National Herbs and Spices Day!
In honor of National Herbs and Spices Day, we are thrilled to share with you the brand new pallet gardens at our Franklin County produce stand! Come check it out yourself at 533 S. Main St, Chambersburg, PA. This season, we will have a beautiful mixture of flowers, herbs, and vegetables to share with you at the produce stand. Continue on to discover what we will be growing, fun facts about the different plants, and some tasty recipes to use at home:
Flowers
Zinnias
Zinnias are easy and fast to grow annuals. They have a large variety of colors and sizes, and love going into the vase for an enjoyable addition to your home! These flowers do not require much maintenance and do a great job of shading out weeds. Although these are annuals, it is super easy to save the seeds to use year after year.
Larkspur
Four of the seventy-nine species of Larkspur native in North America are found east of Mississippi. Larkspur is an annual plant flowering May through August. The flowers and leaves of this plant were used in the United States army against lice. It was also found that the seeds may help with asthma.
Marigold
These annuals are native to Mexico, but are popular all over the world. Marigolds are beautiful, of course, but they also have many other benefits such as: nematode control, pollinator attraction, easy to grow, and companion planting.
Cosmos
The name Cosmos stems from the Greek word ‘kosmos’ meaning beautiful. Here are the benefits of growing Cosmos flowers:
Attract beneficial insects
Easy to grow
Save the seeds
Self-sow
Long flowering
Edible
Resistant to pests
Use as cut flowers
Resilient in drought
Herbs
Thai Basil
This perennial is a member of the mint family, growing between 12-18 inches tall with purple stems and flowers. This plant is quite delicate so it is important to review care and harvesting techniques to ensure the thai basil is handled appropriately. Harvested thai basil can be infused with vinegar or oil, or paired with many dishes. It is best used fresh, but can also be preserved in the freezer.
Try out this Thai Basil Vegetables recipe!
Opal Basil
Opal basil is an annual in the mint family, described to have a sweet, savory, and earthy flavor with hints of ginger, cinnamon, and mint. In warmer climates, opal basil is available all year long and will flower mid to late summer. This beautiful purple variety created a new market for home gardening. Opal basil can be used aromatically, to repel insects, for culinary purposes, and as a food-grade dye. It is a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and beta-carotene and can be used to reduce inflammation.
Try out this Opal Basil-Macerated Peaches recipe!
Sage
Another member of the mint family, sage is very well known for a long list of benefits, including: high in several nutrients; loaded with antioxidants; supports oral health; eases menopause symptoms; reduces blood sugar levels; supports memory and brain health; lowers LDL cholesterol; protects against certain cancers; alleviates diarrhea; supports bone health; combats skin aging; and easy to add to your diet.
Try out this Fried Sage Leaves recipe!
Summer Savory
Savory has been used for 2,000 years, going back to Ancient Romans who used this “herb of love” to make love potions. It is commonly used for culinary purposes, but also has a number of health benefits, such as: natural antiseptic, remedy for sore throat and bacterial infections, relief from bites and stings, and to help with digestive issues.
Try out this Summer Savory Bruschetta recipe!
Cilantro
Cilantro refers to the leaves of the plant and coriander refers to the seeds. Cilantro is in the Apiaceae family along with carrots, celery, and parsley. Benefits of using cilantro include: anticancer effects; remedy from pain and inflammation; support for skin health; effective as a natural food preservative; and great source of vitamin C, provitamin A, and vitamin K.
Try out this Fresh Herb Guacamole recipe!
Parsley
Parsley is native to the Mediterranean with two common types, French curly-leaf and Italian flat-leaf. Like our other herbs, parsley has numerous health benefits including: contains important nutrients, rich in antioxidants, supports bone health, contains cancer-fighting substances, can protect eyes, may improve heart health, extract has antibacterial properties, and is easy to incorporate into your diet.
Try out this Parsley Paste recipe!
Greek Oregano
Oregano’s name comes from Greek words “oros,” meaning mountain and “ganos,” meaning joy. It’s flavor, scent, and health benefits stem from it’s many antioxidants. In the Mediterranean region, oregano is used as herbal medicine. Other benefits are being explored as well: fighting bacteria, relieving inflammation, regulating blood sugar and lipids, and fighting cancer. In addition, it may help manage type 2 diabetes and depression.
Try out this Creamy Cubed Zucchini recipe!
Thyme
Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that was used by ancient Egyptians as an embalming fluid. In Greece, it was used as an incense and added to bathwater. Thyme is a common herb today used fresh, dried, and as an oil. There are numerous benefits, such as reducing high blood pressure; foodborne bacterial infection resistance; protection from colon cancer, breast cancer, and yeast infections; and addressing common skin problems including acne.
Try out these 10 Thyme Recipes!
Salad Burnet
Salad Burnet is a perennial herb originating from Europe, western Asia, Siberia, and northern Africa. It’s name stems from Latin words “sanguis,” meaning blood and “sorbeo,” meaning soak up because of its use to stop bleeding. Salad Burnet is commonly used in salads and dressings and is said to have a cucumber-like flavor. This tasty herb has a number of unique benefits both for humans and the environment. It has been found to improve digestion, treat burns, improve oral health, treat skin problems, control bleeding, control cholesterol, and treat rheumatism. In addition, it is helpful in erosion control and can be used to counter invasive weeds.
Try out this Cream Cheese Tea Sandwich recipe!
Rosemary
Rosemary is another Mediterranean herb used for culinary purposes, health benefits, and bodily perfumes. It is a member of the mint family and contains good sources of iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6. Rosemary is a perennial found to improve concentration, digestion, and brain aging; however, high doses may cause side effects. It is advised that pregnant women avoid supplemental rosemary.
Try out this Sweet Potato Fries recipe!
Vegetables
Sungold Tomatoes
Sungolds are cherry tomatoes with a crisp, juicy consistency and sweet flavor with tropical undertones. They are a hybrid in the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family. Although this plant produces small fruit, it holds a world record for the tallest tomato plant ever grown reaching over 19 meters high. These tomatoes are great sources of vitamin C, potassium, and beta-carotene. Sungolds can be cooked, but are best fresh to maintain their well-known sweet flavor.
Try out this Pasta recipe!
Blush Tomatoes
Blush tomatoes are another cherry tomato, but described as chewy and on the larger side. They are said to have a sweet-tart flavor compared to a tangerine, but flavor changes depending on the maturity of the tomato. These are one of the most popular home gardening varieties. Blush tomatoes have a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and lycopene. These tomatoes were developed by Fred Hempel on his farm in Sunol, California and were released in 2011.
Try out this Moonblush Tomato recipe!
Fish Peppers
Fish peppers are spicy peppers within the Capsicum annuum species. This pepper is an heirloom originating in the Caribbean. It came to North America in the early 1800s, but lost its popularity when the region became more urban. The variety was almost lost, but was saved by a painter named Horace Pippin. Fish peppers are aesthetically unique with white and green variegated leaves. They start off white and are often used for white sauces before they turn different colors while maturing. The heat of this pepper is said to be hotter than a jalapeno, but slightly less hot than a serrano.
Try out this Fish Pepper Soup recipe!
Fajita Peppers
Fajita peppers are considered to be a hot bell pepper. These are hybrid peppers within the Annuum species.
Try out this Fajita Vegetables recipe!
Big Jim Peppers
NuMex Big Jim peppers are a hybrid between New Mexican chilies and a Peruvian pepper developed by New Mexico State University. They are known to be big, meaty, and thick reaching up to a foot long, but usually averaging between seven and nine inches. They are described as a mild jalapeno in flavor peaking at 2,500 Scoville heat units (SHU).
Try out this Stuffed Big Jim Chiles recipe!
Sheepnose Pimento Peppers
These peppers are scientifically known as Capsicum annuum, but also referred to as pimento, cherry pepper, or Sheepnose. Sheepnose peppers have the lowest Scoville Scale rating of about a 500 heat index. These are the peppers that are dried and used to make paprika. They have a number of health benefits in addition to their great taste: treatment of cancer, alleviates restless leg syndrome, supports skin health, protects eye health, decreases risk of internal bleeding, promotes proper growth, prevents anemia, helps with Alzheimer’s disease, and helps with joint mobility.
Try out this Homemade Pimento Cheese recipe!