French Lavender

(Lycopersicon esculentum )

A popular crimson red medium tomato with great taste that tolerates low night temperatures, so it is ideal for cooler area. A Russian heirloom that is an early producer. A tough and vigorous producer that needs staking.

An attractive cultivar medium sized, scarlet red fruit that is full of flavour. Tolerant of cool night temperatures and ideal for cool climate gardens

Flavours/Food Partners

A rich flavored tomato that partners well with Latin herbs like garlic, oregano, marjoram, rosemary and thyme. Use with any good salad vegetable, Nasturtium flowers and mixed fresh herbs to make an attractive and tasty salad.

Health/Cooking/Medicinal

Like all tomatoes, Red Russian is high in the cancer fighting agent, Lycopene and also Vitamin C. For a classic rich sauce cook and mix with garlic, marjoram, sweet basil, diced shallots, and fresh pizza thyme. Finely dice, mix finely chopped shallots, fresh pesto basil and extra virgin olive oil and place on lightly toasted Turkish bread then top with an anchovie for a special homemade bruschetta.

Landscaping/Planting

Plant in an airy, sunny position in well drained soil or very large pots. Requires a 1.1 to 1.4 m stake.

Cultivation/Fertiliser

Like all tomatoes it must receive a deep soaking when almost dry and should not receive overhead watering. Feed regularly with Seasol and Powerfeed. A small amount of dolomite lime after planting will make stronger plants. Remove side shoots and develop two or three main leaders. Harvest when fruit is full color

Herb Attributes

Position Full Sun
Height 1.2m
Width 50cm
Categories: ,

Description

(Lavandula dentata candicans)

An easy to grow, drought hardy plant that has attractive mauve purple flowers that are used in potpourri, scented sachets and as a cut flower.

Flavours/Food Partners

This is not normally a culinary herb although it has been made into a tea and used as a gargle or mouthwash. The strong fragrance in the leaves and flowers partners well with lemon and mint scented herbs, scented geraniums and rosemary for potpourri mixtures.

Health/Cooking/Medicinal

Steep a tea spoon of dried leaves or flowers in hot water and flavour with stevia or mint and use as a mouthwash. As a skewer long, firm tip stems of around 25cm should be selected. Remove soft tip and lightly strip most of the foliage along the stem. Dice the chosen meat (chicken fillet is best) and marinade for at least one hour using a Renaissance marinade blend. Prehole the meat and then place on the stem intermingled with vegetable pieces like peppers, onion, aubergine etc. Cook over hot coals until desired level – do not overcook.

Landscaping/Planting

Plant in any well drained to general soil in a sunny and airy position. Best grown as a specimen plant or unclipped hedge.

Cultivation/Fertiliser

Pick flowers as needed and give regular applications of Seasol and Powerfeed to keep the plant healthy and producing well. Prune 20 to 30% in late spring and/or mid autumn to prevent becoming woody.

Herb Attributes

Position FULL SUN, MODERATE FROST
Height 100CM
Width 90CM