Anna, so pleased you mentioned the mint. i would love to grow some in either pots or in the garden so my question is which mint for each situation ?
i have garden beds that are shaded and one that is almost full sun every day.
also is it true that mint repells or detracts flies ?

yes your list of herbs is extensive !!!!
i will look forward with interest to the postings on this forum, i'm sure there will be lots to learn.

many thanks michelle

I have some Costmary,only a small plant so far . Label says it is used to repel insects and add to final rinse when washing.
Is it invasive, should I keep it in a container.
Heather

I have so much trouble with mint. Keep killing it,I know its supposed to be invasive,but certainly isn't here. Also have trouble in keeping comfrey alive. Tansy grows everywhere,have several sorts of sage,all edible, three different sorts of parsley. Will have to go around the garden and look,as I can never remember names until I see the plant. Judie

Michelle, most mints will require a semi-shaded position or one in dappled shade; however, they will grow in full sun if the soil is kept moist. Corsican Mint can be grown in the shade. The soil for all mints should be kept moist and well-drained.

Plant them in their own beds in the garden, or to keep them from taking over the garden in pots sunk in the garden with the bottoms cut out, but watch for any stray runners. They can also be planted in large pots in a good organic mix making sure that they are kept well watered.

thanks anna,
i have quite a large pergola area where i keep heaps of potted plants. i'm always looking for an excuse to be able to buy another ! michelle

Ok. Nobody else is game so here are my herbs...well more of a kitchen garden really.

Aloe Vera
Basil
Basil Mint
Chilli
Chives
Curry Plant
Fennel
Geranium (Peppermint)
Kaffir Lime
Lavender
Lemon Grass
Mint (Peppermint & Basil)
Oregano
Parsley (Curly & Italian)
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme

Other edibles:
Fig Tree
Lemon
Lettuce
Mandarin
Strawberries
Tomatos

It doesn't look like much compared to Anna's but I enjoy them all thoroughly. All container grown in decent sized pots and quite healthy.
This is going to be a fun forum!

Wendy

All my herbs are in pots at the moment waiting for a new home. I have (not in alphabetical order 'cos that's too organised for me :)

basil
lemongrass
oregano (greek, ordinary and golden)
sage
rosemary
parsley (Italian)
thyme (ordinary, turkey, lemon, variegated lemon, fine leaf, creeping pink and white)
tarragon (French)
lemon balm (self seeds all over the place)
mint (garden mint, moroccan and chocolate)
chives
peppermint pelargonium
lavender (French and English)

I used to have lovage (I think), Vietnamese mint and fennel but they got left behind at the last place.

When I get my new herb garden I plan to add to it!

My herb garden was only started a month ago, however everything planted in this smallish patch is doing well. So far I have:
Arthritus herb
Sage
Pineapple Sage
Garlic Chives
Yarrow
Dyers Cammomile
Borage
Thyme
Angelica
Basil
Lime Basil
Red Basil
Comfrey
Wormwood
Corriander
Rosemary
Coconut Geranium
Winter Savoury
Landcress
Clary Sage
Italian Parsley
Parsley
Echinacea
Nasturtiums
and mixed in with this lot are
Giant Stuttgard Beans
Snake Beans
Sunflowers
Sweet peas
Perennial Chilli
Regular Chilli
Very Hot tiny Chilli
Strawberries
Coffee Arabica

I know the last bit is not herbs, but they do look good all mixed in hodge podge together. Now if I can only keep the feral couch grass out of the mix, I will be happy!

happy gardening all
Wendy

dear marie,
please explain ....mint- chocolate ?
does it taste like after dinner mints or mint slice biscuits or am i dreaming...........
my husband can locate chocolate at 3klms !!!!!!!
more info required please.
many thanks michelle

Chocolate mint has been marketed recently, I don't know if it's a gimmick or what. I got mine from a friend. It's got a dark green leaf and dark stems. To me it smells like after dinner mints if you bruise the leaves. I use it to make mint tea and it's quite interesting - but not really chocolately!

Found this weblink on chocolate mint with a recipe.

Here is a link that might be useful: chocolate mint

I read in a book once about using peppermint geranium leaves in the bottom of a chocolate cake and how it made the whole cake taste of mint...I tried it but it didn't really work...the chocolate mint leaves (or even ordinary mint) might have worked though.
What strange things I tried to do in my youth!

Wendy

what size pots are your Kaffir Lime trees in girls or are they in the ground?

where could i get peppercorn seeds from ?

H'm, well, so far, I've just got yarrow in a pot which I got about a week ago and mum has at least 3 or 4 lavendar bushes around the garden. They're either of the French or English variety, but one has certainly got more vibrant purple flowers.

Anyway, just out of interest, I was wondering how to go about caring for my yarrow, and as a herb, what properties it has. Also, when it flowers, what pests attack it, when to feed, what to feed etc etc. This is because my previous herb-y project with sage was a dead failure. My brother's project with rosemary was a great success for two years, but now it's died, I've filled it with the yarrow I got from Bunnings.

Also, I've had these little insects fly off it when I've brushed the yarrow. Just last night I saw an insect about 1-2 cm long, with clear gossamer wings, pale-brownish in colour with a reddish stripe of some sort. What is this and is it a pest???

Thanks to all those who can help! And Anna, I must say, it'll be a long time before I can catch up to your list ;)

Saintin

Yarrow (Achillea) - a hardy vigorous perennial, needs to be grown in full sun, or semi-shade in hot districts. Tolerant of most soils. Should be grown in well-drained, not-too-rich soil. Over-fertilizing will cause the plants to grown lax & flower poorly. Prefers to be a little on the dry side - over-watering can cause root rot. Cut plants to the ground in middle to late autumn. It needs little or no fertilizing, though a little blood and bone can be sprinkled around the plant in spring.

Yarrow flowers can be used as a tea as a pick-me-up or to ward off a cold, for urinary tract infections, hypertension, a diuretic amongst other things. Caution - more than 1 cup of yarrow tea a day can lead to headaches, fainting or skin rashes and prolonged use is not recommended.

Dried yarrow flowers can be added to potpourri or used in dried flower arrangements.

A strong tea of yarrow can be used to bring out blonde lights in hair.

I hope this is of some help, though I can't help with the identification of the insect.

Yes Anne I agree with you to taking care with herbs - I used to grow a lot of herb about 20yrs ago and use until one day I read about a herb (can't remeber what it was now) that would give a salad a lift. Out in the garden I went to pick it - something held me back - don't know what and I decided against it. Some days later a herby friend identified it for me as spotted hemlock - we used it instead as a snail killer - snails would die after crawling over them. I now only grow parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, coriander and sage - all labelled from the nursery. Scarey!!!
Leyla

Wendy where did you get the clary sage from? I have looked for seeds everywher but I have had no joy. I purchase clary sage esentail oil and it is rather pricey! I would rather have the herb thank you! I have also read somwhere that yarrow helps the compost heap any ideas on this one any one?

I do believe Honeysuckle Cottage has Clary sage. They do mail order.

Both Austral Herbs (Australherbs.com.au) and New Gipplands Seeds (http://www.possumpages.com.au/newgipps/) have Clary Sage seeds.

Yarrow added to the compost heap helps it to decompose quicker. Comfrey also is helpful.

Comfrey is also one of the nutrient miners isn't it?

Yes. Comrey's deepish roots suck up all those lovely nutrients out of reach to shallower rooted plants. It's leaves are bursting with goodies including a good dollop of potassium. Great as a mulch, or let leaves rot in water and pour the diluted sludge hither and thither. Also believe you can extract a concentrate by placing a bunch of leaves under a few bricks and collecting the black ooze. I fill a trench with the leaves, cover with a little soil and plant my spuds in the trench. They love it!
I've heard that the leaves can be battered, fried and eaten but I think I'll keep mine as a fertiliser!

Hi all,
I don't have a huge variety of herbs yet but I'll list em anyhow.

Rue
Sage
Chives
Garlic Chives
Oregano
Golden Oregano
Dill
Corriander
Curry Plant
Thyme
Mint
3 different Basil varieties
14 different Chilli varieties
Rosemary
Citronella Geranium
Lemongrass
Valerian

and I think thats just about it.
Dave.

Hi

Reading through past messages with avid interest.

I have a very small collection of herbs - but because I am Chinese Australian I have a particular interest in growing chillies.

My mum is often able to obtain seedlings from her friends for me, but does anyone know how I can buy a range of different chillies? Dave - I noticed that you had 14 different types...

Thanks.

PS Has anyone transferred a bay tree from a pot into the ground and if so, can you plse tell me if it grows really huge really fast?

Hi agnes.
Take a look at Eden Seeds website, they have a good selection of seeds and I have always got good germination from thier seeds.
Dave.

Here is a link that might be useful: Eden Seeds

Hi All
I have just started my first garden and here is my list.

corriander
basil
flat leaf parsley
royal flush tomato

dont laugh, i know its small but thought i better start off with a modest approach;)
aimee

Excellent combination there; all the pasta essentials. Good luck with coriander - everyone I know can never hold it to leaf for more than about three weeks before it bolts to seed. Lucky the seed's as much fun as the leaves, I guess ...

I grow only a few herbs - parsley, oregano, sage, chives, pineapple sage, vietnamse mint and coriander. I just keep sowing coriander so that there is always some ready for picking.
I've also got a little collection of chillis, always trying out different ones - this year it's Yellow Cayenne (on the hot side but not overly) and Pepperoncini (really just a very slightly piquant capsicum, very mild). And any of you who frequent the Cornucopia forum will probably know me as a complete tomato addict!

I'm a compulsive collector of ethnobotanical specimens. I grow the following plants;

Sage - golden, regular, tricolour, spanish, clary
Oregano - italian, greek and golden (marjoram)
Marjoram
Thymes including, spicy broadleaf, culinary, lemon, wooly, orange peel, caraway, and other ornamentals
Winter savory
Summer savory
Lemon savory
Bergamot
Comfrey
Rue
Anise hyssop
Calamint
Rosemary - various forms
Lavendar - italian, english, ornamentals
Lemon balm
Lime balm
Mints including - spearmint (round leaf), spearmint (regular), peppermint, watermint, stone mint, menthol mint, basil mint, corsican mint, apple mint, lime mint, native river mint, pennyroyal, native pennyroyal, common garden mint (sp?)
Chives
Garlic chives
Garlic
Russian garlic
Society garlic
Hops - golden and regular
Fennel, bronze fennel, florence fennel
Dill
Chervil
Tarragon - russian and french
Mexican marrigold (mexican tarragon, tagetes)
Wormwood
Southernwood
Cat mint
Catnip
Cammomile
Dyers cammomile
Echinacea
Borage
Calendula
Parsley - italian and crinkly
Lovage
Alexanders
Basils - seasonal Thai, sweet, cinnamon, lemon, purple ruffles, and greek ~ Ocimum minimum (favourite!) clove basil, holy basil
Angelica - Glossy, Angelica sinensis, Culinary
Nigella
Fenugreek
Coriander
Horseraddish
Sweet Cicely - my pride and joy.
Turmeric
Galangal
Lesser Galangal
Fingerroot
Long pepper
Betel pepper
Rice paddy herb
Fish herb - Houttuynia cordata
Laksa plant - Polygonum odorata
Cinnamon
Lemon myrtle
Aniseed myrtle
Native pepper (Tasmania lanceolata)
Saffron
Perilla
Elderberry
Cardamom - I think / I hope...
Lemongrass
Native lemongrass
Caper
Curry leaf tree - very sick :-(
Long coriander - could be dead. :-(
Sweet bay
Kaffir lime
Poppy (somniferum) many others but that's a different story
Various chilies - seasonal

That's enough for now.. there may be some I've forgotten. If anyone would like seeds, plants or just advice email me. I love hearing from fellow plant lovers. Cheers

HI,

I've just started my first garden after moving from a rental highrise apartment to my own home :-)

Yard was all grass but I've made beds and filling it as money allows. So far Italian Lavender, French Lavender, Cat Mint, Rosemary. I've got seeds for dill, chives and parsley to go in over the weekend. Hope to get much more...

Jamus, I know how you must feel about your Sweet Cicely. Mine this year has grown beautifully and at the moment is forming seeds which I am watching closely so that I can collect them. Though I think I'll put something over them so I don't lose them. It is a most wonderful plant, the delicateness(?) of the leaves and the flowers is a sight to behold. In Sydney's climate it is not always easy to grow so I have been very excited with it this year.

Anna, YES! The plant is beautiful. My first attempt failed as the tap root rotted off over winter. This time I've got it in a spot with better drainage, dappled light under a tree, and plenty of water. Our climate here in Adelaide should be better than your sydney climate for sweet cicely, so I'll wait and see what happens.

Hmm Have to have a look:
Sage (S. apiana, S. milthorizza, S. melifera, S. darcii,
S. splendens, S. turkmenistan, S azurea)
Lemon verbena
Greek mountain tea,
Siegesbeckia
Basil (gratissimum, lemon, anis...)
Chillies (habaneros, Jalapenos, Banana, Hungarian
cherry, Ricoto-yellow, orange, red, Bell ...)
Anthoxanthum ordoratum
Hierochloe odoratum
Vetiver grass
(the whole cullinary herb range)
Mate tea
Moledavian mint (and a australian native mint)
Cinnamonum
Wild hops (male and female)
Plectranthus sp.
Artemisia (pontica, absinthium, vulgaris, ludoviciana...)
Tagetes lemonii
Tagetes lucida (Thanks to one of my trades this section
Tagetes will get bigger)
Catha edulis
Spilanthes sp.
Licorice (russian and chinese)
Catnip
Cimicifuga racemosa
Brahmi
Various plants which you can use in salads.
Jasminum sambac
Ammi visagna

And when I have a look into my garden I know it is probably only a third of what I have.
Funny I have so many plants but tomatoes don't do it here.

I have a lot of poisonous plants because I like the idea that plant can defend themselves.
It is funny with herbs and plants people thing they are plants and therefore not powerfull, which is not true.

I used to brew up some vine after Hildegrad von Bingen (old german nun) was with white vine (simmer until the alcohol evaporated, with parsley and honey, everyday a shot was good for the heart.)