July is a good month to cut and collect herbs. The worms have spent some time thinking about some of the herbs they’re growing in the garden, this week. Mint, for example … cutting the leaves to wash, dry or freeze this month.

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Cut and collect herbs, like mint, to wash and dry, store in the freezer this month … One worm is looking at a mint plant, it says, “ You can make infusions, too. Try tea, or gin” The worm then says, “HIC!”

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The wrigglers are amateur gardeners, for advice from the experts on growing herbs, try Jekka’s Herbs and The RHS – they know what they’re talking about!

Jekka’s tips on starting a culinary herb garden

planning, planting, maintaining and harvesting. Herbs can be picked from very early in their growing season. This encourages the plant to produce vigorous new growth. Most herbs reach their peak of flavour just before they flower. Snip off stems early in the day before the sun is fully up, or, even better, on a cloudy day.

Jekka’s Mint advice

The general characteristics of mint is that it dies back over winter and can be picked between late spring and mid-autumn. It is a good idea to pick regularly to keep plants compact and to ensure lots of new shoots. Always pick from the top down to the next growing shoot.

Growing herbs from the RHS

A continuous medley of aromatic, fresh herbs are easy to grow and harvest, adding vibrant flavours and texture to any meal.

Good for pollinators too!

The Wrigglers have joined the #putpollinators first Campaign

Wild flower meadows flower for longer due to the diverse range of plants in them. That’s more flowers for you, and more food for the bees and insects. Plant one and join the Gardener’s World Put Pollinators First campaign – raising awareness of the decline of our pollinators @GWmagazine

Click to see our ‘Put Pollinators First’ page

Gardener’s world launched its #putpollinatorsfirst campaign, as part of their 30th Anniversary celebrations of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. See what you can do to play your part:

Join in the Gardener’s World team and pledge here

With a panel of pollinator experts, committed to helping bees and other pollinating insects to thrive, Dr Trevor Dines says, ” Since the 1930’s, over 97 percent of our wildflower meadows have been destroyed. That’s 7.5 million acres, gone. Now you can understand why our pollinators are in such trouble.”

There are 3 ideas:

Sow some pollinator meadow seeds

Create habitats for butterflies, moths and caterpillars

Make a cornfield nectar bar

By making a meadow, even on a small scale, we can provide a banquet for pollinators that’ll help them to thrive.

Here are some seed suppliers and links:

Dobies

Thomson and Morgan – how to sow wildflower seeds

RHS – How to grow a mini wild flower meadow