The Windowbox Allotment
What herbs, etc. to plant
Below are mini guides as to what other edible or useful plants you could grow in your windowbox with instructions on how to grow them and recommended cultivars that are known for their ease of growing, good flavour, size or hardiness.
Fruit
Vegetables
Tarragon
Belonging to the wormwood group of plants and with distinctive scent and flavour. French Tarragon grows up to 75cm, whilst Russian will grow to twice that, so the latter is really not suitable. Requires fertile, well-drained soil
Plant: Pot grown plants
Division: Take rhizomes from existing plants
Thyme
A low growing perennial or shrub which provides good ground cover and is great in pasta sauces and salads. Plant in a sunny, well-drained site. Make sure you choose a culinary variety as there are lots of other ornamental, less flavoured thymes available.
Sow seed: In late spring or early summer outdoors
Plant: Pot grown plants out in early summer
Division: Divide clumps in autumn
Vietnamese Coriander
Used frequently in south-east asian cooking and also in herbal medicine (supposedly to repress sexual urges!) this tender, citrusy perennial could be planted out in summer, but would need to be dug up and brought inside over winter.
Plant: Pot grown plants
Softwood cuttings: In summer
Violas & Sweet Violet
In the past sweet violet flowers (pic1) were used in cooking for their fragrance and decorative qualities. Both viola (pic2) and sweet violet flowers can be used as a colourful addition to salads and you might also want to try a 14th Century recipe for Violet-flavoured rice pudding!
Sow seed: In late winter to early spring
Plant: Pot grown plants in early spring
You are viewing the text version of this site.
To view the full version please install the Adobe Flash Player and ensure your web browser has JavaScript enabled.
Need help? check the requirements page.
