Ahead of Mick and Sap's Thai Cooking lecture on Sunday, I thought
it would useful to share some tips on growing some the Thai herbs
that they'll be talking about. The good news is that you can grow all
of these very easily in your garden.
Thai Lime (Citrus hytrix) (photo above)
This is a lime tree that can be grown from cuttings or seed. The
lime is rough and bitter and the tree is quite thorny. But it is the
leaves that are used in abundance in Thai recipes. The zest of the
fruit is also used in making curry pastes. Like citrus, Thai lime
(known as Mak-root in Thailand) does best in full sun to part shade.
Since most citrus isn’t cold hardy, Thai lime should be grown in
a container so that your can protect it in the winter. They are consid-
ered heavy feeders, and you should give them plenty of plant food,
especially during the growing season (spring to fall). If you have
ever wanted to grow citrus, this is a good place to start.
In stock: $49.99 - 5 gal.
Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates)
This is a clump grass that is easy to grow and is used frequently in
many Thai recipes. It can grow to a height of 4 feet and loves a
sunny exposure. Lemon grass likes a deep soil, rich in compost,
and a protected spot away from the winter wind. After the first frost
you should cut it back and mulch it heavily. The fleshy part base of
each stalk is used for cooking. It should be minced finely and ground
in a food processor. Lemon grass is used to make curries, soups,
and teas. In stock: 4.5" round; $4.99.
Galangal Ginger (Alpinia galangal)
An exotic ginger with greenish-blue leaves and beautiful white
flowers. It grows 4 to 5 feet in height and spreads via underground
roots or rhizomes. Galangal ginger, or kha as it is known in Thai-
land, flourishes in the shade and requires some winter protection.
If you plant it outside, be sure to put it in a protected spot, and
mulch heavily for the winter months. It also does well as an indoor
plant. Grown indoors, it should be given a sunny spot close to a win-
dow. The fleshy rhizome of this plant can be harvested for use in
soups such as tom-kha, and in stews. (Available soon)
Thai sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora)
Called horapa in Thai, this is an easy-to-grow summer annual herb
related to sweet basil. It has a paler green leaf with purplish color-
ation close to the flower bracts. Like all basils, it enjoys a sunny
exposure and moist, well-drained soil. Basil always dies away after
the first bout of cold weather. However it can be grown in a sunny
kitchen window or garden room. One can also save the seed for
next spring’s planting. Thai sweet basil is used as a garnish for its
aromatic qualities. In stock: 4" pot, $2.59
Holy Basil ( Ocimum tenuiflorum)
This is also very easy to grow in the spring through fall garden.
Its leaves and flower bracts are purplish in color, adding a striking
ornamental effect to the garden. Holy basil is always cooked before
eating. It is used for stir-fry and has a very aromatic, peppery flavor.
In stock: 4.5" rounds for $3.59 Happy Thai gardening everyone!
