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Afternoon all
Jamie DJay
Posts: 62
in Fruit & veg
I’ve been on and off of this forum for a few years. I have finally purchased my own home with a lovely size garden and a great front garden. I have always wanted to grow a bit of my own produce, chillies, tomatoes, herbs but leave room for the kids to play. I’d really appreciate a starting point, I am an absolute novice, anything I have tried growing has died! Oh I 1 plant I have always wanted to grow is Lemon Verbena, is this possible in the U.K.? I smelt the plant whilst living in Cyprus and fell in love with the aroma! Thanks in advance all, anything you’d need to know regarding the garden or anything I’ll do my best to answer!
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You most certainly can grow lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) in the uk.
I had one in a 7.5L pot that somehow managed to live quite happily in the garden for many years. I took no care of it other than pruning it in spring, but by late April/early may it sprouted and done well. I think the beast from the east done for it a few years ago.
I had one in a garden border for a few years too, but lost that when a house extension was built over it and it was too established to move.
I'll be getting another this year.
Mine was in quite a sunny and reasonably sheltered spot.
I gave it a mulch each spring and tried to not let it dry out during the summer and it was fine.
They're very late to come into bud and I was always sure it had died, but by May growth all of a sudden gets underway.
I guess they're not as hardy as some plants, but didn't have any problems with them during normal winters here in Essex.
As you say the aroma is incredible - even more lemony than lemons!!
More info from the RHS here
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/284648/Aloysia-citrodora/Details
Note the bit about hardiness
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Summerhill do sell them, but like most nurseries they probably wont be on display until they leaf out.
I'd get 2-3 small plants. They'll be much cheaper. They grow quickly, and if you do loose one, you've got spares.
Cuttings are easy too, so won't be long before you have a lemon verbena hedge
The last one I bought was from a scottish nursery on ebay, but can't remember the name. It was only a couple of quid and looked like the end of a pencil sticking out of the compost, but they grow fast.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.