Unusual Herbs?
| Member | Message |
|---|---|
 |
Posted: Apr/14/2006 3:47 AM PST
Is anyone else here growing any less common/unusual herbs? I myself am trying to grow Lovage, Rue, Wormwood and Stevia. The Lovage and Rue I am interested in because I am a mythology buff. They were both commonly used by the Ancient Romans, and were mentioned in several ancient writings. It's said the Ancient Romans were responsible for bringing Lovage to England. Wormwood is just an interesting herb altogether. Apparently it has some benefits in the garden. It's oils are a natural insecticide. Unfortunatly the same oils can act as an herbicide to some other plants as well so you need to be carefull where you plant it. Of course it's historical signifigance as the main component in Absinthe is interesting as well. It also has properties as a pain releif aide. If anyone has every used "Absorbine" products, they contain oil of Artemesia absinthium. Stevia I have tried to grow 2 years in a row now and I havent been able to get the seeds to germinate. Now I am determined to grow it this year. As I type this I have stevia seeds in a paper towel lined ziploc bag saturated with a 1600 PPM solution of Gibberelic Acid, and it's in an incubator set to 85F. If they dont germinate under those conditions I dont think they ever will, lol. Stevia can be used as an artificial sweetner. I dont really need to grow it, I am happy using Nutrasweet or Splenda, but as I said now I am determined since it has given me toruble in the past, lol. That's about it for now. I would like to try and grow some other exotics. I am thinking about getting some Hoodia Gordoni "Cactus" as they are being sold (Since Cactus only grow in the Americas and Hoodia Gordoni is from africa it would actually be Considered a Succulent, but I guess the word Cactus is better for marketing to the general public, lol). I might try to start it from Seed because started plants are going for $30-45 sdollars each! |
|
|
Posted: Apr/23/2006 6:16 AM PST
I also tried growing Shiso last year and had no luck getting it to germinate. I think I am just going to give in and buy some more Rue plants, stevia and wormwood online. The seeds still didnt germinate for me even with gibberellic acid and a constant 80 degree temperature. What I thought was Rue coming back I now think is a weed that has some remarkably similar looking leaves. However, I noticed the same plant growing along my fence accross the yard and in the vegetable bed, so now I know it's not Rue. As I mentioned the Rue died off early last year, never got a chance to flower, so theres no way it could have spread accross the yard, lol. |
 |
Posted: Apr/23/2006 1:31 AM PST
~Goanna~ Lovage is a favorite herb of mine. I've used it in a pinch many a time to substitue for celery. Wonderful used sparingly in a bed of mixed greens, in chicken noodle soup and in potato salad. Be mindful of the note "sparingly". As this herb ages it gets stronger. Mine dies back in fall and regenerates in the spring. Another fun use is to use the hollow stalks in tomato juice-spiked or plain-as a straw. To keep this herb growing well don't allow it to flower. Stevia- As you have found growing stevia from seed is more hit than miss. It's also possible to have a plant with little or distasteful flavor. I buy my stevia as a cutting and keep it in a large pot. After frost danger has passed, it goes into the ground, container and all. Before frost in the fall I unearth the planter, harden the plant for several weeks and overwinter again inside. The longest I've kept a plant this way is three years. If a plant fails its because I didn't get the plant acclamated before it came in. A refreshing summer ade: In a glass container bruise fresh stevia and apple mint leaves with the back of a wooden spoon. Squeeze in fresh juice from a lemon half. Fill with filtered water (I use Brita). Cover and refrigerate up to 5 hours. No longer. Strain to remove leave bits. Serve cold over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge and mint leaf. Use this ade recipe with any combination of fruit/herb. My favorite is orange and chocolate mint with stevia. Tastes like a liquid tootsie roll. Great to start kids on rather than store bought "so called" juices/punches. Wormwood - I grow this specifically as a filler for decorative wreath making only. Don't use in wreaths that will contain culinary herbs. My personal observation of the power of wormwood to stunt other plants: I had one wormwood planted in a dark corner of my yard in what I thought was an out of the way area. That year, a trumpet vine 15 feet away did not flower. During fall cleanup when trumpet suckers are removed, I found several intertwined with wormwood root. I moved the wormwood under a utility pole where nothing else will grow and it does well. The following year the trumpet vine was full of blooms. Other favorites of mine are: Borage, nasturtiums, marshmallow and lemon verbena. Herbs are 
|
 |
Posted: Apr/23/2006 3:46 AM PST
I've also grown stevia from seed and it can be a real hit and miss affair, cuttings are a lot easier. I suppose they're not that unusual but I do a lot of asian style cooking and we've found they're a necessity. Curry leaf tree, a bay leaf tree, 9 different varieties of basil, turmeric, ginger, galangal, cardamom, yatsufusa and cabai burong chilli, perilla and vietnamese mint (viet coriander) plus a few others. The perilla I'm growing next year as it has a cinnamon type leaf flavour, should be interesting..... 
|
|
|
Posted: Apr/23/2006 9:40 AM PST
The only herbs I start from seed are basil, coriander and parsley. All the others either from corms or cuttings etc. A lot of them self seed quite readily too, some too well! lol.....wish me luck with the perilla I have red and green so hopefully they'll germinate for me...... |
 |
Posted: Apr/24/2006 1:43 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Goanna Is anyone else here growing any less common/unusual herbs?I grow valerian (probably way too much of it) and elecampane. |
 |
Posted: Apr/24/2006 1:48 AM PST
I grow Cuban oregano - I don't know how unusual it is, but it's well worth it (I grow it indoors and it's pretty easy) if you like to cook with oregano. The leaves are fleshy and fuzzy and the aroma is fabulous. I also have valerian - though not much. I've heard it self-seeds but not, so far, for me. 
|
 |
Posted: Apr/24/2006 8:41 AM PST
Hello there, Wombat! Almost didnt' recognize you, dear man. R33, what's the flavor difference between Cuban oregano and greek? I alsways grow greek.... maybe I need Cuban. MAYBE I NEED BOTH! |
|
|
Posted: Apr/24/2006 9:02 AM PST
Almost didn't recognise you either dear lady. Nice to see you again
|
 |
Posted: Apr/24/2006 11:04 AM PST
I have Valerian and it hasn't really spread very much. I am also trying horehound this year (again). And I just found a patchouli plant at Agway. It was a little pricey, but the smell is incredible. I would like to try Rue. It looks interesting. |
