by CE Wynn

Created on: September 14, 2010   Last Updated: September 16, 2010

Fall is here, winter is just around the corner and herbs are a great way to spice up winter dishes, to plant as companions in the garden, or for medicinal purposes.  Fall, much like spring, has the benefits of being a mild season, not too warm and not too cold.  As well as growing cool climate herbs, these mild fall conditions provide a great opportunity to grow perennial herbs from seed, ensuring an early spring harvest.

* Garlic

Garlic is one of the most renowned herbs, both medicinally and culinary. Garlic has a cleansing effect, and is particularly effective to help fight colds and flus.  Garlic can be used for the same purpose in the garden. By planting garlic in areas prone to soil born disease, a cleansing effect occurs reducing the chance of such diseases reoccurring.    

Garlic should be planted in the fall, as the bulbs require several weeks of cold weather to grow and expand.  Harvesting occurs mid to late summer, once all the leaves have died down, but for a few.  Once harvested, the bulbs should be left outside to dry, the remaining leaves will form the protective paper layer required to ensure a lengthy shelf life.

* Chives

This little herb just keeps on giving, with the exception of winter, where it dies off to come back in spring. Chives are a fantastic flavour enhancer, and a great substitute for onion and garlic flavours.  Chives grow quickly, purchase a few seedlings now, and it might just be possible to squeeze a harvest out of them before they go dormant in winter.  

* Rocket

This salad green is great to add a bit of peppery warmth to any meal.  Although rocket can be grown over spring and summer, it has a tendency to bolt, and therefore is best suited to the mild weather conditions of fall. 

If planting in fall, seedlings are the best option.  This will provide the chance to harvest at the end of fall and over winter. Continue to harvest young leaves while the pepper flavour is mild.  But be warned, as the rocket matures the flavour may get too strong to comfortable add to salads.

* Borage

A spring flowering herb, borage needs to be planted in the fall to grow over the winter. This herb has lovely blue, star like flowers and smells like fresh cucumbers when cut.  A fantastic companion plant, improving the health of many edible plants, the flowers will also encourage beneficial insects particularly bees. Borage leaves can be used to make

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