The only time I brought mine indoors was in the Beast from the East. Usually, it stays out in its pot all winter, in a sheltered spot. I take cuttings every year as insurance and they strike so easily, I'm probably becoming annoying now to everyone I know, trying to give them away. @GardenerSuze I use it for tea - it's one of the best fresh herb teas, in my opinion.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
From what I understand, LV is not hardy. It's in a very large pot. Can I keep it in the house away from the radiators or would an unheated porch be better? Space in the porch will be at a premium!
I was looking at my pots today to decide who will have the premium position of the back porch and which will have the second best spot of under the potting bench. My LV has always made the porch, however as I potted on to a big pot this year, it may be grown-up enough to manage elsewhere.
I use the leaves in cold drinks (gin, apple juice and lemonade, for example) but there is a stronger flavour in hot water.
Does it have to be hot? Can you make a cold drink with it?
well yes, I would imagine if you poor boiling water over a couple of sprigs and then leave it 'steeping' as it cools down, just take the leaves out when it's cold and either drink it like that or chill it a bit. You'd want to leave it 'stewing' for a while as I imagine the flavour is less strong when it's cold, because you wouldn't get the fragrance.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
@B3 Speaking of cooking with lemon verbena - I put a good sprig in to the milk I am heating to make custard - not too much - just enough to change from a vanilla tasting custard.
As @raisingirl wrote - you can brew a lemon verbena tea and leave it to get cold. Why not? I like cold teas in the summer which I keep in the fridge. I bought some "cold tea" which you brew with cold water, either mineral or straight from the tap. Really delicious - no milk of course. https://www.laboiteathe.ch/rolle Sorry it's all in French, but an amazing shop selling yummy tea.
I was given a Lemon Verbena last year as a "special birthday" present. Because I had one in a previous garden for a long time I left my new one, in its pot, outside last winter. I thought I had lost it because there was so much dieback on it. I trimmed the dead wood from it and crossed my fingers very tightly. It has survived! But, it was so late coming into growth it has only just finished flowering so I am going to put it in the greenhouse this winter, it was too decimated to take any cuttings this year but I am going to take some next year as a backup.
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@GardenerSuze I use it for tea - it's one of the best fresh herb teas, in my opinion.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I use the leaves in cold drinks (gin, apple juice and lemonade, for example) but there is a stronger flavour in hot water.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
As @raisingirl wrote - you can brew a lemon verbena tea and leave it to get cold. Why not? I like cold teas in the summer which I keep in the fridge. I bought some "cold tea" which you brew with cold water, either mineral or straight from the tap. Really delicious - no milk of course. https://www.laboiteathe.ch/rolle Sorry it's all in French, but an amazing shop selling yummy tea.
They can be saved in ice cubes too.