I'm drinking tea made from lemon verbena I dried last year, as I read this. The new leaves are on my verbena now so I can look forward to a continuing supply of fresh later on. I got my plant from RHS Wisley but I'm sure Jekka's shop will have it too. As for it deterring cats, my cat isn't phased by it but that might be because it's planted right next to catmint!
seaside oldie, I cut sprigs from the plantt in late summer, though I made sure there were still a few leaves left behind on the parts I cut. I tied them together with thread and hung them up in a warm dry room. When they looked dry and crinkly I put them in an airtight jar. In late spring/summer I use it fresh instead, just pinching out a couple of tips whenever I want some. I also do the same with lemon balm and mint.
Thanks Laurum, will try both ways, only manged to get hold of the plant last year from a nursery in Cornwall so this is the first year it will be big enough to use. Have found a recipe for Lemon Verbena liquer but the wine recipe search is ongoing!
Lemon Verbena makes a good substitute for lemon grass in oriental cooking. And the leaves can also be used to flavour a blind-baked pastry shell (for lemon meringue pie) by lining the pastry case with leaves before covering with paper and baking beans. (Remove the leaves before filling the pastry shell!)
Mine is showing a lot of new shoots, and I have two lovely plants, simply bought from a garden centre a couple of years ago. But lemon balm - is a bit of a thug of a weed that crops up all over the place.
Can I do any of these things with lemon balm? I have had a plant for years and just love the smell when I'm gardening near it. It does spread new seedlets all over the border if you're not careful though.
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I'm drinking tea made from lemon verbena I dried last year, as I read this. The new leaves are on my verbena now so I can look forward to a continuing supply of fresh later on. I got my plant from RHS Wisley but I'm sure Jekka's shop will have it too. As for it deterring cats, my cat isn't phased by it but that might be because it's planted right next to catmint!
My Lemon Verbena is doing very well in the greenhouse, can anyone tell me how to dry the leaves for tea and if you can make wine out of it?
Once you get a plant you can easily take some cuttings - they root quite easily
Pam x
seaside oldie, I cut sprigs from the plantt in late summer, though I made sure there were still a few leaves left behind on the parts I cut. I tied them together with thread and hung them up in a warm dry room. When they looked dry and crinkly I put them in an airtight jar. In late spring/summer I use it fresh instead, just pinching out a couple of tips whenever I want some. I also do the same with lemon balm and mint.
No idea on the wine though.
Thanks Laurum, will try both ways, only manged to get hold of the plant last year from a nursery in Cornwall so this is the first year it will be big enough to use. Have found a recipe for Lemon Verbena liquer but the wine recipe search is ongoing!
Lemon Verbena makes a good substitute for lemon grass in oriental cooking. And the leaves can also be used to flavour a blind-baked pastry shell (for lemon meringue pie) by lining the pastry case with leaves before covering with paper and baking beans. (Remove the leaves before filling the pastry shell!)
Mine is showing a lot of new shoots, and I have two lovely plants, simply bought from a garden centre a couple of years ago. But lemon balm - is a bit of a thug of a weed that crops up all over the place.
Can I do any of these things with lemon balm? I have had a plant for years and just love the smell when I'm gardening near it. It does spread new seedlets all over the border if you're not careful though.