The Herb Association of Texas-

GROWING HERBS IN TEXAS

Herbs are plants that are used as flavoring agents. The common herbs used in cooking are referred to as culinary herbs. Mild or savory herbs impart a delicate flavor to foods while the stronger or pungent herbs add zest to foods. A number of additional herbs are used for medicinal purposes. This publication, however, deals mainly with culinary herbs used in cooking. These herbs are attractive and varied so their ornamental value is also important.

The leaves of most herbs are the part of the plant that is used although the seeds or roots of some herbs can also be used. Herbs are used in small quantities, so usually only a few plants are necessary to provide sufficient fresh and dried herbs for the entire season.

LOCATION

The ornamental value of herbs enables them to be grown in flower beds, in rock gardens as borders or corner plantings, for instance. Many herbs grow very well in pots and containers making them ideal for those without a back or front yard. All that is needed is a small balcony, deck or patio.

Many gardeners establish a small herb garden in the area closest to the kitchen making it easy to pop outdoors and clip the fresh herbs needed for a meal. A small 6- to 10-foot square or rectangular area is sufficient for an outdoor, in-ground herb garden. A circle or free-form design can also be used. Container grown herbs can be placed on steps or porch for easy access.

AS THE GARDEN GROWS

Care for the herb garden is similar to that of a vegetable or flower garden. Select a sunny, well drained location. If you have heavy soil, add organic amendments to make the soil drain better.

If you have very sandy soil, organic amendments will help your soil retain water, yet still drain well. Addition of a balanced organic fertilizer if your soil is very poor may be advisable.

MEDITERRANEAN HERBS

There is a class of herbs, however, that thrives on drier conditions. These are the Mediterranean herbs and are also many of the common culinary varieties. Thyme, rosemary, lavender, oregano and marjoram do well with little water once established. The soil must be extremely well drained especially for lavender and thyme varieties. It is easy to over water this group, so go easy on water and mulch with rocks or gravel to help dry the immediate environment to combat the effects of high humidity.

ESTABLISHING THE HERB GARDEN

Establish annual and biennial herbs, (basil, parsley, cilantro, dill) by planting seeds directly in the garden or starting seeds indoors for later transplanting to the garden.

To save your own seed for planting the next season, harvest the entire seed head after it has dried on the plant. Dill, basil and cilantro are easy varieties to save. Allow the seeds to dry in a protected location that is cool and dry. After the seeds are thoroughly dry, thresh the seed from the heads and discard the trash. Store the seeds in labeled jars or envelopes in a dark, cool, dry location.

Seeds such as dill, caraway, anise or coriander (the seed from the leafy cilantro plant) are also used for flavoring.

Perennial herbs (oregano, rosemary, chives, lavender, thyme...) can be propagated by cuttings or by division. Chive clumps are easily divided. Cuttings of rosemary are easily rooted in a light potting soil in a shady location. Ground layering works quite well on rosemary, oregano, thymes and lavender.

In general, cool season varieties are planted in the fall in most of Texas, and many hardy perennials do best if planted in the fall so their roots can be established before the stress of summer heat and humidity.


COMMON HERBS FOR TEXAS GARDENS


Aloe Vera: (Perennial) Use the fresh juice for minor burns, insect bites and rashes. It seems that the less care you give this plant, the better it grows. Likes shade. Good potted specimen as it is only winter hardy in the very southern reaches of the state.

Artemisia: (Perennial) A group of plants now used mainly for landscaping because of their silvery gray foliage. Includes Wormwood, Southernwood, Silver Queen, Silver King and Dusty Miller. Very tough, insect free plants that should be used more in the landscape.

Basil: (Annual) Every one’s favorite summer herb! Many varieties, including Genovese, Spicy Glove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Holy, Licorice, Purple Ruffles, Thai and Sweet. Sweet or Genovese is the tomato herb and a staple in Italian cooking. Freeze the fresh leaves for future use or make a zesty pesto. Nip flower buds to prolong plant life.

Borage: (Annual) Young leaves taste of cucumber used in salads. Blue star shaped flowers are often candied and used to decorate cakes and pastries. Or freeze flowers in ice cubes for a decorative addition to tea or lemonade. Borage attracts bees to the garden. Start from seed late fall or early spring.

Salad Burnet: (Perennial) Use leaves in salads, salad dressings or any dish you wish to have a cucumber flavor without the “burp”. Attractive plant to use for borders.

Catnip: (Perennial) One of the mints; cats love it so you may have to grow it in hanging baskets to keep them out. Makes a soothing tea for humans. Easy from seed or cuttings.

Chamomile: (Annual) Feathery, green foliage with small daisy like flowers that are used to brew a sleep inducing tea. Also known as Manzanilla. Likes cool weather. Sow seed fall/winter for early spring blooms. Self sows easily.

Chives: The smallest member of the onion family. Use leaves to give a mild onion flavor to dishes. Garlic chives are much easier to grow and are used in Asian cooking for their mild garlic flavor. Easy to grow from seed. To harvest chives, clip off the whole leaf and use what you need.

Cilantro (Coriander): Well known in Texas for the use of its leaves in Mexican dishes and salsa. Dried seeds (coriander) have an orangey flavor and are used in pastries, sausage, cooked fruit. Coriander is an important ingredient in pickling spices and curry powder. Likes cooler weather. Plant early in the spring or fall in the southern half of the state. Difficult to grow during summer. Freeze leaves for summer use in salsa and other dishes.

Comfrey: Large plant with coarse leaves and white flowers. Very invasive once established, so be careful where you plant it. Used mostly for medicinal properties. Will do wonders when added to a compost pile. Start from division or root sections. Does well in a large container. Not recommended for internal use.

Dill: One of the easiest herbs to grow from seed. Plant early in the spring or in the fall, it will sprout when it’s ready. Used for pickling, with fish, breads and flavored vinegars. Freeze leaves for later use. Large green caterpillars that love to eat dill, parsley and fennel will turn into Swallowtail butterflies, so plant enough for you and them!

Epazote (American Wormseed): A very weedy herb whose main use is to cook with pinto beans to prevent gas. Use about 5 medium leaves to a pound of beans. Also makes an interesting tea. If you let this plant go to seed you will have it everywhere. Freeze leaves for later use, as it is not winter hardy.

Fennel: Grows like dill with a sweeter, anise flavor. Plant from seed in fall or early spring.

Bronze fennel is a very attractive variety that looks pretty in a flower bed. Leafy parts and dried seeds of both the green and bronze are used for flavoring. Finnocchio is an Italian variety that grows a large above-ground bulb that is sliced and eaten raw or cooked.

Garlic: Not a true herb, but often included in herb listings. Plant bulbs in fall for a late spring harvest. Whole books have been written on its cultivation and use. Leaves may be used like chives.

Lavender: With its gray/green foliage and sweet scented flower stalks, lavender is a must for any herb garden. Can be tricky to grow in the southern half of the state. Needs excellent drainage, full sun and good air flow around the plant to combat high humidity. A gravel or rock mulch helps keep the surrounding environment dry. Many varieties available.

Lemon Balm: Member of the mint family with strong lemon scent and flavor. Easily started from seed, cuttings, division or roots. Spreads rapidly. Likes some afternoon shade. Use leaves for hot or cold tea, fruit cup garnish, or anywhere you want a good lemon flavor. Good bee attractor when in bloom.

Lemon Grass: Tropical grass prized for its lemon flavored leaves. Use leaves in hot or cold tea, in Asian cuisine, soups, with chicken or fish. Roots are winter hardy in southern half of the state, in the northern regions with a good mulch. Start from division, or seed for a variety known as East Indian Lemon Grass.

Lemon Verbena: A small shrub with very strong lemon scented leaves. Sometimes known as the Queen of Lemon Herbs, it makes a delicious tea. Start from cuttings or transplants. Reliably hardy, highly desirable deciduous shrub.

Marjoram: (Very tender Perennial) Cousin of oregano with a more delicate, sweet flavor. Use in any dish where you want a savory, sweet flavor: tomato dishes, chicken, soups, salad dressings, flavored vinegars. Start from cuttings, seed.

Mints: (Perennial) With almost endless varieties, mints are the hardiest and easiest herbs to grow. Very invasive, will soon take over any bed they are planted in, so container growing is a great option. Mints do well in full sun to part shade with average water. Use in hot and cold tea for a refreshing drink. Some mints are seed grown, but many of the flavored ones: orange, grapefruit, apple, chocolate, ginger, variegated pineapple are easily started from cuttings or by digging rooted stems from the garden.


Oregano: (Perennial) There are over 400 plants that at one time or another have been used as we use oregano. One of the most common and easily available is Greek Oregano, the low, small leaf, spreading variety. A shrubby variety known as Italian is also available. Some Greek varieties have very little flavor, so be sure to taste any herb plant you are planning to purchase. There are several plants known as Mexican Oregano, which are not in the Origanum family at all, but have a delicious oregano-like flavor and are popular for Southwest dishes. Oregano likes well drained soil and lots of sun.

Parsley: (Biennial) Another must for the herb garden, parsley also makes an attractive border for a flower or vegetable garden. The two most widely used types are curly and “Italian” or flat-leaf. Many people think the flat-leaf variety has a better flavor, but it does tend to go to seed more quickly. Both are stared from seed with patience, in the fall, as they are winter hardy in most of the state. Likes a little shade for summer growing otherwise full sun brings out the flavor best. Very high in Vitamin C, parsley is a good addition to fresh salads.

Rosemary: (Perennial) One of the easiest herbs to grow in Texas as it thrives in our hot climate. It is considered very drought tolerant and can be killed by over watering. Rosemary comes in two basic forms: upright and trailing or prostrate. The trailing variety has light blue blooms in spring and throughout the summer. Rosemary is used with pork, chicken and is great on roast potatoes. Rosemary is easily propagated from cuttings or by ground layering.

Rue: (Perennial) This herb grows easily from seed or transplants. The yellow blossoms are a great butterfly attractor. In full sun, the leaves and flowers can cause dermatitis in some people, so handle it with care (or gloves..).

Sage: (Short-lived Perennial) Here is another plant that doubles as a durable addition to the landscape in Texas if it has good drainage. It is very sensitive to over watering. Best started from cuttings, the common green variety can be grown from seed. Many varieties are available such as golden, tri-color, pineapple, and clary. Sage is a must for poultry stuffing and for use in “breakfast sausage”. Leaves can be dried for later use.

Sorrel: (Perennial) The acid flavor of the leaves of this plant add an interesting lemony flavor to salads and can be cooked with other greens or made into a soup. Sorrel is easily started from seed in the spring.

Tarragon: (Perennial) True French Tarragon is difficult to grow in much of Texas due to our high humidity and summer temperatures. It will grow fairly well in North and West Texas where the humidity is less than in the southern parts of the state. A good substitute for the flavor of French Tarragon in cooking is Mexican Mint Marigold, sometimes known as Texas or Mexican Tarragon. Texas Tarragon is a root hardy perennial with bright yellow flowers in the fall. The leaves can be used fresh or dried in salsa, with chicken, potatoes, eggs or in tea.

Thyme: Thyme is another of the Mediterranean herbs that need excellent drainage and is greatly helped by a rock or gravel mulch much like lavender. There are many varieties of thyme: lemon, French, lime, English, lavender, creeping. The flavors mix well with other herbs and in many types of cuisine. Lemon thyme is very good in tea.

Yarrow: Once used as a dye for woolens, and as a wound dressing, this is another wonderful plant for Texas landscapes. Its lacy foliage contrasts nicely with the tall, flat flower heads in yellow, dark pink, white or pastels. Starts easily from seed or division.

Water as necessary during dry periods after plants are established. Generally an inch a week is advisable if no rainfall is present.

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We at HAT hope this guide will help you be a successful herb grower. Growing herbs is a wonderful endeavor filled with aroma, taste, history and lore. This guide is merely a jumping off place for you to get started growing and appreciating herbs for all their wonderful qualities.

There are lots of places to find more about all aspects of herbs in print and on the Internet. Some books that could be helpful are:
Southern Herb Growing by Madalene Hill, Gwen Barclay
Herbs for Texas by Howard Garrett

When looking for growing and gardening information on herbs, try and find books and articles written specifically for the southern United States. Many resources are perfectly good for the midwest, California and the west coast or the east coast, but do not address the unique conditions we have here in Texas.

To find more about uses of herbs and their history and lore, there are a myriad of web sites that can help you. A couple of books that are very good are:
The Big Book of Herbs by Arthur O. Tucker, Thomas DeBaggio
The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses by Deni Bown.

Good luck and Great Gardening to you
from the members of The Herb Association of Texas.

Visit us on the web at texasherbs.org for herb suppliers, retail nurseries with a great selection of herbs, herbal product manufactures and more.