and don't leave a leaf stub.

Parsley 'Triple Curl'             Organically certified

Petroselinum crispum

An old familiar parsley variety that is also the most popular. It has very attractive dark green, highly curled leaves in a rosette.

SP100 500 seeds $3.50 add

SP101 25g $10.00 add

SP194 100g $23.00 add

Parsley 'Giant of Italy           Organically certified

Petroselinum neopolitanum

This is a vigorous, aromatic plant with flat, deep green, shiny leaves. It has a mellow, sweet flavour, rich taste and is hardy and easy to grow. It is suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical (in the dry season) areas. H

SP102 500 seeds $3.50 add

SP103 25g $8.50 add

SP104 100g $22.50 add

PEPPERMINT
Mentha × piperita

Peppermint is prone to cross-pollination so when growing it from seed, there is likely to be some variation in the plants. It is a herbaceous perennial, growing to 60 - 100 cm in height; cut the plants back to the ground after flowering. It is mainly used for herb tea, the closely related spearmint has a milder taste and is used in the traditional mint sauce. To harvest and dry for tea, cut the stems before flowering begins and hang the bunches in a cool, dry place. In small gardens always grow mint in a large container, to avoid it taking over. Sow the seeds in spring when the soil is 21 - 25°C. It will grow in full sun or semi-shade, in temperate, subtropical  and tropical areas. Peppermint propagates easily from cuttings
SP219 300 seeds $3.50 add
 

SAGE - COMMON               Organically certified

Salvia officinalis
Common sage is the main type used for cooking. The grey-green leaves and blue-purple flowers are very pretty. It is a short-lived perennial herb to 50 cm high with an upright, shrubby growth habit. It is frost hardy and drought tolerant. The leaves can be used fresh or dried in a range of savoury dishes, particularly as a bouquet garni, with cheese or duck dishes and as a herb tea. To dry, cut small bunches and hang upside down in a warm, dark, dry place. It makes an attractive cottage garden plant. Suitable for temperate areas, sow spring. In a subtropical area, try growing it in a terracotta pot and moving it under the eaves during the wet season.

Sage is difficult to grow in a garden bed in hot, humid areas but it will do reasonably well on a deck or verandah under a roof or just tucked under the eaves. This is a good way to grow any of the Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary or thyme, which otherwise can be short-lived in the subtropics.

THYME - COMMON            Organically certified

Thymus vulgaris

Common thyme is the main type used for cooking. It is a perennial herb to 30 cm high with a semi-upright growth habit. The pale pink flowers appear in spring and summer. The leaves can be used fresh or dried in a wide range of savoury dishes. To dry, cut small bunches and hang upside down in a warm, dark, dry place. Once fully dry, rub the leaves off the stems and store in an airtight jar. It makes an attractive edging plant and can be grown in rockeries. Suitable for temperate areas, sow spring after all danger of frost has passed.

ST160 300 seeds $3.50 add

VIETNAMESE BALM

Elsholtzia ciliata

Syn. Kinh gioi, Phak leuan, Vietnamese Lemon Mint (but not Vietnamese Hot Mint - Polygonum odoratum)
Vietnamese Balm is an easy-to-grow herb with bright green leaves that resemble mint but the leaves are saw-edged. It has a wonderful, aromatic, lemon-mint fragrance, similar to lemongrass or lemon verbena. The small, pale purple flowers appear in autumn. The young leaves are traditionally used in noodle dishes, egg rolls, fish and chicken dishes, salads, soups and tea drinks. It is suitable for container growing. Vietnamese Balm is a warm season annual in cool areas, and a short-lived perennial in frost-free areas. It grows to 60 - 100 cm tall. It germinates best at 20 - 25°C soil temperature. Sow in temperate areas from late spring to summer; in subtropical areas in spring; in tropical areas during the dry season. In the subtropics and tropics it will be prone to self-sowing. Cuttings will root readily in water for a future supply. Young leaves and tips can be harvested 30 days after transplanting.

SV106 300 seeds $3.50 add

ZAATAR                Organically certified

Origanum syriacum

Syn. Syrian oregano, za'atar, Biblical hyssop, wild marjoram

Zaatar is a perennial herb, a relative of oregano, native to the Mediterranean. The attractive greyish-green leaves have a spicy smell and flavour, a combination of sweet marjoram, thyme and oregano. It can be used to flavour hummus, dips and soups. Harvest stems when they reach 6-10 cm long. The plants have a semi-upright habit to 40 cm high. It will grow well in a container. It prefers a well-drained, slightly alkaline soil in a sunny position and will tolerate poorer soils. Sow in spring.

SZ109 100 seeds $3.50 add

Egyptian Spinach  also known as Molokhia available as seed

= Organically certified with ACO

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