Most herbs prefer sun, but several thrive in shade. Home-gardening expert Tammy Algood offers some suggestions on herbs that can make do on 4 or fewer hours of sun each day. In gardening parlance the word shade rarely appears alone. It's usually paired with other words that indicate the degree of shade. In your garden, for example, there may be light shade, filtered shade, full shade or partial shade. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a perennial herb hardy to Zone 3, grows well in poor soil as long as the drainage is good. It self-sows easily. Lemon balm may be used in teas, salads, and fish dishes or with fruit. Its dried leaves may be used in potpourris and sachets. Plants grow leggy and thin unless they're cut back several times a year. All herbs grown in shade will grow tall in an attempt to reach for the sun. Pinch the foliage back to keep plants compact and encourage new growth. Always use new leaves for cooking. Older foliage has a bitter flavor and a tough texture. Chives require frequent cutting to encourage production of new leaves. Chives may be used in soups and salads, as a garnish and as a seasoning for poultry, fish and pork. Parsley, a biennial herb, requires part shade in hot climates and may be grown in containers or window boxes. Italian flat-leaf parsley has an especially strong flavor. Soak parsley seeds for 24 hours before planting. Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) (figure A), a perennial, bears star-shaped white flowers in spring and requires partial shade in hot climates. It prefers a rich soil and can become a pest if unchecked. Foliage is hay-scented when dried and is used in making May wine. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) (figure B), an evergreen shrub, prefers full sun but may be grown in part shade. It is very aromatic when brushed or bruised and is used in cooking fish, poultry and game. Rosemary comes in upright and prostrate forms. The latter may be grown on a wall or in a hanging basket.
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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