the cocktail herb kit

About this kit: $18

The Cocktail Herb kit includes:

  • Mint, Basil, Lemon Balm and Borage seeds

  • 4 x Peat pots, 4 x Peat pellets and 4 x plant labels

  • Gin cocktail recipe idea

  • Instructions for growing the seeds



instructions:

Borage:

  1. Direct sow, early Spring, or Autumn. Cover the peat pellet with hot water and wait for it to rise and expand, then place it into the peat pot.

  2. Sow a few seeds approx 3 times the depth of the seed, cover and gently firm down in the peat pellet. Keep soil moist but not wet during germination period (5-12 days)

  3. Once the seedlings are approx 5-10cm tall, plant the peat pot directly into the soil. Borage grows well in a warm and sunny part of the garden or even in a pot.

  4. Once the plant has it’s tiny blue flowers you can use these in your cooking and add to cocktails or simply leave them for the bees.



Mint:

  1. Sow seeds in Spring. Cover the peat pellet with hot water and wait for it to rise and expand, then place it into peat pot.

  2. Sprinkle a pinch of seeds over the peat pellet and cover and firm down gently. Keep the soil moist and in a warm spot until seeds germinate.

  3. Once the seedlings are approx 5-10cm tall, plant the peat pot directly into the soil or mint also grows really well in a pot.

  4. Once the plant has lush leafy growth you can harvest the leaves to add to your favorite cocktail, salad or use to make a mint dressing.



Lemon Balm:

  1. Sow early Spring. cover the peat pellet with hot water and wait for it to rise and expand, then place it into peat pot.

  2. Sprinkle a pinch of seeds over the peat pellet and cover and firm down gently. Keep the soil moist and in a warm spot until seeds germinate.

  3. Once the seedlings are approx 5-10cm tall, plant the peat pot directly into the soil. Lemon balm grows best in full sun but needs a little shade from the intensity of midday sun. Lemon balm also grows well in containers.

  4. Once the plant has healthy leafy growth you can harvest some leaves to add to a cocktail and crush with the ice to release it fragrance or add to a herbal tea and steep with hot water.



Basil:

  1. Sow in the Spring when frosts are over or under cover in a warm sunny spot protected from frosts. Cover the peat pellet with hot water and wait for it to rise and expand, then place it into peat pot.

  2. Sprinkle a few seeds on the peat pellet, cover and firm down gently. Keep the soil moist but not wet until germination.

  3. Once the seedlings are approx 5-10cm tall, plant the peat pot directly into the soil. Plant in a warm sunny area and in a well-drained soil or basil can be grown indoors in pots in well-lit areas.

  4. You may need to thin out the seedlings by plucking out any of the smaller seedlings to allow space for the others to grow.

  5. Frequent picking of the leaves ensures a continuous supply of basil. Add the leaves to your favourite cocktail, pasta or salad. Alternatively, when you have a large amount of leaves you can make basil pesto.