Each Herb on this page has a link through to its own page where there is more information

HERB	SOWING	INFO	USES
ALOES, Aloe communis or socotrina	Buy a plant	You have probably either been given an Aloe plant or have bought one. Mostly tender so outdoors in the summer when no frosts threaten and brought indoors for the winter. Good drainage required.	Juice is pressed from the leaves, the gel inside the leaves is useful for burns, heat rash and ulcers.
ANGELICA, Angelica archangelica	OutdoorsAug-Oct	Plant in a prepared seed bed in rows at the back of the flower bed, cover with fine soil, firm gently and keep moist. Plant will die right down but in second year will grow and flower and then die completely.	Leaves infused to make a tea to relieve headaches and exhaustion, may be applied to skin as a tonic. Young plant stems may be eaten like celery or candied. Seeds to flavour custard.
ANISE, Pimpinella anisum	Outdoors April-May	Place the seeds where plants are to grow and thin the seedlings if you have to. Remove the plant when the seeds are harvested	Similar to Angelica but more powerful, used for digestion. Seeds can be used in soups, stews, bread and cakes.
BALM, Melissa officinalis	Outdoors April-May	Good for attracting bees to your garden. Protect in the winter.	The chopped leaves can be eaten raw in salad or made into tea.
BASIL, Ocimum basilicum	Indoors April-June	Plant out when all fear of frosts have passed. Can be grown in pots quite happily. Place in a sunny sheltered position. Leave some to flower and set seed for next year.	One of the most popular herbs these days used on pizza and salad. Can be used on the skin as an insecticide, also good for the digestion.
BAY,LAUREL, Laurus nobilis	Outdoors March-May	Very slow growing so plant in a sunny sheltered spot, dont allow to become too dry especially if in a pot.	Commonly used in soups and stews or in bouquet garni for flavouring. The leaves can be eaten and to make them soft enough you put them in hot water, not boiling. Helpful as a digestive tonic and for diabetes. Add to rice or spaghetti water when boiling.
BERGAMOT, Monarda didyma	Outdoors April-May	The roots prefer to be kept moist so put leaf mould around the roots. Plants will die down so mark the spot for next year.	Great for pot-pourri once the leaves are dried. Helpful for sore throats when made into tea.
BORAGE, Borago officinalis	Outdoors in April	Thin seedlings in summer and dig up old plants in winter	Use the young leaves and flowers in salads and summer drinks. The flowers can be candied. Good for strengthening the heart and limbs and has excellent curative properties. Can be made into an eye lotion.
BURDOCK, Arctium lappa	Outdoors April	Should grow easily ouside but beware of it spreading.	All parts are medicinal, roots, leaves, and burs. Burdock is one of the most medicinal of all herbs. Remedy for all blood disorders including, gout, rhuematism, arthritis and sciatica.
BURNET, Sanguisorba minor	Indoors March-May	For early sowing plant indoors and harden off slowly outdoors. It will self sow if left alone and will stay green through the winter.	It is a salad herb but can be used with fish or in cool summer drinks. For sun-burn and eczema apply as a lotion.