It's Thyme to Grow Some Herbs, Herb Quiz

Answer: chives

Chives are the smallest of the edible onion genus. Both stems and immature flowers can be chopped and used in food. Plant them in the garden or in containers. They like full or partial sun and spread easily. Some escaped from my garden into the lawn. It made for a pleasant scent when I ran the lawn mower over that part of the yard on a hot day.

Answer: basil

Basil leaves can be used fresh or dried. Sweet basil is usually used in Italian cooking; other varieties are used in Asian cuisine. It is known as St. Joseph's Wort in some countries. This is another herb that doesn't have many special requirements; it likes sun or partial shade but reacts poorly to cold. If you want to plant it in a container, use a large one, about five gallons in size.

Answer: marjoram

Either fresh or dried, marjoram imparts a nice flavor to soups, stews and sauce. Its tea is said to relieve colds, headaches and anxiety. It will grow about 12 in./30 cm. tall; pinch off the flower buds to keep it from getting woody. Grow it in full sun and it will be a happy little plant.

Answer: thyme

As the name of this quiz implies, this is thyme. It has had many non-food uses throughout history: in the European Middle Ages people put it under pillows to ward off nightmares; women gave knights bouquets with thyme in them in the belief that it would impart courage. On the culinary side of things, thyme gives an aromatic flavor and is one of the few herbs which retains most of its potency when dried. It can be used in teas as well as a food flavoring. It likes full sun, can stand freezing weather but doesn't like to have its feet wet; water thoroughly but not often.

Answer: cilantro

I used to live in the northeastern United States but now I live in the desert southwest. Topsoil is virtually nonexistent, water is precious, so what is an herb grower to do? Container gardening is often the best way to grow vegetables, including cilantro, which is used in southwest America and Mexico for salsa, guacamole and seasoning of other dishes. You'll find it in chutneys from India, too.

It has a long taproot so a container at least a foot tall is required. It likes sun but will grow in slight shade.

In really hot weather it will bolt, that is, start going to seed and develop a different taste, so plant a succession of cilantro for a full-season's supply.

Answer: mint

Mint is so easy to grow that it is better to put it in a container, or otherwise it will try to take over the garden. It is great for flavoring lamb, fish and jellies and makes a refreshing tea. The plant likes sun or a little shade but does best when the soil mix is rich. Keep the flowers cut off. It is used in the famous mint julep, the drink of America's Kentucky Derby horse race.

Answer: sage

Sage is a member of the Salvia genus. There are many varieties from small plants up to large shrubs. Garden, or common, sage is the one we're interested in for an herb garden. It grows to about 12 in./30 cm. tall and is equally at home in garden soil or a container. Some gardeners pinch off its flowers but it is an attractive plant when in full bloom. It's another herb that likes full but infrequent waterings; it's a good drought-resistant plant for arid climates. In addition to its culinary uses it shows up in cosmetics, perfumes, and soaps.

Answer: arugula

Arugula is very easy to grow and can be spaced closely to maximize available space. It has a fairly strong flavor which becomes tough and harshly flavored if it isn't picked often. It is shallow-rooted and needs frequent waterings in well-drained soil or potting mix.

Answer: oregano

Known scientifically as Origanum vulgare, oregano is hardly vulgar. It is a mainstay of Mediterranean dishes and adds a strong, zesty taste to tomato recipes, potatoes, mushroom dishes or marinades. My wife adds it to her fried rice recipe. It will turn into a small shrub that likes well-drained soil or potting mix. The hotter the climate it grows in, the more pungent the flavor of its leaves. It is actually longer-lived growing in a container than in garden soil because it will go to seed quicker when it has room to spread out.

Answer: chamomile

Chamomile has been used for centuries to brew an herb tea or to use in a potpourri. It grows easily in an environment of morning sun to light shade. Its tea is used to soothe upset stomachs and to induce sleep. After all the work we've done in the garden today we may not need something to help us sleep, but let's have a cup of chamomile tea and call it a day.