Moutain Herb Estate

Tags

Courier service, herbs, Moutain Herb Estate

Last week I was looking for Hyssop Officinalis to companion plant my Grape Vine.

I came across this delightful supplier online. I placed an order last Thursday for 4 plants to be couriered from Gauteng to the Western Cape. The plants arrived early on Monday morning in really good moist condition.

Thank you so must Zirkia for the fast, efficient and friendly service.

Please contact Mountain Herb Estate for all your herbal requirements.

 

 

 

July in Ariston

Tags

Cape Town, environment, Flowers, food, garden, health, herbs, home grown, organic, South African endemic plant

This gallery contains 13 photos.

Lemongrass

Tags

athletes foot, brinjals, companion plant, Cymbopogon citratus, fleas, food, gardening, herbs, home grown, insect repellant, lemon grass, marinade, Mosquitoes, organic, plants, skin ailments, stirfries, sweet potatoes, Thai cooking, ticks, tomato

Lemongrass – Cymbopogon citratus

Lemon grass originates from Southern India and Sri Lanka. It has long been characteristic of Far Eastern Cuisines. It has found it’s place in Gourmet dishes as well as fragrant toiletries around the world. Apart from culinary and cosmetic uses, Lemon grass has an array of medicinal properties.

To increase your stock of Lemon grass, divide it by pulling apart sections. Potted Lemon grass should be divided every two years. It makes a good companion plant with sweet potatoes, peppers, brinjals and tomatoes. Lemon grass requires full sun.

Uses :

Culinary :

• Delicious as a tea.
• The chopped base of the leaf cluster is used in Thai cooking.
• Delicious with cheese, egg and fish dishes
• Flavouring for marinades, oils, sauces and stir fries.

Medicinal:

• Lemon grass stimulates cell regeneration.
• Soothes intestinal infections
• A strong infusion can be used as a deodorant.
• Soothes fever, colitis, digestive upset, muscular pain,poor circulation,skin ailments and stress related conditions.

Cosmetic :

• Useful for treating most skin ailments.’
• Athlete’s foot
• foot bath and massage.
• Essential Oil diluted in carried oil, will deter mosquitoes, ticks, fleas.

Gardening : 

• Lemon grass insect repelling spray can be used on insect infected plants.
• Watered over beds where seeds will be sown, to protect them from predators.
• Soak pea and bean seed in  Lemon grass tea to have bumper crops.
• Rub the inside of your hive when baiting bees.

 

 

 

Luscious Lips

Tags

environment, Flowers, herbs, Luscious lips, nature, organic, plants, Sacred Crystal Caves, Sage, Salvia Africana Lutea, South African endemic plant

Luscious Lipped Sage

This Luscious Lip Sage was found growing abundantly near the Sacred Crystal Caves. It is an aromatic hardy shrub which flowers over a long period of time. It grows not far from the sea and is often a common constituent of the vegetation on coastal sand dunes. It is found along the shores of South Africa.

Brown sage makes an excellent tea for coughs, colds, bronchitis and female ailments (pour 1 cup of boiling water over a short (7 cm) sprig of leaves, stand for 5 minutes then strain and drink sweetened with honey. The leaves are lovely for use in potpourri as they retain their shape, colour and much of their fragrance, and mix well with other ingredients.

This is an excellent choice for coastal gardens, as it prefers light, well-drained soil and full sun, tolerates strong winds, and is drought resistant

PlantzAfrica

RELATED ARTICLES :

The Fynbos Physician 

Plants on steroids?

Tags

animals, compost, coriander, earthworms, food, garden, green tips, herbs, Home and Garden, home grown, key hole, organic, Vermicompost, winter savory, worm, worm castings, worm farm, worm garden

The lush Coriander in the container with a Mini worm farm installation.

The  mint after being fed with worm castings

The Winter Savory fed with worm castings.

 

Related articles :

Coriander Key hole worm garden

Keyhole Gardens

A new twist to a key hole/circle garden – mini worm farm

Winter Savory- the forgotten Herb

 

Coriander – Key hole worm garden

Tags

allergy, chinese parsley, cilantro, coriander, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, Folk medicine, food, garden, gardening, green tips, health, herbs, home grown, key hole garden, micro-greens, organic, plants, traditional indian medicine, vegetarian, worm farm

This Coriander was planted a few weeks after the worm farm was installed. (under the pot). The growth is lush and healthy. The coriander was massed planted to that I would have a pot of micro-greens to harvest when required.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or dhania, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to regions spanning from southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the centre of the umbel longer (5–6 mm) than those pointing towards it (only 1–3 mm long). The fruit is a globular, dry schizocarp 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in diameter.

Coriander, like many spices, contains antioxidants, which can delay or prevent the spoilage of food seasoned with this spice. A study found both the leaves and seed to contain antioxidants, but the leaves were found to have a stronger effect.

Coriander has been used as a folk medicine for the relief of anxiety and insomnia in Iran. Coriander seeds are used in traditional Indian medicine as a diuretic by boiling equal amounts of coriander seeds and cumin seeds, then cooling and consuming the resulting liquid. In holistic and traditional medicine, it is used as a calming and as a digestive aid.

Warning : Coriander allergy

Eating a dish containing Coriander can trigger an immune reaction soon after eating it.

Related articles :

A new twist to a key hole/circle garden – mini worm farm

Walkabout in Ariston

Salvia africana-lutea – luscious lipped African Brown Sage

Tags

health, herbs, South African endemic plant

Another Amazing South African Endemic
“Salvia africana-lutea – luscious lipped African Brown Sage”

The Fynbos Physician

Salvia africana-lutea

Lamiaceae Family

Common Names

Bruinsalie, Geelblomsalie, Sandsalie (Afr.); Brown Sage; Beach, Dune or Golden Salvia (Eng.)

Name Meanings

Salvia is from the Latin salvere which means to heal or to save. Africana means from Africa and lutea is yellow. This gives Yellow African Sage

Classification & Taxonomic Relationships

A Southern African member of the widespread Salvia genus and Mint family, it is closely related to Salvia africana-caerulea or Blue Sage. Ignoring modern botanical taxonomics, these two plants could be thought of as one plant with a male and female expression:  Blue sage being the masculine plant and Brown Sage being the more luscious-looking feminine plant. This may have bearings on their medicinal uses. This type of classification is known for the Monardas (also Lamiaceae) of North America by certain indigenous peoples there.

Description

A large bushy shrub of an aromatic sage, it occurs naturally on the Western, South…

View original post 582 more words

Easy scrambled egg

Tags

breakfast, food, herbs, microwave, recipes, rocket, scrambled egg

Break egg into ramekin dish, add a dash of milk and mixed herbs, whisk with a fork

Microwave 45 seconds on medium high.

Serve with sprinkled rocket and basil.

Of all the herbs, Basil is King #growyourown

Tags

basil, basil pesto, coughs, dinner, food, garden, garlic, green tips, growing, growing basil, health, herbs, home grown, insect bites and stings, organic, Pest control, plant basil, raw, recipe, sweet basil, tap roots, vegan, vegetarian

Basil is one of the world’s most loved herbs. The Greek word for basil is basileus which means King.

Growing: Basil has deep tap roots, and do not liked to be moved. So transplant your seedlings carefully in the cool of the late afternoon. Keep the soil moist. Sweet Basil is best grown from seed sown in the early Spring and transplanted 50cm apart..

Harvesting: Basil is best used fresh (dried and frozen Basil loses flavor) It is best to pinch of the tips, this also discourages it from flowering, ensuring a longer life span of the plant.

Companion planting: Plant Basil with tomatoes, Summer Savory and fruit trees.

Uses:

Culinary:  Probably the most popular use is Basil Pesto. It tastes good with pizza, pasta, tomatoes, chicken and sausages.

Medicinal: Basil tea is  excellent  to  detox and de-stress. It is good for migraines, peptic ulcers, mouth infections, coughs, hypertension, indigestion and delayed menstruation.

Use 1/4 cup of leaves in  1 cup of boiling water. Leave to draw for 5 minutes, and sip slowly. Cooled tea can be cooled and used as a lotion for insect bites and stings. Basil vinegar is good for sunburn and scalp infections.

Cosmetic: Basil  tea is the perfect toner for an oily skin.

Other uses : Basil leaves rubbed on kitchen window sills keeps the flies at bay and freshens the air.

Basil Pesto

4 cups fresh Sweet Basil Leaves

2 to 3 cloves of garlic – peeled

sea salt to taste

4 tbs pine nuts/ Almonds/ walnuts or pecan nuts

5 to 6 tbs Olive Oil

4 tbs Parmesan Cheese.

Blend all ingredients till a smooth paste if formed.

Serve with pasta, baked potatoes, grills etc.

Companion planting

Tags

companion planting, food, gardening, herbs, home grown, nature, organic, Pest control, plants, vegetables

 

COMPANION PLANTING

 

Combining and mixing crops has the effect of reducing damage from pests and diseases. Marigolds are particularly useful and should be present in every vegetable garden. They are most effective when planted alongside pathways. When you brush up against them they release a pungent, pest-confusing smell. Similarly, some annual herbs such as chervil, dill and summer savoury are beneficial when grown amongst crops as their strong scent hides the plants from pests. The scents of rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, hyssop and lavender are effective pest deterrents and their flowers attract predators and pollinators. These herbs should be confined to the edges of vegetable plots. Garlic and chives are often grown under roses to prevent fungal and bacterial attacks. Some plants, such as the Nicotiana Sylvestris, are grown as sacrificials to attract pests away from the main planting. Also referred to as trap plants, these have sticky stems and leaves and are attractive to white fly and thrips.

 

COMPANION GUIDE FOR VEGETABLE CROPS

VEGETABLE	DOES WELL WITH …	DOES BADLY WITH …
Beans (broad)	Carrots, celery, potatoes, summer savoury, baby marrows and most herbs	Onions and garlic
Beans (runner)	Sweet corn and summer savoury	Beetroot and chard
Beetroot	Beans, onions, garlic, parsnips	Runner beans
Cabbage	French beans, beetroot, chard, celery, dill nasturtium, onions, garlic, peas, potatoes	Runner beans, strawberries
Carrots	Chives, leeks, lettuce, onions, garlic, peas, tomatoes	Dill
Celery	Cabbage, beans, leeks, tomatoes
Marrows	Beans, nasturtium, peas, sweet corn	Potatoes
Leeks	Carrots, celery, onions
Lettuce	Carrots, cabbage, radish, strawberries, chervil
Onions, Garlic	Beetroot, chard, lettuce, strawberries, summer savoury, tomatoes	Beans, peas
Peas	Beans, carrots, sweet corn, turnips, potatoes	Onions, garlic
Potatoes	Beans, cabbage, peas, sweet corn	Tomatoes, marrows
Sweet corn	Beans, cabbage, peas, potatoes	Sunflowers
Sweet & Chilli Peppers	Basil	Radishes
Sunflowers	Cabbage, nasturtiums	Potatoes, beans, grass
Tomatoes	Asparagus, basil, carrots, cabbage, onions, garlic, parsley	Potatoes
Turnips, Swedes	Peas