Throughout my whole adventure with the veg garden this year, I've been thinking more and more about herbs and tea. Of course, I plan to have a variety of herbs to cook with - and there are obvious ones (mint, chamomile) that work and taste well in teas. I know I shouldn't be growing anything for medicinal puroposes myself, but I think there are certain herbs that have beneficial effects, catnip, for instance, when brewed in a small amount into tea. Any recommendations of especially good herbs to grow or not grow for tea? Besides the regular herbal teas, I'm also very interested in growing and learning more about Camillia sinensus, the tea tree plant. I'd love nothing more than to be able to grow my own green tea! (Or black tea, for that matter!) Anyone have any experience with this amazing and versatile plant? I was thinking it would be really fun to try growing one in a large pot (so I can bring it in from the cold in winter, and take it with me when we eventually move). If anyone has advice or experiences to share, it would be appreciated!
I never thought about growing my own tea but that is a great idea. I drink a lot of green tea. I found this with just a quick search: http://coffeetea.about.com/od/preparation/a/growingtea.htm Growing Tea at Home From Sean Paajanen You might be surprised at how easy it is. I'm not talking about herbal teas either, but real tea: Camellia sinensis. You don't need a large garden to grow your own tea, a planter on a balcony would work just fine. The tea shrub is hardy to Zone 8 (The country is broken up into 'zones' with similar temperature and weather patterns. Zone 8 is mid-west to southern USA). If you don't live in these areas, don't fret. You could try growing Camellia sinensis in a greenhouse, or in a pot that you can bring indoors during cold winters. The Camellia sinensis plant is a small shrub about 1-2 meters in height, though it will grow taller if you don't prune it. In the fall, your tea shrub will flower with small white blossoms that have a delightful scent. These plants are often grown as ornamentals. For planting, Camellia sinensis likes well-drained and sandy soil that is on the acidic side. If you are going to grow your tea in a container, add some sphagnum moss to the potting mix. You'll need some patience, too. Your plant should be around 3 years old before you start harvesting leaves. You might be able to get seeds at your local nursary, or try online at Seedrack.com. Growing tea is only half the battle. Once your tea plant is growing well, you'll need to harvest and process your tea leaves. From your plant, you can make black, green or oolong tea. Green Tea Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds. Blot the leaves dry, and let dry in the shade for a few hours. Steam the leaves (like you would vegetables) on your stove for about a minute. For a different flavour, try roasting them in a skillet for 2 minutes instead of steaming. Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in the oven at 250F for 20 minutes. Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container Oolong Tea Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds. Spread them out on a towel under the sun and let them wilt for about 45 minutes. Bring your leaves inside and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours. Make sure to stir the leaves up every hour. The edges of the leaves will start to turn red as they begin to dry. Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in the oven at 250F for 20 minutes. Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container. Black Tea Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds. Roll the leaves between your hands, and crush them until the leaves start to darken and turn red. Spread them out on a tray, and leave them in a cool location for 2-3 days. Dry them in the oven at 250F for about 20 minutes. Store in an air-tight container. Once you get the hang of it, try experimenting with different drying times to get different tastes. Mix your teas with jasmine or hibiscus flowers for a lovely summer tea right from your garden.
Thanks for that! Three years, before harvesting leaves? That seems like sooo long! I wonder if anyone around here has any plants that are already started for sale... I'm sure I could buy seeds online, but maybe I could cut a year or two off that time by getting an established plant... Of course, then I wouldn't have all the extra satisfaction of knowing I'd started it from seed... or knowing what it's growing conditions were from the beginning... hmm, it's something to think on at least! Another thought, Walker - if we did both decide to do this, we could start seeds at the same time and have "siblings"! Same state and everything!
I've always wanted to do this to but I'd have to do it indoors as our outdoor weather is too extreme for tea and I don't have the room. Also note that when looking at Camellia sinensis that there are different strains will be better suited for the different level of fermenting and climates. I'd research it out for the hardiest strain you can find over flavour potential.
Here's a source for seeds: http://seedrack.com/02.html Plants: http://www.woodlanders.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=310 Woodlanders is a fantastic company that specializes in rare plants. And if anyone wants to grow something real interesting, grow your own black pepper. Seeds: http://www.driftwoodgardens.com/blackpepperpipernigrum.htm Peace, poor_old_dad
I have a whole practical herbaceous border which does what it says on the tin - it's all herbs and medicinals - apart from the digitalis. That's for the bumblebees!! And not for consumption. Very poisonous! I have feverfew, lemonbalm, St Johns Wort, marjoram, thyme, golden thyme, lavender (makes nice tea and is lovely in chocolate cake!)primrose, violet, sage, oregano, rosemary, wild garlic, clary sage, rosemary, angelica and chives. I have various mints in pots and tubs around the deck as it helps keep biting bugs away. Herbs are wonderful inside and ut. Freshcut herbs will also make a room smell good. Not to mention the culinary uses...and the tea.... Have fun...
How could I have forgotten about lemon balm? Instead of waiting patiently and growing all my herbs from seeds, I'll probably splurge in the nest couple of weeks and buy a few established plants. Really though, how big or mature do most herbs need to get before you can safely clip and harvest them? Thanks for the links, P.O.D. Woodlanders seems like a really great source - but I couldn't find anything about the age of the plants they sell... Would it just be a baby, or a little more mature than that?
humble, you are probably not going to get a two year old plant. three years is basically the plant's babyhood (look at fruit trees: three years allows the plants to mature before the stress of pruning and harvesting.)
Actually most herbs need a lot of clipping and training before three years. It's only woody plants like trees and shrubs like Camelias that need more maturity. Lemon balm could certainly be harvested in the first year and would benefit from it as would many others. Probably the plants you would buy for tea shrub camelias would be the result of cuttings. It would depend on how well it establishes itself once planted. You could probably do a little pruning/harvesting the first year. Would you get a cup of tea out of it...probably not.
Yeah, I wasn't expecting a 2 year old tree. Just hoping that it would be slightly older than a seedling or anything... Thanks for the advice, gardener. It hadn't occurred to me, but makes sense, that the camelias might reach maturity sooner if grown from cuttings. I'll have to just email the woodlander's store and ask! But in the case of most other herbs (I'm planning on mint, lemon balm, lavender, oregano, chives, etc. to begin with) will be ready to cut at least in small amounts before a year? I *think* most of what I listed is perennial - I want to keep those all in small enough pots that I can bring them in during winter. The annuals I'll be growing include basil and sage, and perhaps cilantro, and I had planned on putting those in the ground where my snap peas are growing right now (when those are finished for the season, of course) Besides brewing tea with the herbs, I also plan on cooking with the obvious ones, and just living with a few pretty looking, pretty smelling, green and growing things...
Herbs need to be cut back and harvested in the autumn anyway. They also tend to grow like mad and if they are in a place that they like you will probably be able to split them at the end of the second year and have more plants! This applies to most on my list. They will certainly require thinning out at some point. Also you need to clip back the lateral growers (thyme, marjoram at least twice a year). Summer solstice is the traditional time for herb gathering and the full moon after the solstice. Plant your herbs like a patchwork they will look wonderful too. And not too close together as they will spread quite quickly. If you plant them around an area where you sit in the garden it will always smell wonderful. Culpepper's herbal is the original herb bible - try and get a copy from your library. It's written in 16th century english. He also suggests what shouldn't be planted next to what!! It's a facinating insight into how herbs were used medicinally! Herbs for the kitchen that in certain climates don't do well outdoors like coriander and basil we grow in the kitchen. Parsley will grow well for two years - the second year gather the seed and plant it the following spring, potting indoors and transplanting out. Once you start growing herbs you will always have a source of gifts!! A pot of a selection of growing herbs is a great one to give and they are so easy to grow from cuttings. Some of the hard woods like lavender, rosemary and sage are more difficult to propogate, and sometimes it is hit or miss, esp if you don't use rooting chemicals but leave it to nature. Packs of dried herbs are also a good one, esp little hand tied muslin bags of bouquet garnis. I am always so thrilled to hear of new gardeners getting into herbs. Please let us know how you get on! Most of all, have fun.
If you are planting fast growing herbs like lemon balm, etc., you better be prepared to clip and "harvest" whenever they start getting out of line, or beware, many herbs can become pests if pampered.
Culpeper's Herbal is available in many places on line. Here's a couple: This one also has a lot of other rare/old books: http://www.planetherbs.com/rare_books/rare_books.php This one has a Culpepper's link plus some other great info sites. Check: The Herbal Encyclopedia, the University of Michigan Dearborn College Native American Ethnobotany Project and NC Herb ("A research and extension program at N.C. State University focused on development of sustainable and organic crop production systems for commercial growers."). http://www.webweaver.sapphiremoon.info/Search/SERP.php?Id=86 Peace, poor_old_dad
