Your complete guide to homegrown herbs: A to B

Herbs are amongst the easiest and the most useful garden plants to grow. Here's some tips on growing bay leaves through bergamot.

• Anise seed is used in a wide range of foods, including cakes, breads, biscuits and salads.
• It's a small-growing annual herb, reaching 45 to 60 centimetres (18 to 24 inches) in height, with aromatic serrated foliage.
• The flowers are small, white and are followed by brown seeds that have the distinctive aniseed flavour.
• Anise needs a sunny but sheltered position and moderately rich, well-drained soil.
• Sow seeds in spring. A further crop may be sown in summer, if desired.
• Let the seeds turn brown, but remove the heads before the seed drops.
• When completely dry, shake out the seeds and store in an airtight jar, away from bright light.

• The strong, distinctive flavour of basil can be tasted in many recipes, particularly those from the Mediterranean region.
• It's a leafy annual plant, growing to 75 centimetres (30 inches) high, with mid-green aromatic foliage.
• There's also a smaller form, Ocimum minimum, or bush basil, which is more compact and dense in shape. It grows about 30 centimetres (12 inches) high.
• Basil must have rich, well-drained soil and warm growing conditions, plus plenty of water, especially during summer.
• To encourage leaf growth, regularly pinch out the flowerheads.
• In most climates, basil is grown from seed sown in spring or summer. In hot climates, successive plantings can be made until autumn.
• To harvest, simply pick foliage as needed, or dry and store for later use.

• Bay leaves are an important ingredient in bouquet garni (a bunch of herbs tied together and used to flavour soups and stews).
• They're also used as a flavouring in a wide range of Italian and French recipes.
• It's an evergreen tree, native to the Mediterranean region, that grows up to 11 metres (36 feet) tall.
• The aromatic foliage and berries can also be harvested. The foliage is shiny and leathery in texture. The berries are deep purple.
• Bay can be cultivated successfully in a wide range of soils and conditions, although heavy frost can damage the evergreen foliage.
• It's an excellent tree for a sheltered courtyard or balcony. Grow the plant in a container to limit its size.
• To harvest, pick the leaves as required and use fresh, or dry in a dark, cool place that's free from moisture. Store in an airtight container away from direct light.

• Bergamot is a bushy perennial shrub growing to 1.2 metres (four feet) in height. It has red flowers and mint-like leaves with a hairy texture.
• The leaves are used as a flavouring for pork.
• The flowers and foliage are also used fresh as an addition to salads.
• A moderately rich, moist soil and an open sunny position are essential for successful growth.
• The plant dies back after flowering, and re-emerges the following spring.
• To harvest, pick leaves or flowers as required, and use fresh.

With this advice, you could have a ready supply of fresh herbs to add special flavours to your cooking.