Herbs - R

Papaver somniferum var. glabrum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Red Opium Poppy. A variety with bright red petals. Poppy seeds are used on bread, in cakes and bagels, and in Middle Eastern delicacies such as halva. The seeds also yield a high-quality oil used for salads and for making soap, ointments, and paints. The poppy plant is also used as a source of opium. It is used to control pain, cough, and diarrhea. As significant as the plant is for its medicinal uses, it is far more important for its culinary uses. This is a cool-season annual with a mixture of flowers in an array of colors from pink to purple, but most are blood red. Excellent choice for home gardens, market growers, open production, and commercial production. A variety from the USA.

72 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Red Rubin Basil. The plant produces high yields of very flavorful 3" long reddish purple basil leaves with purple flowers. It is a popular sweet basil variety prized for its striking deep reddish-purple foliage, compact growth habit, and excellent culinary flavor. This is an improved version of the Dark Opal Basil. Perfect for pesto, salads, marinades, and garnishes, and making seasoned oil and vinegar. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from Denmark.

65 days. Chamaemelum nobile. Perrenial. Open Pollinated. Roman Chamomile. The plant produces high yields of daisy-like flowers with an apple flavor. It is known calming effect; both on the body and mind. It is used fresh and dried to make great flavored relaxing tea, desserts, drinks, perfumes, and hair rinses. Aids in digestion and digestive pain, and acts as a gentle sleep inducer. Because of the herb's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile benefits conditions such as eczema, rashes, or insect bites. Hot tea eliminates mucus buildup. When added to a hot bath, it aids in muscle pain relief. The dried flowers and leaves also make an addition to the potpourri. Used as a ground cover for filling spaces between flagstones, cracks, and paths. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the Mediterranean region.

85 Days. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis). Perennial. Open Pollinated. Rosemary. The seeds that produce vigorous plants with highly aromatic, needle-like leaves.  This variety germinates faster and more uniformly than other varieties. Leaves have a delicious flavor and are fragrant. Excellent fresh or dried. Used to flavor salads, chicken, turkey, meats, stews, soups, seafood, roasted vegetables, stuffing, and sauces. Also is used for treating headaches, and circulation. Used medicinally as a massage oil for rheumatism or aching joints. It traditionally symbolizes happiness, protection, and love, and medieval brides often wore rosemary or carried it in their bouquets. Suitable for containers, and can live 15 to 20 years. Cold Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

85 days. Artemisia dracunculoides. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Russian Tarragon. This hardy, vigorous perennial herb is easy to grow from seed, unlike true French Tarragon. A popular herb variety prized for its strong, sweet, complex anise flavor in cooking. Use the pale green leaves in vinegar, soups, stews, sauces, salads, and poultry dishes. Pinch or remove flowers to encourage leaf production, and pick leaves as needed. Plants die back in winter and regrow in spring. Divide the plant every 3 years. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. A variety from the USA.

 

How to Grow Russian Tarragon Seeds. Follow the planting instructions below and use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Mix for successful germination.