No I'm not talking about the whacky weed you useless hippy wastrels.

Herbs, as everyone knows, are amongst the best things in the world. Because I am a snob I am increasingly struggling to abide the dried kind - once one has had a certain quantity of fresh basil, it is very hard to go back. Problem is, good fresh herbs are expensive and hard to come by in England. You can buy a leafy and luxuriant-looking basil plant in Tescos for a quid or two, but every time I do it promptly dies on me. Maybe I just don't know how to take care of it? I fear I may not be a man of greenfingery. I probably need all the help and advice I can get.

I want to grow my own herbs in order to be able to eat sexy food all the time. Specifically, I would like to have flourishing Basil, Mint, Tarragon, Thyme and Parsley plants upon the sill of my distinctly chilled-to-5° English kitchen. Anyone grow their own herbs here? Any top tips for their growth and care? Where can I get the seeds? Should I use "MagicGro(tm)" or some such elixir? Am I simply in denial? Perhaps this land is too cold for such treasures.

Oh, and how should fresh herbs be stored? In the fridge I imagine. Airtight box, loose?

All tips would be appreciated, and I might even make you a nice bagel with cream cheese, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts and FRESH MOTHERFUCKING BASIL.

Ta

S. x

Rosemary, thyme, marjoram, sage, mint will all grow happily on the outside of your window sill as will lemon balm and borage.

Parsley is doable although harder.

I grow tarragon on large pots outside and bring them inside for the winter.

I've had very, very little success with soft herbs (aside from tarragon). Coriander no-go, basil no-go.

There's a type of mint that has some of the flavour of basil and is growable in chilly England, but I'd only recomend it in flavour-medleys; it's not something you'd want to use for a food requiring a strong basil element.

The other thing about basil is that for it to be any real use, you'd need to grow a large amount of it which you're not going to be able to do on a sill. Same with coriander.

Rosemary, sage, marjaram, thyme are all doubly neat in that they're strong thus you're not going to use an entire sill-worth on one meal...

Do grow borage though; the beautiul little blue star flowers are edible and look awesome in salads.

Also, I cannot recomend highly enough Deni Browns's ' Encyclopedia of Herbs'.

I'd recommend investing some money in a full-spectrum bulb. It's summer all the time and you will be giving your excess away. I have my african violets under a 2" agrosun fluorescent and am constantly pruning them back and they perpetually bloom. Here's a small one

http://cgi.ebay.com/AGROSUN-Dayspot-Gro ... dZViewItem

This is what I have the violets under.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Agrosun-24-fluoresc ... dZViewItem

Believe me, they are like different plants if you give them a full spectrum light. Good luck and Happy Herby Bagels.

I considered buying one of those Chia Herb Gardens (makes a great gift!) because it seemed like the easy way to start growing stuff.

I wonder if they are any good.

The best way I keep my herbs is in a airtight container in the fruit vegie compartment.
At the moment I am having delemmas with my garden, in Melbourne the weather is so dry, I am finding myself keeping my herbs indoors so they dont wilt away.


Then it does depend on the herb being used and the air as too where you should keep your herbs. It's all about adapting your herb to your surroundings.
I also find, bizarly, coffee beans help in the growth process of your stronger, winter herbs!

Thanks for all the tips! Much, much appreciated. Keep 'em coming!