Vegetables and Herbs

Herbs

There is nothing more satisfying than picking fresh herbs from your garden and putting them straight into the dish of the day !

Herbs are the most wonderfully diverse and useful plants, coming in all shapes, sizes, textures, colours and perfumes. Their aromatic leaves and scented flowers can be enjoyed by all the senses, making them the most generous of plants.

Some Herbs are easy to grow on the windowsill while others prefer more space in outdoor pots or in the garden.

Abercorn has a selection of herbs available all year round untill Spring, when the selection increases massively with many popular varieties as well as the more unusual. Depending on the variety, they are available in 9cm starter pots or more established 1ltr and 2lt sizes for instant impact.

Culinary Herbs

Culinary use of the term "herb" typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of a plant, and spices, from other parts of the plant (including seed, berries, bark, root, fruit and even occasionally dried leaves). Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that like spices they are used in small amounts and provide flavour rather than substance to food.

Some herbs are shrubs (such as rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis), or trees (such as bay laurel, Laurus nobilis)

Medicinal Herbs

Many plants contain  phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some effects even when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort ( Hypericum perforatum) or of kava ( Piper methysticum) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning, and should be used with caution. Some herbs that are used not only for recreation can also be used for medicinal purposes such as cannabis.

Growing your own vegetables has now become a regular pastime for many gardeners and now even for the non gardener who now see the benefits in both taste, health and cost compared with buying from the supermarkets.

Vegetables

Vegetables are available at two main times during the year. In the Autumn, a more limited range is available to plant to over winter and produce crops in the winter and Spring. Young plants such as Cauliflower, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Cabbage, Onions Chinese Salad and some lettuce are ideal for planting during September and October.

In the spring, the range of vegetables is fantastic with the hardier plants such as the Brasica family, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Onions available from March. The range then expands greatly during the Spring to include many varieties of Tomato, Cougette, Marrow, Peppers, Chillies, Aubergine, Sweetcorn and many more. These summer cropping plants are normally available until about mid -late June and most are ideal for growing in Pots, Tubs and Growbags or in the Ground

One of the most popular vegetable to grow is the potato. Available between January and April, there are three main types, First Early, Second Early and Main Crop. The names suggest the order of planting and subsequently the order of harvesting ! Potatoes can be planted in the ground or into potato sacks which are ideal if space is limited.