Bugle

Also known as Common or Creeping Bugle, Bugle Weed, Babies Shoes, Baby's Rattle, Blind Mans Hand, Carpenters Herb, Dead Men's Bellows, Horse and Hounds, Nelson's Bugle, Thunder and Lightening and Middle Comfrey. From the family Labiatae.

The bugle found in Britain is a native of Europe. It is frequently found in mountainous areas and often grows in damp fields, mixed woodland and meadows. The Bugle of North America is a species of Lycopus (Gypsy Weed). Among the many folk tales associated with bugle is one that its flowers can cause a fire if brought into the house, a belief that has survived in at least one district of Germany.

Species

Ajuga reptans

Bugle

Hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30cm (1ft), spread up to lm (3ft). Very good spreading plant. Blue flowers from spring to summer. Oval leaves are dark green with purplish tinge. It is this plant that has medicinal properties.

Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’

Bronze Bugle

As Ajuga reptans but Ht 15cm (6in), spread lm (3ft). Blue flowers. Deep bronze/purple leaves.

Ajuga reptans ‘Multicolor’

Multicolored Bugle

As Ajuga reptans but Ht 12cm (5in), spread 45cm (18in). Small spikes of blue flowers. Dark green leaves marked with cream and pink.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seeds

Sow the small seed in autumn, or spring as a second choice. Cover only lightly with soil. Germination can be slow and erratic.

Division

This method is easy and the only one suitable for cultivars as Bugle produces runners, each having its own root system. Plant out in autumn or spring. Space 60cm (2ft) apart, as a single plant spreads rapidly.

Pests and Diseases

Nothing much disturbs this plant!

Maintenance

Spring. Clear winter debris around established plants. Dig up runners and replant in other areas. Sow seeds. Summer. Control established plants by digging up runners.

Autumn: Sow seed, dig up runners of established plants, pot on, using the bark, peat compost, and winter in cold frame, or replant in garden. Winter. No protection needed unless very cold -20°C (-6°F).

Garden Cultivation

At close quarters bugle is very appealing and can be used as a decorative ground cover. It will grow vigorously on any soil that retains moisture, in full sun, and it also tolerates quite dense shade. It will even thrive in a damp boggy area near the pond or in a hedgerow or shady woodland area. Guard against leaf scorch on the variegated.

Harvest

For medicinal usage the leaves and flowers are gathered in early summer.

Container growing

Bugle makes a good outside container plant especially the variegated and purple varieties. Use the bark, peat mix of compost. Also very effective in hanging baskets.

Culinary

The young shoots of Ajuga reptans can be mixed in salads to give you a different taste. Not mine.

Medicinal

An infusion of dried leaves in boiling water is thought to lower blood pressure and to stop internal bleeding. Nowadays it is widely used in homeopathy in various preparations against throat irritation especially in the cast of mouth ulcers.

Other uses

In some countries it is gathered as cattle fodder. ink cartridges-rock republic jeans

Chives

Chives is the only member of the onion group found wild in Europe, Australia and North America, where it thrives in temperate and warm to hot regions. Although one of the most ancient of all herbs, chives were not cultivated in European gardens until the 16th century.

Chives were a favorite in China as long ago as 3,000 BC. They were enjoyed for their delicious mild onion flavor and used as an antidote to poison and to stop bleeding. Their culinary virtues were first

reported to the West by the explorer and traveler, Marco Polo. During the middle Ages they were sometimes known as rush-leeks, from the Greek 'schoinos' meaning rush and 'parson' meaning 'leek'.

Species

Allium schoenoprasum

Chives

Hardy perennial. Ht 30cm (12in). Purple globular flowers all summer. Leaves green and cylindrical. Apart from being a good culinary herb it makes an excellent edging plant.

Allium schoenoprasum 'fine-leaved'

Extra Fine Leafed Chives Hardy perennial. Ht 20cm (8in), Purple globular flowers all summer. Very narrow cylindrical leaves, not as coarse as standard chives. Good for culinary usage.

Allium schoenoprasum 'white'

While Chives

Hardy perennial. Ht 20cm (8in). White globular flowers all summer. Cylindrical green leaves. A

cultivar of ordinary chives and very effective in a silver garden. Good flavor.

Allium schoenoprasum roseum

Pink Chives

Hardy perennial. Ht 20cm (8in). Pink flowers all summer. Cylindrical green leaves. Also a cultivar of

Ordinary chives, its pink flowers can look a bit insipid if planted too close to the purple flowered variety. Good in flower arrangements.

Allium tuberosum

Garlic Chives (Chinese chives)

Hardy perennial. Ht 40cm (16in). White flowers all summer. Leaf mid-green, flat and solid with a sweet garlic flavor when young. As they get older the leaf becomes tougher and the taste coarser.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed

Easy from seed, but they need a temperature of 19°C (65°F) to germinate, so if sowing outside, wait until late spring for the soil to be warm enough. I recommend starling this plant in plug trays with bottom heat in early spring. Sow about 10-15 seeds per 3cm (1in) cell. Transplant either into pots or into the garden when the soil has warmed.

Division

Every few years in the spring lift clumps (made up of small bulbs) and replant in 6-1(1 bulb-clumps, 15cm (Bins) apart, adding fresh compost or manure.

Pests and Diseases

Greentry may be a problem on pot-grown herbs. Wash off gently under the tap or use a liquid horticultural soap. Be diligent, for aphids can hide deep down among the bulbs.

Cool wet autumns may produce downy mildew; the leaves will become velvety and die back from the tips. Dig up, split and re-pot affected plants, at the same time cutting back all the growth to prevent the disease spreading.

Chives can also suffer from rust. As this is a virus it is essential to cut back diseased growth immediately and burn it. Do not compost. If very bad, remove the plant and burn it all. Do not plant any rust prone plants in that area.

Maintenance

Spring: Clear soil around emerging established plants. Feed with liquid fertilizer. Sow seeds.

Summer: Remove the flower stem before flowering to increase leaf production.

Autumn: Prepare soil for next year's crop. Dig up a small clump, pot, bring inside for forcing.

Winter: Cut forced chives and feed regularly.

Garden Cultivation

Chives are fairly tolerant regarding soil and position, but produce the best growth planted 15cm (bin) from other plants in a rich moist soil and in a fairly sunny position. If the soil is poor they will turn yellow and then brown at the tips. For an attractive edging, plant al a distance of 10cm (4in) and allow to flower. Keep newly transplanted plants well watered in the spring, and in the summer make sure that they do not dry out, otherwise the leaves will quickly shrivel. Chives die right back into the ground in winter, but a winter cutting can be forced by digging up a clump in autumn, potting it into a rich mix of compost (bark, peat mix), and placing it somewhere warm with good light.

Harvest

Chives may be cut to within 3cm (1in) of the ground 4 limes a year to maintain a supply of succulent fresh leaves. Chives do not dry well. Refrigerated leaves in a sealed plastic bag will retain crispness for seven days. Freeze chopped leaves in ice cubes for convenience.

Cut flowers when they are fully open before the color fades for use in salads and sauces.

Medicinal

The leaves are mildly antiseptic and when sprinkled onto food they stimulate the appetite and promote digestion.

Container growing

Chives grow well in pots or on a window sill and flourish in a window box if partially shaded. They need an enormous quantity of water and occasional liquid feed to stay green and succulent. Remember too that, being bulbs, chives need some top growth for strengthening and regeneration, so do not cut away all the leaves if you wish to use them next season. Allow to die back in winter if you want to use it the following spring. A good patio plant, easy to grow, but not particularly fragrant.

Culinary

Add chives at the end of cooking or the flavor will disappear. They are delicious freshly picked and snipped as a garnish or flavor in omelettes or scrambled eggs, salads and soups. They can be mashed into soft cheeses or sprinkled onto grilled meats. Add to sour cream as a filling for jacket potatoes.

Chive butter

Use in scrambled eggs, omelettes and cooked vegetables and with grilled lamb or fish or on jacket potatoes.

100g/4oz/½ cup butter 4 tablespoons chopped chives 1 tablespoon lemon juice Salt and pepper.

Cream the chives and softened butter together until well mixed. Beat in the lemon juice and season to taste. Cover and cool the butter in the refrigerator until ready to use; it will keep for several days.

Companion planting

Chives planted next to apple trees prevent scab, and when planted next to roses can prevent black spot. Hence the saying, 'Chives next to roses creates poses'.

Other uses

Chives are said to prevent scab infection on animals.