Burdock

1. Family: Compositae
2. Species: Arctium lappa
3. Origin: Europe and Asia

4) Plant: biennial

1. Height: ,5 m; space 1,5 m apart
2. Soil: deeply dug, compost-rich soil
3. Exposure: full sun
4. Propagation: seed
5. Uses: culinary, medicinal, cosmetic

Burdock has an extraordinary list of traditional uses behind it. The root has been found to assist in removing and eliminating heavy metals from the body, and in today’s ever-wider-spreading pollution, this aspect is more important than we think. Used to treat an overload of toxins in the body, burdock was once grown near the coalmines and other industrial sites with heavy dust, smoke and pollution, and was given to the workers as a tea daily.

A robust survivor plant, it appears everywhere in waste ground and on city pavements, along roadsides and in neglected fields, bravely battling the elements, its giant leaves sheltering little field creatures from the storms. A brave soldier of a plant,’ a Chinese herbalist called it, ‘there to soothe mankind’s ills.’ Read the rest of this entry »

Caraway

An ancient, revered herb, caraway was once credited with powers to protect against witchcraft. Used in medicines and flavouring by the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks, caraway seeds have been found in the remains of stone age artefacts, in Egyptian tombs and in Mesolithic sites, so we know that its roots go back well over 5 000 years. A small dish of caraway seeds was served at the end of an Elizabethan feast and even today at many Eastern restaurants a small bowl of caraway, fennel, cumin and aniseed is passed around as a traditional end to the meal to aid digestion.

A. CULTIVATION Easy to grow in well-dug, well-composted light soil; transplant the seedlings if necessary before they reach 10 cm in height. Plant seedlings 30 cm apart. A twice weekly watering will ensure a good crop.

B. PROPAGATION Sow seeds in situ, about 30 cm apart; keep moist until well established. Read the rest of this entry »

Catmint

Native to Europe and Asia, introduced and naturalised all over the world, catmint is an easily rooted perennial that is gaining popularity for its insect-repellent and medicinal properties. Much loved by cats, who eat it, roll in it, sleep on it and generally ecstatically envelop themselves in it. No cat-lover should dare to be without a few plants! Versatile catmint has a long medicinal history and has been used for centuries in Europe as a treatment for oily skin and hair.

A. CULTIVATION There are two main species easily available in South Africa. A larger-leafed variety, Nepeta cataria with nondescript white flowers and coarsely serrated leaves of about 2-3 cm in length, grows 30-70 cm in height. The smaller-leafed variety, Nepeta mussinhl, has tiny pretty mauve- blue or white flowers (var. Alba’). It is low growing, never reaching much more than 15 cm in height, with a spreading habit. Catmint needs full sun and good, well-composted soil that needs replenishing every August. In winter the clump can be cut back, removing the old summer growth, trimmed neatly and divided. It needs a deep twice-weekly watering. Read the rest of this entry »

Celery

Native to the British Isles and Europe, celery is an ancient herb, revered, respected, and cultivated from the earliest centuries, particularly for flavouring food when salt was a rare and expensive commodity. It was used in those far-off centuries to clear the body of excess fluid, toxins and arthritic aches and pains — one is always astonished to find that all our medical progress only verifies what the ancients knew already! Some 3 000 years ago ancient Egyptians ate celery to give them strong bones, strong muscles and fleetness of foot. In the 5th century BC ancient Chinese used celery to slow ageing and treat illness and flush toxins from the body.

A. CULTIVATION Plant seedlings out 30 cm apart in rows in soil that is deeply dug and compost enriched. I have found that double digging gives me longer stems and I double compost as well as this ensures a mass of juicy leaves and stems for two full years. Plant a second crop within 4 months and do this every 4-5 months all through the year.

B. PROPAGATION Sow the seed in moist, shaded, sand-filled trays and prick out when they are big enough to handle. Plant the little plants in compost-filled bags, keep them moist and in the shade. Gradually bring them out into the sun for longer periods to harden off before planting out in full sun in well-dug soil. Read the rest of this entry »

Chervil

In ancient days chervil was considered so precious that a basket of seeds was found in Tutankhamen’s tomb. It has been grown as a flavouring herb in temperate climates across the world; brought into Britain by the Romans, it was revered as a medicine for treating the blood. It was associated with religious penance and Lenten herbs and eaten on feast days. Every meal during winter should be enhanced by fresh chopped chervil: it literally is one of the most versatile of herbs and can be used as parsley is — lavishly, fresh and frequently. In French cuisine it is one of the much-loved traditional fines herbes. Its parsley-aniseed flavour enhances every savoury dish. It acts as a tonic herb, a circulatory herb and a cleanser; it fights infections, is a good diuretic, and will help to lower high blood pressure.

A. CULTIVATION Prefers well-dug richly composted soil in partial shade (40-50% shade cloth works well). Chervil is a cool weather plant, though heavy frost will kill it. It does well in deep pots provided it is kept moist and shaded.

B. PROPAGATION Sow seeds in trays in early autumn for winter planting and transplant when big enough to handle, 30 cm apart. It has a long taproot, so it is often safer to sow it in situ, especially under larger herbs so that it can be shaded, as it hates to be transplanted. Read the rest of this entry »

Chives

Family: Liliaceae

Species: Allium schoenoprased

Origin: Eurasia

Plant: perennial

Height: up to 20 cm; space 30 cm apart

Soil: well-dug, well-composted soil

Exposure: full sun

Propagation: seed and clump division

Uses: culinary, medicinal, cosmetic

An ancient and indispensable group of plants, the extensive onion family embraces every variety, from easy-to-grow chives to garlic, spring onions and all types of garlic chives to ordinary onions. With this collection of flavours, shapes and textures (the stronger the taste the more effective the healing power), no other plant variety can match them! Chives and onions, grown and used in China over 6 000 years ago, were introduced to Europe by Marco Polo and since then, the tasty onion family has become an integral part of our daily diet and a natural medicine. Medical facts on the onion family and their therapeutic properties are so well documented that worldwide research now rates onions and chives as the health plants of the century. Read the rest of this entry »