Three more treasures await sharers in the Culinary Herb Garden, located directly behind the greenhouse. The pictured cutting celery can be found in the first row on the right, alongside the sorrel. Sara shares more about these healing plants now set to harvest:
Basil – All the basils are ready for you to partake. We have green, purple and Thai basil – try them all! Please pinch or cut the top cluster right above where more leaves are growing which will help make the plants more bushy to thrive all season.
Benefits of basil include antioxidants, heart health support, weight management and skin issues. Basil can also help with digestive issues and an upset stomach. The compound eugenol in basil leaves has anti-inflammatory properties which are good for the digestive tract and may even help in lowering blood pressure.
Parsley – Cut outer leaves at the base, leaving at least 2/3 of the plant. Parsley has antioxidants, may be anti-inflammatory, good for the immune system with vitamins A and C, aids digestion and can reduce blood pressure. It is chock full of vitamin K and is also good for liver health.
Cutting Celery – Please pinch outer leaves at the base, making sure to leave 2/3 of the plant. Cutting celery (Apium graveolens var. secalinum) looks more like parsley than stalk celery, and is full of flavor, reminiscent of black pepper. A member of the carrot family, this biennial plant will have lush foliage in the first year (best for eating) and will flower, set seed, and die in the second year. Stems and leaves can both be cut and added to stir fry dishes, stews, egg dishes and potato dishes. It can also be used as a ‘bed’ for meats or fish.
Cutting celery is a very old herb, more popular in European and Asian countries. And like every other herb, cutting celery has medicinal benefits. It contains many antioxidants, and is also anti-inflammatory. It may be used to treat joint pain, headaches, insomnia and loss of appetite. Because of its fiber content, it’s beneficial for your digestive system and promotes colon health.
