Even the smallest herb garden should include at least a few marjoram plants. The one difficulty is that, being a native of the warm Mediterranean region, it is damaged by frost in colder winters and must be sown afresh every spring.
The first European botanist to describe the plant was Mattioli. He named it `mala insana', meaning unhealthy fruit, and for a long time it was considered poisonous. In consequence it was not eaten until the 19th century.
Mattioli was partly right, for the green parts of the plant are slightly poisonous and furthermore he was perhaps guided by a well- founded fear; for the tomato belongs to the nightshade family which includes many highly poisonous species which it resembles.
In the Middle Ages it was grown for its fragrance and beauty. Before hops were known, it was used in brewing beer and in France to make a wine called `hippocras'. It was also added to water used to rinse the fingers at the table during banquets.
Lovage is a large perennial herb up to 2 m (6 ft) high with a fleshy rhizome and long, branching roots. It grows best in moist deep soil. It may be propagated by seeds, but for the herb garden a single offset detached from the parent plant will suffice.
Parts should be dried at a temperature no greater than 35C (95F) for the plant contains essential oils, and stored in air-tight containers.
The first European botanist to describe the plant was Mattioli. He named it `mala insana', meaning unhealthy fruit, and for a long time it was considered poisonous. In consequence it was not eaten until the 19th century.
Mattioli was partly right, for the green parts of the plant are slightly poisonous and furthermore he was perhaps guided by a well- founded fear; for the tomato belongs to the nightshade family which includes many highly poisonous species which it resembles.
In the Middle Ages it was grown for its fragrance and beauty. Before hops were known, it was used in brewing beer and in France to make a wine called `hippocras'. It was also added to water used to rinse the fingers at the table during banquets.
Lovage is a large perennial herb up to 2 m (6 ft) high with a fleshy rhizome and long, branching roots. It grows best in moist deep soil. It may be propagated by seeds, but for the herb garden a single offset detached from the parent plant will suffice.
Parts should be dried at a temperature no greater than 35C (95F) for the plant contains essential oils, and stored in air-tight containers.
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