Herbs and Spices
 Herb production may
be for culinary purposes (food flavoring), for scents and fragrances (potpourris),
for medicinal uses or others (dyes, dried floral arrangements etc). Herb
producers often grow for all these markets, and some herbs may be used for
all these purposes.
Some of the most popular
culinary herbs grown commercially and by home gardeners and hobbyists are:
basil, cilantro (coriander), chervil, dill, oregano, mint, parsley, rosemary,
sage, tarragon and thyme.
Information on herbs
may be obtained from library references, seed catalogs, special garden books
and some public bulletins. Because of the highly specialized nature of herb
production, public bulletins are minimal and the information contained in
them is very general. For these reasons, this document will only give a
limited amount of general information on culinary herbs or those that may
be used for culinary and other uses.
Medicinal herbs are
so specialized and often controversial that mention of their use will be
ancillary, and only if the herb is also used for culinary purposes.
Two valuable references
on medicinal herbs are The Honest Herbal (1993) and Herbs of Choice (1994),
both by Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., and published by Haworth Press Inc., New
York City. Dr. Tyler was for 20 years the Dean of the School of Pharmacy
and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University. He has published extensively
on this subject and is a nationally and internationally recognized expert
on medicinal herbs.
Valuable web resources
on herbs in general include the Herbs
Webpage operated by the Dept. of Horticulture at Pennsylvania State
University, and Herb/Spice
Industry from the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development,
Herb
Growing and Marketing Network ,
International Herb Assoc., and
Growing and Selling Fresh-Cut Herbs. Books include 'Culinary Herbs'
by Ernest Small, published by the National Research Council of Canada, and
'The Cornell Book of Herbs and Edible Flowers' by Jeanne Mackin (Cornell
Coop. Extension), and 'Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs', from
Rodale Press. Newsletters include 'The Herb, Spice, and Medicinal Plant
Digest', edited by L.E. Craker, Dept. of Plant & Soil Sciences, Univ. of
Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, and Herb
World, from The Herb Growing and Marketing Network, PO Box 245, Silver
Spring, PA 17575-0245.
Herbs most commonly
grown in the Pacific Northwest are mostly adapted to sunny or occasionally
mostly sunny, warm locations. Those listed are generally adapted to a wide
range of soil types. Herbs need minimal irrigation, particularly as they
mature and their aromatic and flavor compounds are developing.
FERTILIZER
Fertilizer
requirements are basic, usually being limited to N, P, and K. In some
cases lime is needed to maintain soil pH near neutral, but most are adapted
to a wide range of soil pH. (5.5-7.5). Nitrogen is usually applied at
75-150 lb/acre depending on the harvested product (leaves or seeds). Timing
of nitrogen applications is dependent on whether the species is annual,
biennial or perennial. Phosphorous is applied at 50-200 lb/acre and potassium
at 0-150 lb/acre depending on the above-mentioned characteristics of the
crop and soil test.
HARVESTING
Harvest
timing and equipment are also specific to the herbs being produced. Often,
considerable hand labor is required in production and harvest operations,
particularly when the marketable leafy portions of some must be separated
from stems, or where only the floral parts are required. Small motorized
clippers are often used as harvester aids. Sometimes, when seeds are the
marketable product, combines, often specially adapted, are used. Where
the distilled oil is the marketable product, there are those who provide
custom distillation using portable or stationary stills.
The harvested
product often requires immediate special handling such as drying, separation
of leaves or seed, and temporary packaging storage to best preserve its
color, aroma, flavor, the integrity of its appearance and sanitary condition.
VARIETIES AND SPECIES
The following is a listing
of some of the herbs that may be produced in the Pacific Northwest, a brief
description, their taxonomic classification, common synonyms, general uses,
and production considerations.
Five characteristics
or cultural practices considerations are coded and separated by backslash
(/). The codes are represented as follows:
Life cycle: annual
(a)/ biennial (b)/ perennial (p).
Established by: Seed
(s)/ divisions (d)/ cuttings (c)/ or transplants (t).
Planting time: Spring
(sp)/ after frost danger (af)/ fall (fa).
Plant size: as listed
next.
Preferred site: Full
sun (fs)/ part shade (ps)/ also a potted plant (pot).
Uses are represented by the abbreviations: Flavorings (FLA), tea
(TEA), fragrances (FRA), ornamental (ORN), folk medicine
(MED), and all of the above (ALL). 
NAME/SYNONYMS Latin name USES
(cycle/establishment/time/size/location)
Angelica Angelica spp.
an herbacious aromatic herb.
about 50 spp. Sometimes planted for
bold ornamental effects.
Angelica Angelica archangelica
(b/s/fa/6-7'/ps, fs) FLA,FRA,ORN,MED
Anise Pimpinella spp. Herbacious perennials
and sometimes annuals numbering about
75 species of which only anise is
cultivated.
Anise Pimpinella anisum
(a/s/sp/1.5'/ms, fs) FLA,FRA,MED
Anise-hyssop/anise mint, Korean mint
Agastache foeniculum
(p/s/sp,fa/3-4'/fs) ALL
Balm (see lemon balm)
Basil Ocimum spp. About 60 little-known
species of which only basil is important.
More than a dozen types are grown
for seasoning and their pleasing
fragrance. Only the mored common ones
are listed. Frost sensitive.
Basil, bush O. bascilicum
(a/s/sp-af/1'/fs) FLA,ORN
Basil, cinnamon O. basilicum
(a/s/sp-af/2'/fs) FLA,FRA,ORN
Basil, Genovese/sweet Italian O. basilicum
(a/s/sp-af/2'/fs) FLA,FRA,ORN
Basil, purple ruffles O. basilicum
(a/s/sp-af/1.5'/fs) TEA,MED
Basil, licorice O. basilicum
(a/s/sp-af/2'/fs) TEA,MED
Basil, sweet O. basilicum (main basil used)
(a/s/sp-af/2'/fs) FLA,FRA,ORN
Basil, lemon O. basilicum citrodorum
(Sweet Dani - new, true breeding variety
from Purdue University New Crops Center)
(a/s/sp-af/2'/fs) FLA,TEA,FRA,ORN
Basil, dark opal O. basilicum purpurescence
(a/s/sp-af/1'/fs) FLA,FRA,ORN
Basil, sacred O. basilicum sanctum
(a/s/sp-af/2'/fs) TEA,FRA,ORN,MED
Basil, spicy globe O. basilicum minimum
(a/s/sp-af/6"/fs, pot) FLA,FRA,ORN
Bergamot/Bee balm Monarda didyma
(p/d,s/sp/2'-4'/fs,ps) TEA,ORN,MED
Borage Borago officinalis
(a/s,t/sp-af/2'/fs) FLA,ORN,MED
Burnet salad Sanguisobia minor
(p/s/sp/1'/fs) FLA,ORN
Calamintha (see Savory)
Calendula, pot marigold Calendula officinalis
both orange and yellow types available.
(a/s/sp/1'-2'/fs) FLA,ORN,MED
Caraway Carum carvi
(a,b/s/sp,fa/2'-3'/fs) FLA,MED
Catnip Nepeta cataria
(p/s,t/sp/2'-5'/fs) ALL
Chamomile Matricaria recutita
an important medicinal plant
Chamomile/German chamomile Matricaria recutita
(a/s,d/sp/2'-3'/fs) TEA,FRA,ORN,MED
Chamomile/Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobile
(p/s,d/sp,fa/1'/fs) TEA,FRA,ORN,MED
Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium
(a/s/sp/1'-2'/ps,fs) bolts easily FLA,RA,ORN,MED
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
(p/s,d/sp/1'/fs,pot) FLA,ORN
Chives/Chinese garlic/garlic chives Allium tuberosum
(p/s,d/sp,fa/1'/fs,pot) FLA,MED
Citronella (see lemongrass)
Cilantro Coriandrum sativum (the Spanish name
for the fresh leaves of coriander, also
known as Chinese parsley); bolts at high
temperatures. Use bolting resistant varieties,
such as Santo, or grow during cool weather.
(a/s/sp,af/1'-2'/fs,ps,pot) FLA,FRA,MED
Coriander Coriandrum sativum (same as cilantro
but grown for its seed)
(a/s/sp/3'/fs) FLA,FRA,MED
Corn-salad/mache/lamb's lettuce Valerianella olitoria
and Italian corn-salad V. eriocarpa
There are more than 50 species. This northern
hemisphere green is grown in the Mediterranean
region, where the two species listed are grown
as garden greens. The crop was often inter-
planted with corn, thus the name.
(a/s/sp/12"/ps,fs) FLA
Cress, curly, garden, pepper-grass Lepidium sativum
(b/s/sp/6"/fs,pot) FRA
Cress, water Nasturtium officinale
(p/s/sp/6"/fs) FLA
Cress, winter/upland Barbarea verna
See Upland Cress for more information.
(b,s/sp,6"/fs,pot) FLA
Cumin Cuminum cyminum
(a/s/sp/1'-2'/fs) like coriander FLA,MED
Dill Anethum graveolens
See file Dill for more information.
(a/s/sp/2'-3'/fs) FLA,FRA,MED
Fennel, Florence/sweet fennel/finocchio Foeniculum
vulgare dulce (perennial, but grown as an
annual for its bulb) and Fennel seed/wild
fennel Foeniculum vulgare (grown for the
seed). Zefa fino (Royal Sluis) best root type
evaluated, has resistance to bolting (Indiana).
Days from seeding to bulb harvest range from
100 to 120.
(p,a/s/sp/3'-4'/fs) ALL
Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum
(a/s/sp/1'-3'/fs) FLA,FRA,MED
Geranium, scented Pelargonium spp. Warm areas.
Several forms and hybrids include: Rose-
scented P. capitatum, nutmeg P. fragrans,
apple P. odoratissimum, lemon P. crispum,
pine-scented P. denticulatum, mint P.
tomentosum and others.
(p/c/sp/1'-3'/fs,pot) FLA,FRA,ORN,MED
Horehound, white Marrubium vulgare
(p/s/sp/2'-3'/fs) FLA,TEA,FRA,MED
Hyssop, blue Hyssopus officinalis
(p/s,c,d/sp/2'-3'/fs) FLA,TEA,ORN,MED
Lamb's lettuce (See corn-salad)
Lavender, true Lavandula vera, and more than 28
other species. Two main species, Lavandula
latifolia (spike or sweet lavender) and
L. angustifolia (English/French lavender)
and their hybrids (some sterile) are used
in commerce.
(p/c,s/sp/2'-3'/fs) ALL
Lemongrass/citronella Cymbopogon sp., primarily
East Indian Cymbopogon flexuosus, and West
Indian Cymbopogon citratus
Lemongrass
(p/d/sp/3'/fs,pot) not winter-hardy FLA,TEA,FRA,MED
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
(p/s,c,d/sp/1 1/2'-2'/fs) ALL
Lemon verbena Aloysia triphylla
(p/c/sp/1'-2'/fs) ALL
Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra
(p/c,d,/3'-5'/fs) FLA,ORN
Lovage Levisticum officinale
(p/s,d/sp/3'-4'/fs,ps) FLA,ORN
Mache (see corn-salad)
Marjoram, sweet Origanum majorana (see also oregano)
(p/s,t/sp/1'-2'/fs) FLA,FRA,ORN,MED
Mint Mentha sp.
Japanese mint M. arvensis piperescens ALL
Peppermint M. x M. piperita vulgaris ALL
or M. x M. piperita officinalis ALL
Bergamot mint M. x M. piperita citrata ALL
Pennyroyal, European M. pulegium FLA,FRA,MED
or American Hedeoma pulegioides FLA,FRA,MED
Corsican mint M. requienii ALL
Spearmint M. spicata ALL
Apple mint M. suaveolens ALL
Pineapple mint M. suaveolens variegata ALL
(p/s,c,d/sp,fa/1'-2'/fs,pot)
Mustard, condiment Brassica sp.
black B. nigra FLA,MED
brown B. juncea FLA,MED
white B. alba FLA,MED
yellow mustard B. hirta FLA,MED
(a,b/s/sp/2'-5'/fs)
See Condiment Mustard in Mustard Greens file
for more information.
Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
(p,a/s/sp/1'-2'/fs, pot) FLA,ORN
Oregano is of primarily two unrelated genera,
Origanum and Lippia. European oregano is
also call wild marjoram, winter marjoram,
oregano and organy, and is Origanum
vulgare. Greek oregano, also called winter
sweet marjoram, or pot marjoram is
Origanum heracleoticum (formerly O. hirtum).
Mexican oregano, also called Mexican sage,
origan, oregamon, wild marjoram, Mexican
marjoram or Mexican wild sage is Lippia
graveolens.
Oregano, European Origanum vulgare
(a/s/sp/1'-2'/fs,pot) FLA,ORN,MED
Oregano, Greek Origanum heracleoticum
(p/c/sp/1'-2'/fs,pot) FLA,ORN,MED
Oregano, Mexican Lippia graveolens (not in the
Labiatae family)
(a/s/sp/1'-2'/fs,pot) FLA,ORN,MED
Parsley, Chinese (see Cilantro)
Parsley, curly and Italian Petroselinum hortense
See file Parsley for more information.
(b/s,t/sp/12"-18"/fs) FLA,ORN,MED
Pennyroyal (see "mint" above)
Poppy Papaver somniferum, seed and opium poppy;
P. orientale, morphine-free medicinal poppy.
(a/s/sp/1'-3'/fs) FLA,ORN,MED
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
(p/c,d,s,t/sp/2'-4'/fs,pot) FLA,FRA,ORN,MED
Saffron Crocus sativus, pollen of crocus flower
(p/d/sp/12"-18"/fs,ps) FLA,ORN
Sage Salvia officinales, several types including
dwarf, mammoth, purple, golden, and tricolor.
Others are: Pineapple S. elegans, Mexican
S. leucantha, scarlet S. splendens, and
Clary S. sclarea (a biennial).
(p/d,c,s,t/sp/1'-3'/fs) FLA,ORN,MED
Savory Satureja sp. About 180 species. Aromatic
herbs and shrubs, border or pot-herb plants.
Warm regions. Two main types: Summer savory,
Satureja hortensis, an annual, and Winter or
creeping winter savory, Satureja montana, a
perennial. An evergreen perennial used
mainly for tea is Satureja douglasii.
(a,p/s,c,t/sp/12"-18"/fs,pot) FLA,TEA,MED
Sesame Sesamum indicum. (for warm areas only)
(a/s/sp/1'-3'/fs) FLA,MED
Spearmint (see "mint" above)
Tarragon, French Artemisia dracunculus sativa
Not winter-hardy. The related Russian
tarragon is more winter-hardy, but of
inferior quality.
(p/c/sp,fa/1'-2'/fs,pot) FLA
Thyme, common, English, French, garden
Thymus vulgaris. Over 300 species
and their hybrids such as lemon thyme
T. x citriodorus.
(p/s,t/sp/2"-12"/fs,ps) FLA,FRA,ORN,MED
thyme, creeping T. serpyllum
(p/s,t/sp/2"-4/fs) FRA,ORN
Valerian, garden heliotrope Valeriana officinalis
(p/c,d,s,t/fa/3'-4'/fs) FLA,TEA,ORN,MED
Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens
(p/c,d,s/sp/4"-6"/ps,pot) FLA,MED
Woodruff, sweet Galium odoratum
(p/t/6"-12"/ps) ALL
PEST CONTROL FOR HERBS
Few pesticides
are registered for use in herb production. In some cases special restrictions
apply to the use of pesticides in products that will be concentrated (distilled
or processed in certain ways).
WEED CONTROL
The Pacific
Northwest Weed Control Handbook has no control entries for this crop.
Cultivate as often as necessary when weeds are small. Proper cultivation,
field selection and rotations can reduce or eliminate the need for chemical
weed control.
INSECT CONTROL
The Pacific
Northwest Insect Control Handbook has no control entries for this crop.
Proper rotations and field selection can minimize problems with insects.
DISEASE CONTROL
The Pacific
Northwest Disease Control Handbook has no control entries for this crop.
Proper rotations, field selection, sanitation, spacings, fertilizer and
irrigation practices can reduce the risk of many diseases. Fields can
be tested for presence of harmful nematodes. Using seed from reputable
sources reduces risk from "seed-borne" diseases.
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