It's lunch time...

So I'm thinking of my stomach again but hey there is a plant link! The best ingredient for any good meal is fresh food. It's the secret of all the top chefs and one of the most versatile and zesty ingredients you could add are herbs! Easy to grow and fantastic flavour to eat.

There are numerous herbs you could grow in your garden and some of the best value ones are perennial herbs. Perennials live for several years and they grow into larger plants. Herbs you could invest in are:

Thyme - used widely in the Mediterranean and great for flavouring meat, cheese and pasta sauces.

Oregano (also known as Marjoram) - try adding to home-made burgers for your barbecue.

Mint - a great addition for a summer cocktail or Pimms!

Chives - snip onto a salad or jacket potato for some lovely subtle flavour

and Rosemary (as pictured). Rosemary is a traditional accompaniment for roast lamb. Buy some rosemary plants from your garden centre now and place in a sunny, sheltered position in well drained soils. Rosemary particularly likes chalky soils. If you are growing Rosemary in a container then add some grit to aid drainage. Once plants have finished flowering trim into shape. You can pick the leaves all year round , common rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is the hardiest and most used in cooking.