A selection of 3 seed packets to help you grow your own homemade Herbs de Provence blend.
Contains 3 seed packets of:
- Summer Savoury
- Greek Oregano
- Thyme de Provence
Summer Savoury
Sowing: indoor Feb-Mar, outdoors Apr-June
Timing: germination 10-15 days, harvesting 30-60 days
Spacing: when sowing 3-5cm, when thinning 5-10cm
Growing: full sun, regular watering not overdone, well drained fertile soil, light feeder
Caring: as an annual, you need to plant summer savoury from seed each year, or else allow the plants to go to seed in fall and see what comes up next spring
Supporting: attracts bees and other pollinators, its aromatic scent repels harmful insects
Harvesting: harvest savoury continuously throughout the growing season. Just pick a few sprigs at a time. Collect leaves for drying just before the flower buds open
Medicinal: the herb is viewed as a good remedy for all digestive disorders
Eating: while savoury goes well with beans, it also enhances seasoned meats, barbeques, stews and sauces. Strong flavours like pork meat and goat cheese also compliment it well
Greek Oregano
Sowing: indoors Feb-Mar, outdoors Apr-Jun
Timing: germination 7-15 days, harvesting 40-60 days
Spacing: when sowing 1-2cm, when thinning 3-5cm
Growing: full sun, regular watering not overdone, well drained light and poor soil, addition of fertilizer is not necessary
Caring: oregano is a perennial herb. Cut the branches down to the ground at the end of the season and cover it in order to give it an early start to spring
Supporting: attracts bees and butterflies, attracts flower flies, a predator to aphids
Harvesting: pinch out small branches as you need them. To achieve optimum flavour potency, harvest the leaves just before the plant flowers
Medicinal: oregano is an all-round antiseptic, acting against bacteria, viruses and fungi
Eating: fresh oregano has a lighter flavour which is wonderful in tomato - and meat - based recipes, although many enjoy the stronger, more pungent dried oregano on their pizza!
Thyme de Provence
Sowing: indoors Feb-March, outdoors Apr-June
Timing: germination 15-30 days, harvesting 40-60 days
Spacing: when sowing 1-3cm, when thinning 3-5cm
Growing: full sun, regular watering allow to dry out, well drained light and poor soil, addition of fertilizer is not necessary
Caring: Thyme de Provence is a sun-loving plant, and the light draws out the pungent oils that make its flavour so strong
Supporting: attracts bees and butterflies, repels whitefly and tomato hornworm
Harvesting: pinch out small, fresh branches as you need them, or hang to dry in small bunches
Medicinal: in Hippocrates time, infusions of the herb were drunk for digestive purposes
Eating: Thyme de Provence works well in all Mediterranean meat and vegetable recipes, as testified by its presence in the classic Arabic za-atar spice blend
