Exotic Herbs Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-712 -- More Projects »
 |
If you love Thai food, then kaffir lime is the herb for you. Also called Thai lime, this plant bears fruit, but it's only the leaves of the plant and the limes' zest that hold the unique flavor.
|
|
There's nothing like picking herbs fresh from the garden and heading straight into the kitchen to put them into your favorite recipe. And if you're looking for extra spice from your herb garden, why not turn every-day flavors into exotic delights by growing unusual herbs? As with any herbs, you'll find it easy gardening.
"Herbs are the second-easiest plants to grow," says herb grower Linda-Marie Bauer, calling succulents the easiest. "Herbs are very, very forgiving. They don't need to be harvested right away, they don't need fertilizer, they enjoy a poor soil, and they thrive on neglect." Even exotic herbs such as Italian parsley, 'Siam Queen' Thai basil (figure A), and lime thyme are very undemanding once established. The secret to herbal success is in the location. "You want to plant them in a place where they have excellent drainage," says Bauer. "That's absolutely essential. Also, almost all herbs grow in full sun. The colder an area, the more you want to make sure they're getting morning sun."
Many gardeners may have lemon verbena growing in their gardens. But did you know you can train this woody-stemmed herb to grow as a tree? Bauer has been growing this lemon verbena tree for six years (figure B). To start your own lemon verbena tree, remove all the lower branches and leaves along the base of a plant in a three-inch pot. Leave several leaves on top of the plant to help it establish a strong root system. The new growth buds will eventually become branches (figure C). As the herb matures into a tree, remove suckers and crossing or flowering branches to focus the plant's energy on the growth of the main branches. Save the cuttings to dry and add to tea. To dry herbs, fasten a small bunch together with a rubber band. Unbend one half of a paper clip, slip it under the rubber band, and hang the bunch in a dark dry location for about two weeks.
From planting to picking, Bauer harvests her herbs much the same way a barber cuts hair. To harvest herbs like thyme, Bauer grabs a handful of the herb then uses scissors to trim the stems about one inch beneath her hand (figure D). To minimize stress to the plant, leave part of the plant uncut. "If you cut the entire plant back, it's very likely to die," Bauer says. Under most circumstances, Bauer prunes her lavender with a flat-top cut, but she has an overgrown plant so she layers it, cutting away about two inches of the green growth.
Guests Linda-Marie Bauer
Owner
Lazy Susan Ranch
PO Box 1152
Calistoga, CA
Phone: 707-942-0120
Also in this Episode
| |
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/11/18/gby712_3e_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/11/18/gby712_3a_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/11/18/gby712_3b_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/11/18/gby712_3c_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/11/18/gby712_3d_e.jpg",350,450))
