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There are over three hundred varieties of thyme, but English thyme is the one most commonly grown for culinary use. French thyme has a similar, slightly milder taste. There are also thyme varieties with differently scented or colored leaves, such as lemon, golden lemon, and orange, as well as numerous…
Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is a member of the ginger family and originates from southwestern India. Like ginger, the portion of the plant used is a rhizome, technically not a root but an underground stem.
Turmeric has been utilized for many centuries as a spice, a yellow-orange food coloring, and an…
Persicaria odorata goes by several names—Vietnamese coriander, Vietnamese mint, Asian mint, rau ram, Laksa leaf, and phak phai are some of the more common ones. It‘s a herb used widely in Southeast Asia and is winter hardy in the frost-free areas of Zones 9 to 11. The flavor is described as being reminiscent…
Top tips for a successful vegetable garden: Choose a flat, sunny location with well-drained soil. Vegetables need a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sun. Full sun is best. Prepare your soil well before you plant. Thoroughly remove all weeds, dig to loosen the soil, and amend with compost and fertilizer as needed…
Celery is challenging to grow in most of Santa Clara County. It grows best at 60 to 65ºF, though it will tolerate temperatures from 45 to 75ºF. But it is difficult to find a four-month growing period in Santa Clara County that stays within that temperature range.
Three popular varieties of sorrel are garden sorrel (Rumex acetosa), French sorrel (R. scutatus), and red veined sorrel (R. sanguineus). French sorrel is the preferred variety for culinary use. It grows throughout Europe, in almost all soils and situations. The arrow shaped leaves have a bright, lemony…
It‘s a common myth that we should put gravel or other coarse-textured material in the bottom of a container to improve drainage. It seems intuitive that it should work, but our intuition is wrong. Here‘s why.
Garden Help Succulents are plants with thick, fleshy stems and leaves that collect and store water efficiently. While many succulents thrive in full sun with little water, others may need occasional water or part/full shade. Some are hardy to sub-zero temperatures while others are frost tender.
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum, or “onion chives,” are a herb belonging to the same family as garlic, scallions, and onions. They are grown for their edible leaves and flowers. The flowers are attractive to pollinators and are frequently visited by many types of bees. Grown in clumps, their slender leaves rise…
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a warm weather annual herb grown for both its leaves and seeds. There are many varieties of basil including Sweet, Thai, Lemon, Genovese/Italian, Purple Leaf, and Tulsi or Holy Basil. Growing techniques are common for most, although African Blue Basil is grown as a tender…
