Van Saun Park Garden: Tip Sheets for 35 Herbs

 

BELOW: MAP AS OF 07/03/2017

GENERAL CARE

The tip sheets are those I have used before, and represent a wide variety of herb information on the Internet. I was looking for those that had propagation information as well as showing a good condensing of information on the particular herb.

Light requirements vary across the plant group. The majority of Mediterranean herbs flourish in full sun. Some others, such as the Mints, do well in sun, but also in partial shade.

Harvesting and  pruning are needed for the plants to appear healthy. Pinch the top of the plant, check for new growth. The plant should be bushy rather than growing in a vertical line.

Watering: get the water to the roots, not the leaves. Many plants have sparse watering requirements. Others can do with a bit of extra water. These tip sheets include that information for each herb.

Soil: The NJ Rutgers study confirmed that this garden has soil  is within vegetable growing limits, slightly acidic. The analysis included not adding lime as a buffer. Some of the plants need amending for drainage, perhaps with sand (Mint, many of the Mediterranean herbs. Woodland herbs Bayberry, Columbine, for instance might use a compost dressing. Look at the pertinent tip sheet per plant,

LINKS FOR EACH HERB NOW IN THE GARDEN

(together with some  comments used in the children's flyer)

Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Aroma from chemical furocoumarin, makes skin sensitive to light. Treatment of loss of appetite. C, M

When sweetened with sugar crystals, makes a delicate candy.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
has an anise flavor. Italy, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos feature it in their cooking. Basil has many medicinal  uses. C, M. Basil is used in tomato and pesto-sauces.

Bush Basil

has a more peppery taste. It will withstand drier conditions better, but yellow color is the warning sign of water stress. Do not soak. Both of these plants need pinching often to remove flowers and to prevent straggly growth. If this does not happen, Basil has a shorter life. July 22 is their peak for developing essential oils. After that, supposedly, the flavor declines. But you can eat it till late in summer, it will still have a flavor.

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica ) can tolerate some wetter conditions. It is growing well. Depending on space needs, this can grow vertically or you can bush it out with slight pruning. Careful---it can get to be over ten feet.

Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobilis )
Perennial, low growing, flowers next May-June. It has been spread over a square in five plantings. It should merge in the next few months. Water moderately, divide when the plants are matted. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-roman-chamomile-7106  GET NEW ONE

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) Chives come up each spring, by June, produce purple blossoms. Deadhead. Divide the chives if the center of the plant looks dead. Water moderately. Dress side of the plants with rich soil.

Columbine (Aquilegi ) was used by Native Americans as internal medicine. The seeds have come at this time. There are two plants in # 35, both rooted. They will proliferate. Be areful not to overwater, this is the moistest spot in the garden.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com › Ornamental Gardens › Flowers › Columbine

Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) smells  like a  spicy Indian dinner---but it is not! Annual, replace. Water 2 times a week to keep the oils that provide the aroma.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare dulce Leaves and seeds flavor food; seeds are used as a digestive aid. P, C, M, O. Has a licorice-y taste. This seedling is making it. It has set down a root that will turn into a large bulb, maybe not this season but eventually. A Mediterranean herb, do not soak it, just water the bulb root area about 2x a week. To protect it while it is growing, you might want to surround it with light mulch.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) It had many symbolic uses in the Bible. It is used for decoration (purple blue flowers). Deer resistance, as well as for "anything else that ails you).

Hyssop is planted from seed and divides in easily, it has a tap root. Mediterranean herb, water moderately. If this division planted does not take, there is one more time to do it: in the fall. P, M, S, C.

(False) Indigo (Baptisia) was used to dye fabrics blue. Native plant, has brilliant blue flowers. They should emerge next year. Trim down at end of season. Transplanting of Baptisia is always fragile, this was done latte spring. Keep moist, not soaking wet

Indigo was used to dye fabrics blue

Lavender (Lavendulla augustifolia) was used as a sachet filler, a mouthwash, a housecleaning wash, an antidepressant, and to flavor sugar. P, M,C,D.

Does not mind being a bit dry. It is at its peak flowering in June-early July. Take a look at the stems ---check for bugs in the wood. You can cut back a bit after the flowering. In very early fall, a member can try propagating through soft wood methods.

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon)

is used in Asian cooking, has flavors of lemon and rose. This plant after separation, will be taken to the Greenhouse, some to member's homes. Just let it expand. End of summer, dig up and separate bulbs. You can cut the ends like scallions for seasoning fish or chicken or floating in soup. Chop the leaves off for tea or to dry for an aromatic sachet or potpourri. Make sure you save about four bulbs with about 6 to 8 inch stem to pot up for next year's plantings. Keep inside in winter. Water occasionally.

Lemon thyme (Thymus x citriodus). It is a different kind than the thyme on the left side of the garden. Divide at end of summer.

C, M.

Lemon verbena  (Aloysia citrodora) Used as flavoring in  medicinal teas, pastries, and  candies C, Sc, M. It is from South America. It needs moderate water. Not on leaves. You can prune the branch ends about 6 inches, that should promote some growth.

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) Often used with the French herb mixes, such as fines herbes. P, C, M.Marjoram is used in French cooking in herbes de Provence. Cut back to harvest: end of leaves.

Mints: All these mints are used in teas. (17) Chocolate Mint, (18) Apple Mint, (19) Pennyroyal, (20) Spearmint.

Care of the mints: (Mentha spicate, Spearmint, Mentha picate, Peppermint).Mentha x spicata

‘Chocolate mint’), Chocolate mint (Mentha x spicata

 ‘Chocolate mint’), Pennyroyal, Mentha pulagium, Pennyroyal.  Used as flavorings and for medicinal and regular teas. They have been naturalized  for over 300 years, having come from Europe with colonialists. Mints tend to escape your garden. Contain them. They make a bracing tea ,a home remedy for what ails the stomach. Spearmint has a sweet taste. Peppermint is generally energizing. which were used in similar ways. P, M, C. All four follow roughly the same pattern for watering and propagating.

Pennyroyal (19) is the new one, not for tea, only decorative. they’ll need moisture, but not sogginess. Cut them back often to get a bushy shape. Try one to two inches since these are short ---look for leaf regrowth. To propagate mint in water, cut a four to six inch stem, cut right below a leaf node can be put in water. It should show roots in a week. Wait till there are several roots before potting. http://herbgardening.com/growingmint.htm

Chocolate mint

http://www.organicauthority.com/organic-gardening/10-growing-tips-and-uses-for-chocolate-mint.html

Pennyroyal

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/pennyroyal/growing-pennyroyal.htm

Peppermint http://growing-herbs.com/herbs/peppermint.htm

Spearmint http://herbgardening.com/growingmint.htm

Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum ). Native herb, used to treat nosebleeds. Mountain mint has flourished. It needs weeding no matter how pretty the purple flower is. It needs to be divided.

If division is needed. Don't pull the clumps apart until flowering is over. It lasts a long time---think late August for division. Plant clumps at least 9 inches to a foot apart. The leftover clumps can go to other areas of the park. Water moderately: 2 times a week

https://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/pycnanthemum-virginianum-mountain-mint.html

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) used In cuisines worldwide. In the past, used for respiratory ailments. P, C, M Mediterranean herb, arid soil, don’t waterlog.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregano

Parsley (Petroselinum hortense) Part of bouquet garni, used as garnish, attracts Black Swallowtail butterflies, used as a digestive aid. B, C, M, It is breath fresheners for people ---and for dogs, too. Parsley needs to be replenished each year, it is a biennial. This year's crop shows water stress. New leaves should be green.

https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-parsley/?

Rose (Rosa) is an herb, used for fragrance.

Russian tarragon  (Artemisia dracunculoides Pursch ) is a native of Siberia. It makes a good yard plant, but not a dinner flavoring. Russian tarragon has taken, although It is a small stand. There were 2 four packs planted. Watch for its emergence next year.

Sage  (Salvia officinalis) It was used as a diuretic, an astringent  and  a culinary herb to  flavor meats. The leaves were used in medical applications.  P, M, C.

Water sparingly at roots, not on leaves. Harvest no more than 1/10 of plant at a time, removing by leaf at node. Harvest again upon regrowth. To make it bushy, prune evenly. This plant is the third sage in three years.

http://www.gardena.com/int/garden-life/garden-magazine/how-to-cut-and-multiply-sage/

Salad burnet (Sangiborus minor) is a very resilient plant---you will find leaves in the winter! It has a slight cucumber taste. There are two plantlets there. Use care with watering and these should grow and produce flowers. In early spring, you will find "volunteers" in its areas. Save some to be raised.

.

Santolina (Santolina rosmarinifolia) (green)is used to get rid of insects. Cut 3 inch stems and place in soil for propagation.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/74658/  and
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/santolina/santolina-plant-information.htm

Savory (Summer) (Satureja hortensis). This plant will need to be reseeded each year (annual) Use the tips of the leaves. Water carefully, the plant is on a slight incline

Scented  geranium Old fashioned rose (Pelargonium graveolens). Propagate by cutting, taken from top of plant. Edge of desert plant-less than moderate watering, not leaves.

http://www.scentedgeraniums.co.uk/hottopics_20548.html

Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) used by Native Americans for medicine. Solomon's seal care: it will simply grow. It will probably get big enough to divide this year. If so, root the division in the center of the block. It will turn gold in the fall before becoming dormant. It grows well in woodland. Was originally placed in the shade of the fennel. See if the micro-climate change (removal of large fennel affects the growth of the plant, there is less shade.)

http://www.solomonsseal.net/abouttheplant.html

Sweet cicely (Myrhis oderata) Sweet cicely has a very pleasant aroma and blooms in the middle of spring with small white blossoms. It does well in sun or part shade, the latter being where it is located in the Garden. All parts can be used to make food, from sugar to spinach like vegetable. Water about an inch a week, just to keep soil moist.

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a companion plant, repelling pests. One of four herbs in fines herbes. C, It means "small dragon" in Latin. Look at its leaf shape! Tarragon care at VS: Harvest enough to keep young leaves growing. This plant was cut too far back last year, what is here now probably has a fragile root system, a liability for this plant. If the roots are dislodged, the plant has trouble. If it grows to 12 inches, a very small harvest can be taken--1 to 2 inches. Monitor for leaf regrowth. In the fall, mulch the plant.
Water roots, not leaves, no power spray, 2 or less times a week

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris ) Versatile

culinary herb that was used  to flavor  eggs and meat, and used as an insect repellent. Used to treat coughs. P, C, M.

For now---spare with water, do not dowse. This plant, like Rosemary, does better in dry conditions. When the flowers are spent, this needs to be harvested for promotion of growth. Cut back 2 to 3 inches.

http://www.herbexpert.co.uk/growingthyme.html

Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile )

Roman chamomile is planted in the garden.http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-roman-chamomile-7106

                                     

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Many medicinal applications over time. Eaten as a pot herb. Yarrow is used to make a yellow dye for cloth. Used to control erosion. Caution about use. A, C, M

 Thin out, the roots crowd out the ensuing plant.

 http://www.almanac.com/plant/yarrow   and

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefolium