A new herb station

This year I’ve decided to grow more herbs, for drying as well as using fresh. So far I have lovage, curly parsley, basil, chives, corriander and sage growing in the greenhouse.

All the rest of the herbs in the new herb area were bought from a specialist herb nursery.

For some strange reason I’ve always grown herbs in the front garden. They are dotted about, here and there, some self-seeded, like fennel in borders.

It has often irritated me that the herbs aren’t closer to hand, especially when it’s raining and I need them quickly for cooking.

Given this space wasn’t adding much to the courtyard, I decided to turn it into a herb station.

The small pots have tiny basil seedlings in them. The other pots have mint, flat- leafed parsley, chives, lemon grass and bay. I’m hoping to use my herbs medicinally this year too, starting with teas.

In the center we have marjoram, thyme, curly parsley, lovage, chives and basil. I have basil everywhere as I’m planning on making my own pesto.

And Finally…

This section has lavender St John’s wort, liqourice, dill, yarrow, edible curry plant, hyssop, motherwort and French tarragon.

I’ll be adding the coriander and sage soon, then all I have to do is sit back and watch it all grow. It will be interesting seeing what it looks like in a month from now.

The best part is, it’s only a five second walk from the kitchen.

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49 Comments

  1. Looking at the quality, organization, and quantity of your wonderful herbs has me wondering about my hodge podge! And I know just what you mean about wanting them at hand. However! They sometimes dictate where they will thrive and it’s never just outside the kitchen door!

    Isn’t curry plant fun? My aunt keeps wanting to give me some, but I’m not sure I’d use it as I don’t cook a lot of curry-flavored dishes. What do you do with it?

  2. Good to hear from you Jo, I hope things are as good as they can be at such a difficult time. Love and hugs.xxxx

  3. I don’t use herbs nearly as much as I should. What a great idea, I wouldn’t have any excuse for not using more if I did something similar, I’m sure it will be easier to just grab what you need when they’re being grown closer to the kitchen door. Thank you so much for all the kind comments you have left on recent posts, it’s really helped to know that so many friends here in Blogland have been keeping me in their thoughts at this sad time.

  4. This isn’t herb related, but I had to bring it to you. Look at this wonderful post from New Zealand about the entirely successful rehabilitation of a hedgehog!

    • Oh my goodness! How wonderful, thanks for sharing!!! Who knew hogs lived there???
      I had a spineless hog living in a hutch in my garden for a year while it recovered, Mr Prickleless, I called him. His problem was a zinc deficiency. Thanks Linda, this really had me smiling.xxx

  5. Herbs are at the very top of my list of favorite things to grow.

  6. Hello you ! LOL .. Thanks for stopping by and your sympathy with the heat and humidity.
    Thing is my son (who lives in South Carolina*but still Canadian EH*) makes fun of me complaining because they truly do swelter down there.
    I am such a fan of herbs .. I used to plant dill and bronze fennel throughout the garden, but now there isn’t enough room or sun any more with my “mother of all trees” being such a giant. However I do have big pots of rosemary and curly parsley on the deck .. I usually have a big dill tower there too but I couldn’t find dill for love or money this year, which was really disappointing because I always had Black Swallow Tail cats on my dill and tried to see them through to butterfly mode .. but no, not this year.
    That is a great idea having the station and being so close to the house .. I don’t know how you do it with so much to look after ! WELL DONE YOU !!
    PS .. I was just so surprised to see the butterfly love fest for Mrs. Harvey clematis ! LOL

    • What a shame about the dill, I wonder why it was sold out. It’s strange what hasn’t been available during this pandemic isn’t it? It’s wonderful having the herbs so close to the kitchen, I just wonder why I haven’t got around to it sooner. I hope the heat eases and you enjoy more butterflies.xxx

  7. We’ve given up on growing vegetables in the garden, but we still grow herbs. Nothing beats fresh cut herbs from right outside your own door.

  8. Ah, ha! There are those worts — the St. John’s wort and motherwort (that’s one I’d not heard of). I have a friend who’s been interested in the medicinal use of herbs for years, though she tends to stay with the more common ones, and is especially cautious about any side effects or ways herbs can interact with prescription drugs. Comfrey is her favorite — usually made into tea.

    Where you’ve located yours is perfect. I hope they all flourish!

    • Yes, it seems to be all about the worts between us lately! Herbs can be problematic if used medicinally while on other drugs, or overused, or while pregnant so it’s best to err on the side of caution and stick with the commonly used ones. Motherwort can have side effects. Goodness, I had no idea about comfrey tea, I used it as a plant fertilizer, when added to water and left for a couple of weeks it’s great for the plants but….oh…the smell is hideous.
      Thanks Linda.xxx

  9. lowcarbdiabeticJan

    What a fabulous array of herbs you are growing … such fun, and wonderful for cooking.
    I do like your new herb station, such a good idea to have it close to the back door.

    Have a good week.

    All the best Jan

    • Thanks Jan, it’s is great having the herbs at my fingertips, I’m using far more. I’m also adding to the collection by bringing those in the front garden into the courtyard. I do wish I had done this years ago, but better late than never eh?xxx

  10. Smart move to keep them close at hand. I grow herbs mostly for the butterfly caterpillars but do grow basil just for me.

    • Oh…basil is a fantastic herb, I always wish it was hardy and perennial. I leave some veggies out like kale for the butterflies and always leave lots of nettles and weeds they like too. Hope all is well with you. I do miss your blog, lovely to hear from you. xxx

  11. Wow, a new herb station! What a great move you’ve made! I love this! Just love the herbs you’re growing! I’m a keen herb gardener and user. It’s amazing how you can grow the wonderful lemongrass in UK climate! You made me want to get one planted this coming weekend or next! I love this a lot. Can cook a variety of dishes and can dry and make tea too! So many uses!

    • I’m passionate about herbs too and couldn’t imagine cooking without them. I’ve never grown lemongrass before but love it and can’t wait for it to mature. Looking forward to hearing about you growing it, yes, it has so many uses! Thanks Jade.xxx

  12. What a good idea to have it all near the house, I have to go treking down the garden every time I need a bit of parsley. And next April you can have lovage soup which is divine.

    • It makes such a difference having the herbs a few seconds from the kitchen, I added more and am growing more. I’m amazed it taken me so long to get them closer to hand! Oh…lovage soup??? I will certainly give that a go! Lovage is new to me. Thanks Chloris.xxx

  13. Great post and fantastic images.

  14. Your herb station looks great. I had herbs at the bottom of the garden and hardly ever used them so now I have a smaller amount on the deck near the kitchen and it makes all the difference. You have got quite a variety of herbs and I hope you can give us some ideas about using them …I always fall back on a couple of favourites.

    • Thanks Gerrie. Why oh why do we all have herbs so far away from the kitchen? I can imagine how much more you use the herbs on your deck, I’m using so many more fresh herbs now they are so close to the kitchen. Like you I have my favourite herbs.xxx

  15. Co-incidentally my herbs are about as far from the kitchen as it is possible to get too,
    I freeze herbs for use in winter rather than dry them.

    • It’s crazy how gardeners plant their herbs so far away from the kitchen isn’t it? I’m glad I’ve finally rectified the problem. I only freeze delicate herbs, I love air drying Mediterranean ones. Thanks Sue.xxx

  16. I love my herbs, yes! I dry them and some I freeze; couldn’t be a happy cook without them, that’s for sure. Your station is gorgeous and so handy, Dina! I can’t wait to hear about all your culinary creations. I use my rosemary and lavender in shortbread cookies, too. 🙂 xoxo

    • Oh, you and me both re loving and cooking with herbs. I freeze the delicate ones too. I no baker, but your cookies sound delicious! Love and hugs to one and all.xxxx

  17. There’s a lot to be said for having herbs near to hand. Watch the Lovage it can behave like mint and get everywhere which is fine, if you want it everywhere, I have had real fun and games removing it and catching its off-spring for two or three years. If I have another one, it will be kept tight in a pot.

    My curry plant, a tiny pot plant last year has really bushed up this year and has got lots of yellow flowers, which are flavoursome and attractive in a salad bowl. I haven’t taken many as I want to enjoy the floral display. I have got chives, Russian mint, and two types of Parsley, all in pots. The Rocket and lettuces are in a fish box. My edible Calendula are a bit slow in growing at the moment. The Chive flowers are stronger than a Vindaloo Curry this year; incredible!

    I like your idea of terracing the herbs in a frame. xxx

    • Thanks for the tip re Lovage, I haven’t grown it before. It is in a pot and the seeds have nowhere to go as the courtyard is flagged,but I will keep a sharp eye on it!
      I get the fact you don’t want to cut down the curry plant while it’s flowering, I have the same problem with herbs in bloom, especially chives. Goodness….I wonder why yours are so strong this year? Your herbs and salad leaves sound good! Thanks Menhir.xxx

  18. What a plethora of herbs! I agree – it makes a lot of sense to have them near the kitchen. And I’m very impressed with your plans for them all! Looking forward to the next instalment. xx

    • Thanks Gill. I often wonder why it takes me so long to sort basis problems. It’s just lovely being able to pop out and gather a few herbs for cooking. I’m growing more so hopefully will have plenty to dry and freeze over winter.xxx

  19. There’s nothing so lovely as a herb garden. My Mother had a beauty in the courtyard by her kitchen….and yes it was lovely to grab a handful of this and that when cooking.
    I had a dream about you last night….you were re-united with your granddaughter and absolutely overjoyed:). I do hope that happens very soon.

    From a very windy Hampton…XXXX

    • I couldn’t agree more re nothing being as lovely as a herb garden. Your mothers’ sounds just wonderful. Oh…your dream may have been prophetic as I am re-united-ish with Littl’urchin. Slowly, slowly but so much better. How lovely that you had a dream about me. Thanks Janet, love and hugs from a formerly windy Liverpool. xxxx

  20. Wow, such an abundant and verdant plethora of luscious greenery! I hope you don’t get invaded by hungry slugs or bunnies, lol.

  21. Good for you. It’s all looking and sounding great. xx

  22. Oh, how lovely. I absolutely love your station.
    Amalia
    xo

  23. Great minds! I too have been growing more herbs this year. I have a herb garden of hardy herbs which I don’t need to do too much too but the tender ones have to be grown in the polytunnel. I always sow the seeds and then don’t have the time to tend to them so they usually die off, neglected. This year with more time, I have managed to keep many of them going and like you hope to dry and them use them in the winter.

    I love your new herb station, such a good idea to have it close to the back door. I do hope all your hard work pays off.

    • I think most folk with a garden are growing more of everything this year, just in case! Yes, I grow tender herbs in the greenhouse and once out of space put others out to take their chances. Good to hear your tender herbs are doing well this year. I am enjoying having herbs outside the kitchen door, I should have done it years ago! Thanks Sustainablemum. xxx

  24. Long-time lurker keggy here. I think it is a wonderful idea to grow your own herbs. I found that thinning out shop-bought pots of basil gives me about 10 plants and they usually grow really well all through the summer. Once out of the confines of that small pot, they thicken up nicely. Home-made vegan pesto is a favourite of mine on pasta and instead of margarine on sandwiches. There are many delicious variations too (e.g. coriander, parsley and pecans; basil, avocado, hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds; kale and walnut; black olives and macadamia nuts; spinach, garlic and pumpkin seeds; brazil nut, avocado, coriander and mint leaves and using lime juice instead of lemon). Same basic recipe, but substituting different nuts as I often find pine nuts hard to come by, and using different herbs/greens. The list is endless.
    I know you will have fun experimenting with your herb garden Dina. Let’s hope we have some more fine weather as my basil much prefers dry, hot weather.

    • I never thought to thin supermarket basil but certainly will do now, especially when the plants are being sold off. Goodness, thanks for all the pesto recipes, they all sound utterly delicious. I just love pesto dishes in the summer. Thanks Keggy, always lovely to hear from you.xxx

  25. I love it! So handy to have them all in one place and close to the kitchen. I have basil galore this year but, sadly, my coriander died. I’ll look forward to seeing what you use them for medicinally. xx

    • Oh, it’s already reaping dividends. I often wonder why I don’t sort things out sooner, life can be much easier with a little organisation. Shame about your coriander. I’m always amazed re the medicinal properties of herbs! Thanks Veggiemummy. xxx

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