Perennial Herbs

**Darlene** · 08-05-2010, 01:40 PM

This is the year for mint in many of my recipes, along with my basil (an annual), they go together so well adding a nice flavor to many of my summer salads.
I also grow chives which I use in place of onions often and some tarragon that I never use. The tarragon comes up like gangbusters but I don't come across recipes that use it, guess I should seek them out.

What do you grow and do you really use them? How? Any tarragon users have tips for me?

**monkeywrangler71** · 08-05-2010, 01:59 PM

Chive is the only perrenial I use, and I normally plant basil every year. I use both faster than I can grow it. I had mint and never used it. Grew parsley and used it very rarely, eating it makes my throat hurt.

Basil is the one I would really like to master, I use it a lot but can never get it to grow well and end up having to buy it.

**Trentt** · 08-05-2010, 03:34 PM

I grow sage, hyssop, and lemon balm (perennials); my dill, cilantro, summer savory, and borage freely reseed themselves every year (dill and cilantro numerous times every year in fact). I planted flat-leaf parsley, sweet marjoram, rosemary, and several kinds of basil this year (Magical Michael, Red Rubin, Mammoth Napoletano, lemon basil, lime basil, and cinnamon basil).

I don't have any tarragon advice - it is not one of my favorites.

**lisaflex** · 08-05-2010, 07:57 PM

love flat leaf parsley! mine thrived until about july 4th and has now stopped coming back! lemon basil is still thriving! chives thrived also til about july 4th.came back once again, now, i dont have any more!! sad about that!

**Saule** · 08-06-2010, 07:39 AM

Tarragon is a classic with eggs - add a little chopped tarragon to your scrambled eggs. If you saute chicken, tarragon is good with that, or put a few sprigs into the cavity when roasting chicken. I also will chop it and add to pan gravy after frying pork chops.

Dried tarragon tastes like dried grass, not worth it, but fresh is sublime.

It is also good made up into herb jelly.

**onencgirl** · 08-06-2010, 07:56 AM

Someone told me that you need to be careful growing mint. They said it will take over and needs to be contained. Is this true?

I remember as a child smelling a neighbors mint... it always smelled so good.

Also, heard mint is a good natural way to deter pests?

**Darlene** · 08-06-2010, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Trentt

I grow sage, hyssop, and lemon balm (perennials); my dill, cilantro, summer savory, and borage freely reseed themselves every year (dill and cilantro numerous times every year in fact). I planted flat-leaf parsley, sweet marjoram, rosemary, and several kinds of basil this year (Magical Michael, Red Rubin, Mammoth Napoletano, lemon basil, lime basil, and cinnamon basil).

I don't have any tarragon advice - it is not one of my favorites.

Do you use all of those? Nice variety!

Originally Posted by onencgirl

Someone told me that you need to be careful growing mint. They said it will take over and needs to be contained. Is this true?

I remember as a child smelling a neighbors mint... it always smelled so good.

Also, heard mint is a good natural way to deter pests?

Mint does take over and I have some in a big pot and some growing freely to the right of my front stairs & it's migrated to between the flagstones of my steps.

**Russ** · 08-06-2010, 08:02 AM

Yes, mint can spread quickly.

**frugalwarrior2** · 08-06-2010, 08:02 AM

YES-my whole garden is choc.mint and lemon balm. It's everywhere. On a hot summer day my dog will sit on some and the whole yard is filled w/ an earthy lemon smell.

**Trentt** · 08-06-2010, 10:45 AM

I don't use the borage and hyssop a LOT, but occasionally I make tea from them. Borage is a rather untidy, sprawling plant but its small blossoms are an exquisite shade of blue like no other flower.

The lemon balm is new this year so I haven't used it yet. All the other herbs I do use. I could have a whole plot of different basils. I love the stuff.

**frugalfranny** · 08-07-2010, 02:09 AM

I keep adding to my herbs........some just for looks.....like the variegated sage.

I like the ones that you can put IN your garden and not have it all over the next year.

In my garden I have multiple sage plants (green and white and green and yellow plus plain)........seldom use it. Also, chives, oregano, thyme, lavendar, savory, and dill. I keep lemon balm in a pot and use it quite a bit. Also will have couple diff. basils and couple others that I will winter over in a pot.

I too, LOVE the basils!

**frugalfranny** · 08-07-2010, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by Trentt

Borage is a rather untidy, sprawling plant but its small blossoms are an exquisite shade of blue like no other flower.

I had to look up the borage plant...........that is a pretty blue!

Looks almost like the color of the Lithadora.........of which I have killed three!!! I gave up! (think I overwatered..........they are funny with water!---an 'alpine garden' plant)

**Trentt** · 08-07-2010, 07:27 AM

Try the borage in hanging baskets ... above a spot where you won't mind volunteer baby borage the next year. I just move the volunteers wherever I want them.