An Herb Garden with a Concentration on Tea

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An Herb Garden with a Concentration on Tea

 

by Nick Rogers

 

A tall glass of iced tea, a sprig of fresh mint from

the garden... is

there anything more refreshing on a hot summer day? Or

perhaps a

steaming infusion with chamomile or mint is more your

cup of tea? A

" tea " garden can provide you with a steady supply of

your favorite

herbs; tea gardens are fun and practical, and they are

surprisingly easy

to grow.

 

Most tea herbs are quite happy in moderate sun, so

pick a spot which

receives about 6 hours of full sun every day. If you

grow your tea herbs

directly in the ground as opposed to having them in a

raised bed or in

an herb window-box, make note of the fact that many of

these herbs

spread voraciously, choking out other plants nearby.

You can prevent

this by sinking bottomless buckets or baskets into the

ground and plant

the herb inside within the borders to help control the

roots. Of course,

if you choose to garden inside or in containers,

overgrowth won’t be a

problem at all.

 

Lemon Balm

 

Lemon balm is a hardy, drought-resistant perennial

which grows so

readily that it is actually considered a pest plant in

some parts of the

U.S. A relative of mint, the plant greatly resembles

mint and has a hint

of minty flavor to it. Like most tea herbs, it can be

used either dried

or fresh, although dried leaves pack a more intense

flavor. The plant

grows approximately 24 inches tall and must be pinched

back and pruned

often to keep it under control.

 

Chamomile

 

Chamomile is a pretty, lacy annual (though there is

one variety that is

a perennial) that grows about 2 feet high. It prefers

partial shade over

full sun, and sandy, dry soil. The tea is made from

chamomile flowers

instead of the leaves. Harvest regularly once the

plants start to

flower. Chamomile is dried by cutting stems back to

new leaf growth and

tying in loose bunches. Hang upside down in a dry,

dark place until the

leaves are crumbly. Or you can just lay the flower

heads on drying

screens in the oven or in the sun.

 

Catnip

 

No, it's not just crack for cats. Catnip has been used

for medicinal

teas for colds and stomach upsets since time

immemorial. It's most often

combined with other herbs like lemon balm and lemon

grass, which are two

particular favorites. The plant is a perennial that

grows readily in

dry, sandy conditions, but it can be coaxed along in

nearly any sort of

soil or light conditions. And here's an added bonus:

catnip is a natural

pest repellant, both in the garden and in dried form.

To fully take

advantage of its pest repellant properties, dry the

leaves and place

them in cloth pouches and tuck under baseboards or

closets. Tea is made

from dry or fresh leaves, combined with lemon balm,

chamomile, or

comfrey.

 

Mint

 

Ah, the simple joys of mint! So many varieties exist

that you could

easily plant a mint garden with no other plants at

all. There is an

estimated 6,000 varieties and this number continues to

grow, as the

plant cross-pollinates so easily. It’s also the most

rapid spreader of

all the herbs. One plant will easily take over an

entire garden within

two seasons if it’s not contained. Mint likes rich

soil and light

shade, but like any pest grower, it will grow in most

conditions. Mint

also makes a great house plant which is very easy to

maintain.

 

Some favorite mint varieties for tea are:

 

Peppermint is the most popular of all the mints, with

its sharp, spicy,

cooling tastes.

 

Spearmint is the mint of mint juleps. Spearmint grows

readily in any

climate.

 

Apple mint offers a hint of fruity flavor underlying

the cool, fresh

taste of mint.

 

Chocolate mint is far better with dessert than as a

tea. Crush the

leaves and whirl in a blender with vanilla ice cream

for an

unforgettable treat.

 

 

 

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