Pizza Oregano

Search Criteria:	Marjoram, Winter Sweet Labiatae/Lamiaceae Winter Sweet Marjoram, Pizza Oregano
Genus:	Marjoram, Winter Sweet	More from the Marjoram, Winter Sweet genus
Family Name:	Labiatae/Lamiaceae	More seeds with the Family name Labiatae/Lamiaceae
Synonym:	Origanum heracleoticum, Origanum vulgare var hirtum, Origanum hirtum
English Name:	Winter Sweet Marjoram, Pizza Oregano seeds
Description:	From rocky habitats in the eastern Mediterranean, this is a densely hairy plant with dense heads of small white flowers in summer. An aromatic herb of sweet flavour, it is used in soups, casseroles and stuffings and for adding piquancy to salads. 1-2 ft.

Dill

Dill is one of the easiest herbs to grow and would make a great first herb for someone who has never grown herbs before. You'll find lots of uses for both the fronds and the seeds in the kitchen. A sprig of dill will perk up almost any soup, salad, or main dish. You can buy transplants at your local garden center, but there is no need because dill is easy to grow from seeds. You won't even have to start them indoors - just plant your dill seeds right in the garden where you want them to grow.

When to Plant

Dill likes to be planted in cool weather. In warm winter areas that don't experience a hard frost, you can plant dill in fall or winter. In cooler areas, plant dill a week or two before your last hard frost. After the first sowing, plant again every 10 days or so for a continuous crop.

When growing in containers, use a deep container to accommodate the long roots, and remember that you will eventually have a plant that is three feet tall. Plants grown in containers may require staking.

Cultivation

Here are a few suggestions to start you on your way to a healthy crop of dill:

• Dill, like most herbs, loves to bask in the sun, but will tolerate afternoon shade.

• Dill grows up to 3 feet tall, so plant it in the back of your flower, vegetable or herb garden.

• Sow seeds close together. This will allow the plants, which blow over easily to support each other.

• Cover the seeds lightly, and allow a week or two for them to germinate.

• For a continuous crop, sow repeatedly from mid spring to early summer.

• Don't plant near caraway, fennel or angelica.

• Caterpillars are fond of dill, and can be handpicked if they become a nuisance.
  

Harvesting and Preserving

Dill is a lovely herb that adds a refreshing flavor to any recipe. Try adding a little dill to a ho-hum recipe, and watch what happens. It’s almost magic! This booklet starts with tips on growing, harvesting and preserving dill, and then turns to cooking with dill. These are without a doubt the best dill recipes you’ll ever taste!
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The best way to use dill is fresh from the garden, so during the growing season, cut your dill to use fresh as you need it. If not kept cut, your dill will go to seed, so cut often until you are ready to switch to seed production.

If you find that you have cut more than you can use, dry the excess in the microwave. Spread the dill in a single layer on a paper towel and microwave on high for 3 minutes. The result is beautiful and tasty - much better than dried dill you buy in the grocery store. After microwaving, remove and discard the hard stems, crumble the leaves, and store in an airtight container protected from light.

Once seedheads begin to form, it's time to stop cutting dill for fresh use. Allow the seedheads to develop and dry completely, then cut them. You'll be able to remove the seeds easily with your fingers.

Coriander

Coriandrum sativum (A) Cilantro is the name by which fresh coriander is known. Found in Egyptian tombs, coriander seed is one of the most ancient herbs still used today. Sought after for its sweet seeds and pungent leaves. Larger herb seeds need to be planted a bit deeper, at least as thick as the seed itself. They may also be slow and erratic to germinate.

Thai Basil

Basil - Siam Queen (Thai) is a beautiful form of basil that grows about 2 1/2 feet high and around. The scent and taste are different from sweet basil with more licorice flavor. Thai basil is used in all types of Thai cooking as well as other Asian and middle eastern cultures. It has large flowers that form in a cluster as opposed to the long spikes on the other basils. One of the most beautiful and delicious basil varieties.

Thai Basil can grow in areas that get about 4-5 hours of sun per day. This basil is annual like sweet basil so the flowers must be removed occasionally to keep leaf production going. This is a vigorous growing basil and the plants get very large so give it lots of room.

To harvest, cut about a third of the branch from the top, down to where a new set of leaves is beginning to grow.

Special Directions for Short Season Climates

SOWING: Start seeds indoors in flats or peat pots, or sow directly outdoors after danger of frost has passed and weather has warmed. Cover seed with 1/8 inch fine soil.

SPACING: Leave about 12 to 18 inches apart in rows or use in group plantings

THINNING AND TRANSPLANTING: Thin or transplant seedlings 8 to 10 inches apart outdoors when 2 to 3 inches tall after danger of frost has passed and weather has warmed.

GERMINATION: 1 to 2 weeks depending upon soil and weather conditions. Keep soil moderately moist during germination.

Ed's Special Advice

Siam Queen can be grown in the landscape, or on the patio in containers, alone or alongside other herbs. Don't plant Basil outside too early if the weather is cold and wet. It grows best in a sunny location in fairly rich, somewhat moist, well drained soil. Use leaves sparingly at first, more so as plants grow, pinching back shoots to encourage bushiness and discourage flowering. New shoots can be harvested for several months depending upon climate and growing conditions.

African Blue Basil

Ocimum 'Dark Opal' x O. kilimandscharicum hybridized to form Ocimum 'African Blue
A large shrubby form of basil that grows like a weed. The scent and flavor are more clove scented than Sweet Basil but it can be used for cooking. This plant grows to 4' around and can grow in shady areas or in full sun for best flowering. It is very drought tolerant and the beautiful lavender pink flowers attract all kinds of bees to your garden. This basil is perennial but still sensitive to very cold weather. Easy to grow and never needs flowers pinched off because African Blue basil will not go to seed and die. This is a great landscape plant and indispensable in your herb garden for its color and fragrance.

To grow African Blue Basil, you must take cuttings from an existing plant, there are no seeds for this plant. It must get at least 2-3 hours of sunlight a day. It can be grown with filtered light such as under a tree or in a bright window indoors. If you forget to water it for about a month, and it wilts drastically, water it and it will look as good as new.

Prune occasionally for a more bushy form by cutting off the top about a third.

Cultural Information

Height: 2 Feet

Characteristics: Full Sun