A Vegetable Garden should be filled with plants that can be harvested for use in the kitchen and home. A wide range of foliage size, colours and textures add interest and variety to planting combinations. I especially love herbs and the beautiful landscapes you can create using them. Here are the top ten plants I recommend every Vegetable Garden should have:

Perennial Basil ‘White’ (Ocimum basilicum)

Large, highly aromatic leaves with spikes of white flowers from early spring to late autumn. Leaves can be used in cooking wherever a basil taste is required. Its cold hardy nature will ensure the availability of basil right through winter. Shrub. Height: 80cm Width: 80cm.

Perennial Basil - Medium sized shrub with beautiful flowers

2. Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii)

A hardy, small woody shrub with velvety, textured oval green-grey leaves. Sage tolerates most climates however it does not like to be over watered. Requires really good drainage and a slightly alkaline soil. The foliage is used in pot pourii and in natural insecticides. Shrub. H:1.5m W:1m.

Cleveland Sage - large shrub with beautiful foliage

3. Mint (Mentha spicata spp.)

Most well known of the mints with tasty, highly aromatic mint flavored leaves. The mint is extensively used for salads, sauces and teas. Used medicinally. Useful natural insecticide. Perennial. H:40cm W:spread.

Mint - several varieties to choose from including Chocolate Mint, Ginger Mint and Liquorice Mint

4. Dutch Lavender (Lavandula dentata)

An herbaceous shrub with deeply serrated, highly aromatic green leaves. Large blue flowers are borne on long stems from spring through to autumn. Has medicinal properties. Dried leaves and flowers can be used in pot pourii. Shrub. H:80cm W:60cm

Lavender - grey or green foliage varieties, beautiful aroma and foliage

5. Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Mauve flowers in summer with small mid green fragrant leaves. Used in stews, soups, salads and sauces. Medicinally has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Ground cover. H:30cm W:30cm.

Thyme - ‘Silver Posie’ variety on left and common green thyme on right

6. Fennel Bronze (Foeniculum vulgare ‘Rubrum’ purpureum)

Very striking, bronze, fine feathery leaves. Umbells of small yellow flowers in summer followed by aromatic edible seeds. Used in pork and fish dishes and a great addition to salads. Medicinal uses. Perennial. H:1m W:0.6m.

Bronze Fennel - adding beautiful and unusual foliage colour and texture

7. Blue Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘McConnel’s Blue”)

Small aromatic shrub with small spiky dark green leaves and blue flowers. Hardy, prefers chalky well drained soil. The leaves are used in Mediterranean cuisine. Companion plant with Sage. Medicinal. Shrub. H:80cm W:80cm.

Rosemary - not always easy to grow, but a brilliant shrub and culinary herb

8. Golden Upright Oregano (Oreganum spp.)

Striking golden foliage that add interest and colour to the herb garden. Ideal for container gardening or as a contrast plant. Strong Oregano flavor. Ground cover. H:30cm W:30cm

Golden Oregano - contrasting colour to add interest

9. Spearmint (Mentha spicata aquatica)

Hardy, deep green, highly aromatic, serrated oval spearmint flavored leaves. Greatly prized for jellies and sauces. Used in confectionary, cosmetics, natural insecticides and medicines. Ground cover. HL25cm W:spread

Spearmint - small bushy shrub with a brilliant green colour

10. Lemon Scented Geranium (Pelargonium citronella)

The deeply indented green leaves are pungently aromatic when crushed, releasing lemon scented plant oils that deter even the most determined mosquito. Shrub. H:60cm W:50cm.

Pelargonium citronella - good for repelling insects, especially mosquitoes!

Plant Descriptions taken from Doonholm Specialist Wholesale Nursery Website (https://doonholm.com/)

Fennel flowering - beautiful combination with purple of Lavender

I attended a seminar at a venue called The Herb Farm at Doonholm nursery a few weeks ago and was delighted to discover this piece of gardening paradise! The gardens consist of a South African indigenous medicinal herb garden, a reflection pond, a spiral labyrinth herb garden, a scented rose garden and an educational garden. All the plants in this garden (trees, shrubs, groundcovers, climbers, annuals, succulents) are herb plants and this garden has been created to showcase the incredible range of herbal plants at our disposal.

A plant lovers delight! Amazing plant combinations, variety of colour and texture

The gardens began in 2006 and evolved over the years (the owner described it as a “lappieskombers” or “patchwork quilt”) so that each year a new section was added. It is estimated that it now contains over 450 types of herb plants.

Educational Garden with terraces of herb planting

There are numerous signboards throughout the garden indicating plant names and their uses. In the Educational Garden you will find: Herbs for Pets, Scented Herbs, Healing Herbs, Insect Repellent Herbs (On a side note I have heard that certain herbs deter pigeons, I really need to find out which ones!) Companion Herbs for Veggie Gardening, Flavour Herbs for Cooking and Herbs for Teas. Herbal plants have numerous beneficial properties and it is widely accepted that our knowledge of the potential that plants hold is under utilised. Look at https://healthyliving-herbs.co.za/medicinal-herbs/ to see specific herbs and their health benefits.

The Scented Rose Garden: Planted entirely with scented roses ranging from strong to subtle scents and light to dark coloured blooms. Rose petals are edible, used to flavour rose water for food and cosmetics, and used to make confetti and potpourri.

Refreshments are available at The Herb Cafe. Conference Facilities for smaller groups available. Please contact them before visiting as access is by appointment only. 264 Summit Road (R562), Midrand (Olifantsfontein Offramp) Tel: 0861 244 837 or info@herbfarm.co.za

10 Essential Plants for a Rewarding Vegetable Garden

Perennial Basil ‘White’ (Ocimum basilicum)