Common Culinary Herbs and Their Uses

Based on a fact sheet published by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture in the 1970s. Updated by Cathy Avery. Culture ANISE Pimpinella anisum seed; use fresh seed; likes sun; space 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) apart BASIL, Sweet Ocimum basilicum seed; sow after ground is warm in spring; plant late; needs water and warmth, sun and shelter; 30 cm (12 inches) apart; pinch out tops of branches to prevent bloom -- this produces more leaves BAY LAUREL Laurus nobilis seed or stem cuttings (slow and difficult to establish); best to buy established plants; full or diffused sun; grow in containers; welldraining, rich soil; space 30-90 cm (1-3 feet) depending on size BORAGE Borago officinalis seed; sow early spring; will self-sow; needs dry, sunny place; space 30-45 cm (1218 inches) apart Uses . green leaves and seeds in salads; meats; bakery goods; tastes somewhat like licorice . border plant for garden, or in pots for patios; chopped leaves fresh or dry have clove-like flavour and taste; seasoning for vegetables and meat Characteristics . annual; slow-growing; whitish flowers in flat clusters; finely cut lobed leaves; 60 cm (2 feet) tall . annual; deep-green leaves; white blooms; many varieties available including small leaf (bush) and purple types; 30-90 cm (12-36 inches) high Harvest .

use leaves fresh; har seeds when ripe, dry remove from stems a store .

cut stalks back to 10 (4-6 inches) anytime growing season; can frozen; strip leaves f stems and screen dry

. fresh or dried leaves in soups, stews, fines herbes blends

tree or shrub; tender pick mature leaves; perennial; deep green, fresh or screen dry; s shiny, leathery leaves; whole grows up to 6 m (20 feet) in southern climates; can be keep small and bushy at under 1 m (3 feet) . .

young leaves have bushy plant; coarse leaves; pick blossoms as the cucumber flavour; use them annual; grows 60-90 cm (2- pick leaves fresh in salads and cold soups; 3 feet) high; blue flowers use fresh leaves in eggs; fresh flowers in fruit drinks and candied for dessert garnish . . .

BURNET, Salad

Poterium sanguisorba seed; full sun; dry, sandy soil; space 30 cm (12 inches) apart CARAWAY Carum carvi fresh leaves have mild cucumber flavour; for salads, soups, dressings, spreads and vinegars . hardy perennial; 45 cm (18 inches) high

pick leaves as neede remove flower stalks they appear .

seed; sow spring or fall; full seeds used to flavour bread, biennial; feathery foliage; sun, light soil; seeds pastry, meat, soups, sauces, creamy flowers; resembles produced second year; confections carrot; 60 cm (2 feet) tall space 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) apart CHERVIL Anthriscus cerefolium seed; sow spring or fall; partial shade; rich organic soil; 45 cm (18 inches) apart CHIVES Allium schoenoprasum division or seed; rich, moist soil; plant same as onions; divide clumps and pot for indoor use during winter CORIANDER (Cilantro) Coriandrum sativum seed; start in spring; do not transplant; for cilantro leaf production, repeat sowings; space 10 cm (4 inches) apart; full sun, light soil . leaves fresh or dried used as garnish for fish, in soups, omelettes; mix with salad greens . clumps and blooms decorative in gardens; leaves used fresh or dried in salads and as seasonings; has onion flavour . . annual; goes to seed in June; leaves are parsleylike, ferny; 30-60 cm (1224 inches) high . perennial; can be used the first season; resembles fineleaved onions; grows in clumps; violet edible flowers .

dry seed heads; harv seeds in autumn of s year

leaves best used fres freezing is the best w preserve .

leaves best used fres flavour better frozen dried; for drying cut small pieces and scr .

seeds for spices in baking, annual; grows 60 cm (2 dressings; tastes and smells feet) tall like orange leaves in stuffings, curries; fresh leaves essential in Chinese and Southeast Asian dishes, and in Mexican salsas . .

harvest seeds when a before shattering; fla develops upon dryin leaves harvested bef flowering, used fresh cilantro .

DILL Anethum graveolens seed; repeat sowings for summer long supply; sow early; needs rich soil; space 25 cm (10 inches) apart

leaves for salads; fresh annual; 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) leaves and seed stalks for tall; feathery foliage; dill pickles; after drying use rampant grower to season meats, fish, vegetables

leaves are best just a flowers open; harves as soon as ripe, cut o whole plant and han

FENNEL Foeniculum vulgare seed; best sown directly in garden; full sun; rich soil; space 45 cm (18 inches) apart

. all parts of leaves, stems and seeds aromatic; used for fish seasonings and sauces; ornamental background plants for garden . chopped cloves season meats, vegetable sauces; garlic salt obtained from pulverized dried cloves

. annual; tall, rampant, branching; thread-like foliage to 1 m (3 feet)

flower stalks harvest before bloom; can b like celery; leaves be fresh; dried seeds go teas .

GARLIC Allium sativum cloves planted early spring or fall; grows in any good garden soil; full sun; plant cloves 15 cm (6 inches) apart and 5 cm (2 inches) deep LAVENDER, English Lavandula angustifolia seeds or cuttings; sun and poor soil for fragrance; needs protection or take indoors if winters severe; space 60 cm (2 feet) apart LOVAGE Levisticum officinale

flat, onion-like leaves to 60 dig bulbs, dry whole cm (2 feet); prune flower in cool dry area stalk to increase yield; fall planting produces bigger cloves . perennial; somewhat woody; 30-60 cm (12-24 inches); gray-green leaves; many varieties available .

. fragrance; fresh and dried flowers; oil distilled from them; place dried flowers in small cloth bags for scenting closets; good border or hedge plants .

cut and dry whole fl spikes when flowers to open; do not use excessive or prolong when drying flowers oils are very volatile .

seed or division; full or part leaves have strong celery sun; sandy, fertile soil; flavour; for salads, soups, space 1 m (3 feet) apart dried herb blends

hardy perennial; one plant pick leaves as neede enough; deep green leaves; fresh, freeze, or scre white flowers attract to dry, mince leaves beneficial insects; grows up to 2 m (6 feet) . .

MARJORAM, Sweet Origanum majorana seed, cuttings, crown division; sow early inside or in coldframe; shade seedlings until established, then full sun; space 20-25 cm (8-10 inches); can be taken inside in winter as pot plant

. gray-green foliage ornamental for colour contrast; leaves used fresh or dried as seasoning for meat dishes; oil used in perfumes

annual or tender perennial; cut stalks before flow velvety leaves; very hang to dry in small fragrant; low-spreading and bunches or screen dr bushy to 30 cm (12 inches) high

MINT Spearmint Mentha spicata Peppermint M. x piperita

Orange mint M. x piperita citrata

. fragrance for scent; crushed leaves flavour tea, candies, mint sauce; oil from plant is source of menthol

. perennial; purple flowers; refreshing fragrance; spreads by surface runners; plant in tubs to keep roots restricted; up to 90 cm (3 feet) tall .

surface or underground rhizomes; thin beds and renew every 3-4 years; will grow in semi-shade; rich, moist soil; space 45 cm (18 inches) apart OREGANO Origanum vulgare

pick leaves individu from plants; can be u fresh or dried; harve before flowering

seeds or division; grows fresh or dried leaves as well in poor soil; does well meat or vegetable in containers and as ground seasoning; used in pizza cover for banks; space 3045 cm (12-18 inches) apart PARSLEY Petroselinum crispum seed; sow early inside, self sows; medium-rich soil; sun or part shade; best started in coldframes; space 15-20 cm (6-8 inches); start new plants each year ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis stem cuttings; seed germinates slowly; overwinter in cool sunny spot in house; keep foliage misted; doesn't like acid soil; needs full sun and wind shelter; space 1 m (3 feet) apart SAGE, Garden Salvia officinalis seed, stem cuttings; cut back in spring for new foliage; needs well-drained soil; space 75 cm (30 inches) apart in sun . decorative as an edging plant; rich in vitamins A and C; leaves best used fresh; seasoning for soup, meats, salads . use ornamentally as specimen pot plant; use leaves fresh or dried as food seasoning, especially on poultry or lamb

perennial; soft, rounded cut stalks before flow leaves; grows in clumps 60 begins; hang to dry o cm (2 feet) high on screens

. biennial; finely curled leaves; flowers second year; 20 cm (8 inches) high; compact plant; flat leaf varieties have strongest flavour . evergreen; narrow leaves; shrubby; not reliably hardy; leathery leaves have pungent spicy fragrance; reaches 1-2 m (3-6 feet) in southern climates

best used fresh; both and roots keep flavo dried or frozen; first of growth is best for

cut leaves any time b flowering; don't use excessive or prolong when drying since o volatile; freezing is n recommended

. leaves used dried or fresh as poultry dressing and stuffing, or as meat seasoning

. gray, shrubby, perennial; blue flowers; woody; sprawly habit; to 45 cm (18 inches) tall

cut leaves throughou growing season; stri leaves, screen dry or in small bunches

SAVORY, Summer Satureja hortensis seed; sow 30-40 seeds per metre (10-12 seeds per foot); do not thin; mediumrich soil in sun; make several sowings 3 weeks apart; space 15 cm (6 inches) SORREL, Garden Rumex acetosa seed or division; full sun; rich soil; space 45 cm (18 inches) apart

. suitable as a border hedge 8 inches high; leaves used fresh or dried as seasoning in soups, egg dishes, sauces, especially with green beans .

annual; weak stems; mauve cut stalks before flow flowers; 40-45 cm (16-18 hang to dry inches) high; leaves pungent and spicy

tart, acid flavour; for soups, heart-shaped succulent salads, sauces; rich in leaves; hardy perennial; cut vitamin A and C off flower stalks to promote leaf growth; 30-60 cm (1-2 feet) tall . fresh or dried leaves in sauces and seafood; ingredients of tartar sauce; young leaves flavour vinegar, chicken dishes . fragrant ground cover for rock garden; fresh or dried leaves usually blended with other herbs .

young leaves best; u only; cut back to 5-1 (2-4 inches) through growing season -- w regrow; freezes well .

TARRAGON, French Artemisia dracunculus sativa division of root crowns; need cold period each year (roots frozen) for continued growth; divide plants every 3 years; space 30 cm (12 inches) apart THYME Thymus vulgaris stem cuttings, division; sow seed early; well-drained, fertile soil; full sun; space 25 cm (10 inches) apart; cut back each spring; mulch over winter VERBENA, Lemon Aloysia triphylla
(Lippia citriodora)

hardy perennial; doesn't set leaves are best used seed; grows to 60 cm (2 some flavour is lost feet); much branched; drying; can be froze narrow, twisted leaves

perennial; shrubby, woody cut leafy tops before stems; low-growing, 15-20 flowering; hang to d cm (6-8 inches); leaves screen dry highly aromatic; can be potted and grown indoors in winter . narrow, shiny leaves are lemon-scented; non-hardy perennial .

. leaves for fragrance and to give lemon taste to beverages and jellies

cuttings; tender woody shrub; take indoors in winter

strip leaves individu from plant before blo come out; dry on scr