Plant of the Month: April
Herbs
Why not grow your own herbs? You can plant hardy herbs now and create a herb garden that looks almost too good to eat. Some herbs have the added bonus of flowers, along with aromatic leaves and medicinal benefits.
Plant herbs close to the kitchen so you can pick a handful to use in cooking. Sage, thyme and rosemary are drought tolerant so don’t need too much watering. Most herbs will thrive with little care, although they tend to prefer sunshine and well-drained soil.
- Mint is hardy and grows back every year. It’s best grown in a separate container to stop it taking over. It can be used to make mint tea and adds flavour when cooked with new potatoes.
- Chives prefer partial shade. They’re great in a salad or sprinkled over potatoes. If left uncut they produce small purple pom-pom flowers.
- Basil likes warm, sunny conditions. Grow it on a warm windowsill and keep it watered so you can enjoy aromatic leaves right through the summer.
- Thyme is a versatile herb for cooking and has medicinal qualities. It’s evergreen but tastes best during spring and summer. Give it a light prune in autumn to keep its shape.
- Rosemary is another herb with medicinal value. It can grow into a large shrub with pretty blue flowers. Prune established rosemary after the frosts to keep it looking good.
Many herbs are Mediterranean and drought tolerant, however, keep them watered until they become established and during dry spells. If you plant your favourites in the garden now, they can be watered in by April showers. Harvest your herbs regularly by snipping off what you need, which helps keep them in good shape.
Since herbs are our plants of the month, Garsons card holders can receive 20% off the herb range in the garden centre throughout April.
