News from the Edible Demo Garden

October 2024: Herbs Among the Edibles

Herbs may not be the stars in the Edible Demonstration Garden, but they are notable members of the supporting cast. It’s hard to imagine a flourishing vegetable garden without a few culinary herbs as companions.

The supporting cast of herbs in the Edible Demo Garden includes basil, oregano, thyme, lemon verbena, chives, Mexican tarragon, anise hyssop, chocolate mint, lavender, pineapple sage, and rosemary. Some are harvested and sold fresh at the Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden farm stand and others are dried and offered as seasonings and teas. They are among the most reliable plants in the garden.

What is an Herb?

The word “herb” can be applied to any non-woody plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for seasoning, medicine, or fragrance. It’s the culinary uses that most commonly interest home gardeners. Herbs are considered different from spices based on the part of the plant that is used. Spices are derived from the roots, bark, fruit, berries, and seeds of plants. Some plants can be both an herb and a spice. Coriandrum sativum, also known as Chinese parsley, is called cilantro when the green leaves are used as an herb and coriander when the seeds are used as a spice.

Why Grow Herbs?

Herbs are among the most satisfying plants to grow. Most are not fussy and can tolerate less than ideal garden environments. Many familiar herbs like sage, oregano, and rosemary are native to Mediterranean areas where the climate is similar to that in the Bay Area and therefore, they grow well in Marin gardens. There are many other good reasons for growing herbs.

• Herbs make good neighbors with other plants and can be easily integrated into both edible and landscape gardens. They are attractive enough to do double duty as ornamentals.
• Herbs are cost-effective. They are inexpensive to grow and can be harvested in the amounts required for a recipe. No need to spend money at the supermarket on packages of herbs.
• The blossoms on herbs attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.
• Herbs are usually not bothered by pests and diseases. Some herbs have been shown to repel pests affecting companion plants. An example is the ability of basil to deter thrips from invading tomato plants.
• Deer usually leave herbs alone, especially those with strong tastes and scents.
• Herbs grow well in containers and are a good choice when garden space is limited.

Tips on Growing Herbs

Most herbs thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, but many can be grown successfully in a range of conditions. Annual and biennial herbs such as basil, parsley, and cilantro have moisture and nutrient needs similar to those of other annual edibles and integrate well into vegetable gardens. Although perennial herbs like oregano, thyme, and sage require some regular watering, they are drought-tolerant and need little additional fertilization. They do well in more permanent locations or grouped together in an herb garden.

Some herbs are started from seed while others are easy to grow from cuttings. Information on the growing needs of common edible herbs can be found at http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/EDIBLES/EDIBLES_GROW_SHEETS/

Check the upcoming events listings on this website to register for a hands-on public workshop on growing and using popular edible herbs. There will be a workshop held on the College of Marin Indian Valley Campus on November 2, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.