We’ll answer your questions and share some tips Herbs & annuals

By Pam Baytos

OSU Ext. master gardener volunteer

CANFIELD

Now that our herb and annual flower beds are full and growing like crazy, what should we do with them? The short answer would be to fertilize the annuals if they are growing in potting mix or looking unkept, and harvest the herbs.

But we’ve got some hands-on demonstrations that will help answer your questions.

Come visit the Herb and Annual Station at the OSU Master Gardener area at the Canfield Fair. We’ll have a selection of herb and annual plants for you to view, and we’ll answer your questions and share some tips not only for growing, but how to use your plants after their harvest. You’ll find out why herbs are “the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks.” Credit also goes to annuals, as they are a burst of color for your landscape.

The herb of the year is Coriandrum sativum, or cilantro/coriander. It is a little strange to find out that is was named after the bedbug because it emits the same odor that bedbugs produce. This is an herb that you either love or hate. It’s often used in making salsa. Find out more history and uses of this herb.

The annual of the year is: Asclepias tuberosa or butterfly weed. This is an excellent choice known for the ability to support insects and birds. It also serves as the primary food for monarch butterflies.

Check out our information on herbal vinegars. They are easy to make and have many uses in the kitchen. I have a mason jar that I start, then just keep adding herbs to the vinegar as new ones are harvested during the summer.

Did you know that tussie mussie’s were used during the Victorian times to send messages? Different types of herbs and flowers were often used to relay secret messages past parents and chaperones. They were also called nosegays. The bathing and sanitation was not at today’s high standards and small bouquets were carried to mask body odors – thus they “made the nose gay.”

Learn about herbal infusions-tisanes. The word tea is often loosely used to describe any beverage made with the leaves of plants. True tea is made from the Camellia sinesis and everything else isn’t tea at all. Herbal “teas” are made by steeping herb flowers in boiling water. Common herbs used are chamomile, mints, rose hips and lemon verbena. Experiment with blends to find your favorite.

You can test your knowledge by matching the photo of annual plants with their names on the back of our tiles. If you happen to work up an appetite walking around the fair, we’ll have some recipes for you to try once you return home and go pick fresh “goodies” from your gardens. We’ll also have some annual seeds to send home with you so you can add them to next year’s garden.

Stop in and see us and our massive display garden inside building 44. We have tons of information to share with you to help improve your garden.