Herbs in Tea Gardens

For those tea lovers out there, one of the best ways to ensure that you’ll have a steady supply of it is by planting your very own tea garden. Oh my, I can taste it now -- a refreshing tall glass of iced tea with a sprig of fresh mint for that hot summer day! And I surely don’t believe that there is anything more calming than a steaming infusion of chamomile or mint on a stressful day.

Good news! Tea herbs are surprisingly easy to grow. Since they are happiest in moderate sun, be sure and choose a spot that gets about 6 hours of full sun a day. Be aware, however, that if you choose to grow your tea herbs directly in the ground, they’ll choke out any other plants nearby if you aren’t careful. To prevent this voracious spreading, sink bottomless buckets or baskets into the ground, and then plant the herb plant inside it. Container gardening will also help control the roots.

Catnip

Used for medicinal teas for colds and stomach upsets since ancient times, catnip is usually contained with other herbs, such as lemon balm and lemon grass. A perennial that grows readily in dry, sandy conditions, catnip can be coaxed along in nearly any sort of light or soil conditions. The tea is made from dry or fresh leaves, combined with chamomile, comfrey or lemon balm. In addition to using catnip in tea, it is a natural pest repellent, both dried and in the garden. To take advantage of its pest repellant properties, dry and place in cloth pouches and tuck under baseboards or closets.

Chamomile

A very pretty, lacy annual (only one variety is a perennial), chamomile likes partial shade to full sun and sandy, dry soil. Once these plants start to flower, harvest them regularly. They grow to approximately 2 feet high. Chamomile tea is made from the flowers rather than the leaves. To dry these flowers, cut stems back to new leaf growth. After tying in loose bunches, hang them upside down in a dry, dark place until the leaves are crumbly. Another way to do this is to just place the flower heads on drying screens either in the sun or in the oven.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm -- the name just sounds soothing, doesn’t it? This plant looks a lot like mint to which it is related and definitely has a hint of minty flavor to it. Lemon balm is a drought-resistant, hardy perennial that grows so readily it is considered to be a pest plant in some parts of the United States. To keep it under control -- it grows to about 24 inches tall -- lemon balm must be pinched back and pruned often.

Mint

When I think of mint, I remember those refreshing mint juleps I used to enjoy in New Orleans. Did you know that since this plant cross-pollinates so easily, at last count there were known to be an estimated 6,000-plus varieties -- and growing? With all of these varieties of mint you could easily plant a mint garden with no other plants at all! The most pernicious spreader of all the herbs, if it is not contained, just one mint plant will take over an entire garden within two seasons. Mint makes a great, easy to maintain house plant, however. Although mint prefers light shade and rich soil, it will grow in about any condition.

Following are some favorite mint varieties for tea:

* Apple mint has a hint of fruity flavor with an underlying cool and fresh taste of mint.

* Chocolate? Oh yes, far better with dessert than as a tea, for an incredible treat, chocolate mint leaves can be crushed and whirled in a blender with vanilla ice cream.

* The most popular of all mints, peppermint has a cooling, sharp, and spicy taste.

* Spearmint grows readily in any climate. And, yes, this is what they use in those delicious mint juleps!