These four herbs are easy to grow. They taste wonderful as tea, and have important phytonutrients and health properties.
1) Lemon Bergamot – Monarda citriodora
This North American wildflower is other-worldly with its mesmerizing pink and lavender blooms. The stunning flowers–which really defy description, how did nature do that? –bloom throughout the summer. Lemon Bergamot is both a superb pollinator and potent medicinal. The flowers and leaves have a citrus-oregano aroma and make a great tasting tea. And despite its rather exuberant appearance, it is a low maintenance plant. Health Benefits: A recent study (Kozyra et al 2023) found that dried extracts of the flowering heads of Monarda citriodora are ‘an important reservoir of natural antioxidant agents’, such as Apigenin, Gallic Acid and Rosmarinic Acid. The same study found the flowering heads are Antibacterial (against various strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria) and Antifungal.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. Seeds are tiny, so it is best to start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds just below the soil surface, cover seeds lightly with soil, and keep moist until seedlings are up. Bottom heat helps speed up germination. Transplant after the last frost date has passed, with about 8 inches between seedlings. Beautiful 3 foot plants when in bloom.
2) Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis
Super fragrant lemon scented herb. A well-known medicinal with anti-viral properties. One of our favourite herbs, we use the leaves for tea and tincture. Harvest Lemon Balm any time during the summer, even after the tiny white flowers have appeared. Fresh is best for this herb, as that is when Lemon Balm’s essential oils are at their peak.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. direct sow in spring or start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Light dependent germinator; cover seeds with a very light covering of soil. If you don’t want Lemon Balm to be a perennial, just plant it in a pot for the summer.
3) Catnip – Nepeta cataria
A wonderful herb for both people and cats. Catnip flies under the radar as a medicinal herb for humans, but Catnip leaves and flowers have a long history of safe use for the people in cat’s lives. In their important paper about the attributes of Catnip published in the journal, Chemistry & Biodiversity, Tiwari and colleagues (2023) write:
Herbal tea made from the plant’s leaves and flowers is used to treat fever, colds, and coughs… The plant possesses various biological activities, i. e., analgesic, antiasthmatic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, cardio protective, antimicrobial, and insecticidal properties.
This short, bushy plant, which resembles mint (with whom it shares the family Lamiaceae) has soft, velvet-like leaves. Harvest Catnip at any stage of the plant’s growth, even after the small pink-to-whitish flowers have appeared. The aroma and flavour of home grown Catnip is divine.
A cup of Catnip tea (from fresh or dried leaves) is the perfect way to wind down the day. Use 1 tsp leaves (dried or fresh) per cup of water, steep 5 minutes.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Sow seeds just below the soil surface and then place in a sunny spot once sprouted. Or sow outdoors in early spring.
4) Chamomile – Matricaria recutita (German chamomile) (syn. Matricaria chamomilla)
Fragrant and flavourful—sweet, with flavours of honey, apple and pineapple. Bodegold is an improved German strain of Chamomile with larger flowers, sweeter flavour and higher essential oil content than other chamomiles. It also blooms several weeks earlier than other strains. Plants are 12 to 24 inches in height. The daisy-like flowers bloom all summer and you will be able to get multiple harvests from the same plant. You can get a good supply of chamomile flowers with just a few plants.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. Seeds need light to germinate. Sow on top of soil and press in lightly. Keep moist until germination. You can start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date or direct seed in mid-to-late May. Chamomile has a deep root system, so put the plants in the garden or large pot.
