Lemonette (lemon basil) really does have a pleasing citrusy scent. The leaves aren’t as robust as the basil that most food gardeners know, and the plants are smaller and more compact. It is, however, a welcome and aromatic addition to your garden, and plate.
Red Rubin is a compact red basil plant with delightfully dramatic red-purple leaves which have a spicy aroma. It finishes the season by making pretty pink flowers which look great in salads, and flower arrangements. Use the leaves sparingly in dishes as this variety is more pungent than other basil types. It’s wonderful to flavour vinegar.
Well, this is promising, right? Basil with large leaves? So more flavour and more pesto! Basil provides the scent of summer in a veggie garden – and delectable freshness to salads, pesto, pizza and pasta. Bonus is that large-leaf basil is apparently sweeter than the regular Genovese sweet basil that most of us are used to planting. Worth a try!
For cooks, this quick-growing basil should be a staple for the kitchen garden. It has a more pungent flavour than most basil and is used in Thai, Indian and Italian dishes. It also produces pretty burgundy flowers, and green and burgundy leaves. The seed is very small and fine so sow carefully in trays or, if you’re feeling brave, in…
Slow Bolt coriander really is slow-to-bolt and thus can provide a handy supply of aromatic greens for a while before setting seed. Even then the seed is a handy spice to use in one’s kitchen, along with the yummy roots.
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: Dill is easy to grow and is in the same family as Parsley. Mention of dill can be found in ancient Egyptian scripts. Dill has a mild liquorice flavour. Dill leaves and seeds are used in a wide variety of dishes, traditionally dill seed is used for pickling while the leaves can be used for…
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: Parsley can be difficult to start from seed, and it can take several weeks for seed to germinate. (Top tip: place your seed packet in the fridge for a few days before sowing.) Once established, seedlings are easy, quick growers that can take sun and partial shade. Regular harvesting will encourage plants to produce new…
The Italians call it Cavolo Nero, and yes, that sounds like the name of an eccentric millionaire who wears suits on yachts. Imagine our disappointment when we found out that it actually means “black cabbage.” In an effort to never be misled by the musical beauty of their language again, we’re firmly calling it Dinosaur Kale and brainstorming T-Rex jokes…
This kale’s names - Red Russian or Ragged Jack - provide an indication of its growth habits. Burgundy red ribs extend into ragged purple blue and green leaves which are shaped in a rosette. Red Russian kale offers a mild nutty flavor that is slightly sweet and earthy with a hearty texture. It grows all year round in South Africa…
This variety is from Peak Week Pods. JC Terblanche says: 'The chances of true mint seeds germinating are very low, but this variety isn't a true mint and they germinate very easily from fresh seeds. Korean mint (Agastache rugosa) is an extremely beautiful lilac purple flowering herb that will bring colour to your garden the whole summer long. Korean Mint…
This variety is from Kirchhoffs: Originating in the Mediterranean region, rocket is used widely in cooking and salads. Makes a great companion for beans, dill, lettuce, mint, nasturtium and thyme. A very easy crop to grow. As weather gets hotter flavour strengthens. Sow direct into garden or container. Young leaves are very tender and are best eaten fresh, in salads…
