Nothing brings life to a dish like fresh herbs, and the ability to grow them on your patio is one of summer’s best luxuries. Fresh BASIL will add crispness to any pasta dish, and ROSEMARY right off the stem adds warmth to chicken or beef. You cannot go wrong with a fist full of classic herbs like these, but there are some more interesting edibles we think you should try this season.
corsican mint
Corsican mint is one of our favorites because it is so fragrant, and petting its tiny, densely packed foliage releases a heavenly scent. We recommend planting a full pot of it near a lounge chair for stress-relief, but it can also be planted in the ground as a steppable cover. Try it in iced tea, or sprinkle the little leaves over fresh greens.
french sorrel
Another one of our favorites is French sorrel. Its leaves need to be harvested before the plant throws up its flowers, but you can harvest it multiple times throughout the season. Its baby leaves add a lemony bite to fresh salads or fish dishes, but French sorrel soup is the best use for this leafy green!
chocolate mint
Chocolate mint can be steeped in milk for homemade ice cream, and chocolate mint mojitos are another crowd pleaser. Mints have a tendency to take over in the garden, so they are a perfect herb to keep in a container.
perennial herbs
Hardy perennial herbs—like SAGE and THYME—can overwinter in pots outside, but more tender herbs—like ROSEMARY—need to be brought inside in the fall or newly planted each spring. Pots of herbs perform best in full sunlight. They thrive in lean soil and like to dry out between watering. That said, they can perform just fine in a mixed container if you want to plant them with blooming annuals.
edible flowersl
We also love the idea of an all-edible mixed pot. VIOLETS, PANSIES, and VIOLAS are a few edible flowering plants that can brighten up your grill-side herb boxes. The small, delicate flowers can be used to decorate desserts or garnish any main dish. NASTURTIUM’s prolific red, yellow, and orange blossoms would also work well. Its flowers and foliage are both pretty and peppery, making them a perfect spicy addition to salads or fish dishes.
tuberous begonia
Chocolate mint can be steeped in milk for homemade ice cream, and chocolate mint mojitos are another crowd pleaser. Mints have a tendency to take over in the garden, so they are a perfect herb to keep in a container.
Victoria is owner-operator of Victoria Gardens, a nursery and garden center in Rosendale that delights gardeners, professionals, and novices alike. Victoria Gardens, 1 Cottekill Road, Rosendale, 845-658-9007, victoriagardens.biz
Save
Save
