HERBS - Vegetable, Fruit and Herb Growing in Small Spaces - page 92

Thereafter, carefully change the top inch (2.5cm) of compost for fresh each spring and
halve the amount of fertilizer given while growing it up. Bays are shallow rooted and I
wouldn't try other plants in the same pot as you are likely to damage the roots.
Another reason bays are best grown in pots, in the UK at least, is that they are not very
hardy and in really cold weather will need protection or moving to a sheltered spot. Ours
moves from the top of the garden to the patio by the house for the winter where the extra shel-
ter affords some protection. If it is going to get below -5°C, wrap with horticultural fleece or
bubble wrap.
You can prune your bay each spring to develop the shape you want. A pyramid, Christmas
tree style is easy but the standard bay 'ball on a stick' requires a little more effort.
To achieve a ball standard, choose a plant with a straight central stem and remove all the
lower side shoots, leaving the top shoots and growing tip until the plant is about 8 inches
(20cm) higher than the final required height.
Then cut out the growing tip of the leaders, which will encourage it to bush and just snip
with secateurs to produce the globe. The trimmings can be dried and stored in airtight jars for
use in the kitchen.
Borage
Borage does not dry well so is best used fresh. The flowers and young leaves make an attract-
ive salad garnish with a mild cucumber flavour. They're also used in gin based cocktails and
Pimms, of course.
Borage will grow to about 30 inches (75cm) high and is quite a straggly plant so not ideal
for pot growing but will do fine in a herb wheel (see here ) or patch in the border. If pot grow-
ing just use multi-purpose compost rather than the herb mix as borage likes a richer soil than
most herbs.
Sow directly from March to May and thin to about 6 inches (15cm) apart, which is over-
crowding but allows the plants to support each other.
Chervil
Chervil is better known and more utilized in Europe than Britain yet it is a tasty and versatile
herb which goes well with fish and meat. The flavour is a little like a cross between aniseed
and caraway. It's also one of the few leaf herbs that can be obtained through the winter if
a coldframe or shelter is available. You can also grow in a pot in the window sill to have a
winter supply available.
Chervil will also grow in partial shade, making good use of hard to use areas.
Sow directly into ordinary compost or a border from March through the summer, every
two or three weeks to provide a continual supply, thinning to 6 inches (15cm) apart.