Your complete guide to homegrown herbs: G to L

Growing herbs is easy, fun and can save you money. These are some tips for growing anything from garlic to lemon balm.

• Garlic is one of the most popular and widely used flavouring herbs. It's especially useful in a great range of Mediterranean and Asian recipes.
• The garlic plant is a perennial member of the onion family that has long, flat leaves.
• The tall flower stalks are topped by large globular flowerheads that are white, tinged with pink.
• Plant garlic cloves in a sunny position, in rich soil with good drainage. Spring is the best planting time.
• Water well during the summer months if the climate is hot and dry.
• To harvest, wait until the end of summer, when the foliage has shrivelled and died back. Dig up the bulbs and dry in a cool, shady place.
• Traditionally, they're plaited together and hung in the kitchen until needed.

• The horseradish plant grows to 30 centimetres (12 inches) in height, with large pale green leaves and small white flowers.
• The roots are the edible portions. Grate them and make a concentrated paste with vinegar, then keep handy in the refrigerator.
• Horseradish grows well in a sunny, open position if planted into moderately rich soil. Water well during the summer.
• Protect the foliage from snails and slugs, which can be a problem when the plant is young.
• To harvest, dig up the roots in autumn and store them in a dry, damp place. If they're exposed to the light, they will turn green.
• Small roots can be stored in a dry place and replanted for a new crop the following spring.

• Lemon balm can be used as a seasoning or flavouring for chicken and fish dishes, and in fruit salads.
• A shrubby perennial bush that grows to 75 centimetres (31 inches) in height, it bears an attractive covering of mid-green lemon-scented foliage.
• Lemon balm is easy to grow in a wide range of soils and conditions, but without vigilance it can quickly self-seed and spread through the garden.
• Trim the tops of the stems to prevent flowering.
• To harvest, cut the foliage as needed.
• Use fresh, or dry and store for later use.

Growing your own herbs can lower your food budget and heighten your cooking. Plant the herbs you use most often and care for them according to these tips for better results.