My Herb & Fruit Garden

Last year, I started a herb garden - something I have been meaning to do for a while. I managed to source quite a lot of herbs in KL. Most of these herbs require little direct sunlight (needs to be quite shaded in fact). Most of them survived and are still thriving, and have made an appearance in many of my homecooked dishes. I have also planted some fruit plants, always excited when the plant bears some fruits for us to enjoy. I have also recently added a few edible flowers to my collection. 

You can also read this post about how to make your own compost at home.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis):

Rosemary is a useful herb to have in the garden. I use it a lot when I'm roasting potatoes and meat. It is said that eating rosemary can improve memory. 

Rosemary requires watering once everyday, if it is a very hot day, you may want to water in the evenings as well. Avoid watering on the plant leaves. This herb requires direct sunlight, and is one of the easier ones to grow in Malaysia. 

Rosemary

Lemon thyme

Peppermint (Mentha piperata):

I bought this peppermint plant for fun, cos it was available. So far I've only used it to make peppermint tea (add the peppermint leaves to some black tea). I do love the smell a lot, the aroma is said to be able to enhance memory and alertness. It can soothe and treat nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, irritable bowel, and bloating.

You can grow it easily by cutting off a stem and placing it in water to grow roots. This herb needs to be kept out of the hot sun and water moderately once daily.

Peppermint

Dill (Anethum graveolens):

Dill is also known as Lao Coriander. Dill can grow up to 40-60cm, you will need to support it with a stick to help it grow straight. The leaves are delicate (thread-like) and have a lovely fresh smell. It is said that dill have calming properties as well as being able to reduce pains and aches, prevent bad breath, helps digestions and relieve bloating, burping and insomnia. One evening, while we were in the garden, my kids started picking off the leaves and eating them... telling me that it was very nice!

My dill plant has recently been flowering a lot (the flowers are yellow), I waited til they are quite dry, then just cut them off and sprinkle the seeds over soil in a new pot. After 2-3 days, the"babies" emerged. So happy! Dill requires direct sunlight exposure and good drainage. Water 2 times a day to avoid dryness. 

I like to use dill with eggs as well as with cucumber. 

Dill

Baby dill - about 5-6 days old

Can you see the seed? It's beginning to have leaves!

Yellow dill flower

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum):

If you ask me what is my favorite herb from the garden, my answer will be this sweet basil plant. It is very useful and versatile, I love adding it to pasta and when I make a big harvest, I will make homemade pesto. It pairs really well with tomatoes  or even strawberries and my kids love to eat it raw/fresh- just pluck and eat!

I have 5 basil plants now (started off with 2), they grow quite easily. When the basil plant grows quite tall, you can trim it and any trimmings can be placed in water for a few days for it to grow roots. Once the plant has new roots, you can plant it in a new pot. They are quite prone to insects though, so keep an eye on them - I usually use an organic insecticide to keep the insects away. Water sparingly two times daily but avoid the leaves. In Malaysian climate, I would say it needs moderate sunlight so keep semi-shaded but within reach to sunlight. 

Holy basil:

Holy basil is great in Thai dishes such as pad krapow moo. It is easy to grow, requiring full sun and good drainage. The leaves are serrated and is retains its fragrance better than Thai basil when cooked. 

Sage (Salvia officinalis):

Sage is commonly used for its culinary and medicinal properties; its name comes from the Latin word salvere (to save).  It is a strong flavoured herb and the leaves are slightly bitter. You can use it with pork (such as to make meatballs) as well as pair it with pumpkin. It can also be used to make this natural cough-control tea. Sometimes sage is used to reduce the greasy taste of meat ("sou mei").  It has calming effects and can aid digestion.

Sage trimmings can be placed in water for new roots to grow. Sage plant requires plenty of water but prevent excessive watering at foliage. It requires partial sunlight.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis):

Lemon balm's leaves have a soft lemon scent. The plant requires partial sunlight and watered when necessary to avoid dryness. It is often used in making tea, flavouring ice cream or cakes or can also be added into salads, soup, stew, pesto (lemon balm pesto), and also as a repellent to mosquitoes when rubbed against skin.

Lemon balm is believed to be an anti-depressant agent, as well as being able to relax the mind, aids digestion and relieves headache.

Lavender (Lavandula intermedia):

This lavender herb is also known as silver edge lavender and looks very similar to rosemary, but the leaves are a much duller green (gray-green). It requires full sunlight with moderate moisture, so water when necessary.

I am not sure if this is the same lavender which will bear purple flowers later on, but hope so! Lavender has soothing, calming properties

English parsley (Petroselinum crispum):

This curly leaf parsley is usually use as a garnish. The soil needs to be moist, so water twice a day especially when weather is hot.

Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix / limau purut)

It has distintive double leaves which are aromatic, and is highly prized in many cuisines such as Thai, Lao, Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine. The kaffir lime is rough and bumpy, and is quite bitter tasting.

Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus)

Good for cough and nasal congestion.

Stevia

Also known as sugar leaf or sweet leaf, it is used as a natural sweetener and sugar substitute.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel's leaves and flowers look very similar to dill, one of the easiest way to tell them apart is the bulb-like stem base that fennel has. The leaves are threadlike and has an aniseed flavour. Fennel seeds are often dried and used as a spice (in Malay its called jintan manis). 

Acerola cherry

Flowers are pink. Fruits will be bright red when ripe, taste slightly tart. Should always prune to promote growth of new flowers/shoots.Water regularly and also spray insecticide. 

Acerola cherry

Mulberry

Mulberries (in Chinese "song yip") turn from green and furry to red to black when ripe. The leaves can also be eaten, it is said to be good for the eyesight and health in general. For more photos, click here.

Mulberry - ready for consumption

Edible Flowers:

Dianthus barbatus - Sweet william (white base and dark pink centre)

Dianthus barbatus - sweet william (white base and light pink centre)

Note:

1. If possible avoid buying the herbs from the supermarkets as the sudden temperature change once you bring them home may mean that they will not survive. If you do buy them from supermarkets, you need to ensure the temperature change is gradual (ie leave indoors for a couple of days in a cool place before you replant them outside).

2. I repot all my herbs when I bring them home. The herbs are placed at a shaded area at the back of the house. Most herbs receive morning sunlight.

3. For herbs, use coffee fertilizer. For fruit or flower plants, use chicken manure fertilizer. 

4. I have been getting lots of emails asking where to buy seeds for edibles in KL. You can try major supermarkets such as Giant/Tesco/Carrefour, or Ace Hardware. 

*Will be updating with more herbs when I have time.