Potted herbs Thyme
How to start: Plants
Where to grow: Plant into well-drained soil in a sunny spot, or grow in pots filled with John Innes 2 compost.
Aftercare: Allow compost to almost dry out in between watering. Keep plants compact by lightly trimming over the top after flowering. If you want to pick leaves over winter, prune back in early September to force new growth. Protect the vulnerable fresh foliage by covering with horticultural fleece.
Mint
How to start: Plants
Where to grow: Mint is a rampant thug that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground. Restrain it by growing in a large pot (30cm is ideal), which can then be plunged into the soil – ensure the lip of the container remains above the surface to prevent shoots from escaping over the top.
Aftercare: Water well and keep the plant bushy by pruning lightly in summer.
Milk thistle
How to start: Seeds
Aftercare: Either sow seed in March or April for flowering in the summer, or from May to August for flowering next year. Sow directly into well drained, fertile soil in full sun.
Aftercare: Young plants will need protecting from slugs and snails.
Valerian
How to start: Seeds or plants.
Where to grow: Sow seeds in spring and plant the rooted seedlings, or young plants, into well drained soil in a sunny or partly shade part of the garden.
Aftercare: To prevent plants from self seeding, cut back stems as the flowers fade. You can make more plants by dividing well-established clumps in spring.
Lemon Balm
How to start: Seeds or plants.
Where to grow: Rich, moisture retentive soil in sun, or in pots. Sow seeds into trays in March and plant out when large enough to handle.
Aftercare: Trim shoots often to keep plants bushy and produce the tastiest leaves. You can make more plants by dividing in the spring. If growing in pots, water whenever the compost has almost dried out.
Sage
How to start: Plants
Where to grow: Very tolerant of drought, sage hates having wet roots, so find it a sunny position in well-drained soil.
Aftercare: To encourage bushy growth, prune lightly in spring and again after flowering in summer. After four years or so plants will become woody and need replacing.
Aloe vera
How to start: Plants
Where to grow: Plant this succulent into pots using well-drained John Innes 2 compost. Although it is perfect on a sunny patio over summer, it is tender so will need moving indoors to protect from frost over winter.
Aftercare: From late spring to early autumn allow the compost to almost dry out between watering. In winter, water infrequently, only to prevent leaves from shrivelling.
Lavender
How to start: Plants
Where to grow: Grow in pots filled with gritty compost, or in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
Aftercare: If un-pruned lavender will quickly grow lanky and woody. Keep plants compact by lightly trimming after flowering to remove spent heads, usually in late August. In March, trim over plants removing about 2.5cm of previous season’s growth – do not cut into woody stems. In pots, allow the compost to almost dry between watering and keep on the dry side in winter.