Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme – did you say or sing the words?

Most of us know that song and most of us will have used these four herbs in cooking. Some of us may even grow these herbs, in pots, in the border, in a designated herb garden.

But how easy are they to grow? Do they work well together in casseroles and soups? Do any of the herbs have other uses than culinary ones? And why is there a song about them anyway? A few answers, a few thoughts, a few ideas for using these famous four herbs

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme – cultivation

All of these herbs can be grown from seed. Of the four, parsley is the one more usually sown as seed in the herb garden, or indeed in the vegetable patch. The others are perennials and tend to be propagated by cuttings from established plants. They all like a neutral to alkaline soil.

Parsley, Petroselinum crispum, is a biennial plant but is more commonly grown and used as an annual herb. It is the most widely cultivated herb in Europe and has been popular since the time of the Roman Empire. Soaking the seeds overnight in warm water encourages germination but once it gets growing, this herb is more tolerant of shadier spots than the other three.

Sage, Salvia officinalis, is the Salvia herb you’ll be most familiar with. It can be grown from seeds sown in spring but taking softwood cuttings from a plant you already have is just as easy. Common sage can be a bit of a sprawler if you’re not regularly picking leaves to use. I like to take the opportunity in spring to cut it back and then I have a ready supply of cuttings to grow into new plant and leaves for the kitchen.

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, is the upright form of this popular evergreen herb. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in a spot which gets plenty of light even if there’s not lots of direct sunlight. Unlike the other three herbs, rosemary will tolerate an acid soil. I take cuttings later in the season, pruning back after flowering then using the new, non-flowering shoots that grow after pruning.

Thyme, Thymus vulgaris, is a small upright evergreen herb that likes dry feet in the winter. In rainy Britain, its advisable to add grit to the planting hole. Creeping thymes tend to propagate themselves by rooting where stems touch the earth. You can try this method, called layering, with upright thymes if you have a long side stem.

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme – culinary uses

All the cooks among you will have their own favourite dishes and uses for these herbs. Here are just a few of mine: –

Parsley

Cheese sauces
Sauces for fish, particularly trout
Spinach dishes

Sage

Roast lamb
Nut roasts
Sage oil is delicious drizzled over sausages (meat and veggie) to stop them sticking to the pan

Rosemary

Rosemary and parmesan biscuits
Goes very well with goats cheese
Venison casserole

Thyme

Vegetable casseroles, especially with courgettes
Milk puddings in winter (just a dash)
Fish, especially mackerel

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme – herbal properties

Some of the folklore, historic and more recent uses for these herbs where their healing properties are involved.

Parsley

Parsley is a diuretic, so don’t eat too much of it! But that can make it useful for urinary infections. It was also used to cure a sour stomach, or indigestion and can also freshen your breath after eating garlic. Parsley is rich in iron and vitamin C.
Parsley was considered to be good at removing bitterness, not only from the stomach, but also emotionally. It was sometimes used for the opposite reason, to add festivity to an occasion.

Sage

Sage is beneficial for gums, gum infections, and cleaning teeth. The Romans used it to increase fertility and it has long been considered to prolong health and therefore life. As with all good things however, too much is bad for you!
Sage has long been a symbol of immortality and wisdom.

Rosemary

Rosemary can be helpful in mitigating headaches, nervous exhaustion, depression. A poultice or cream made with the essential oil will ease sore joints and muscles and improve poor circulation.
Rosemary is beneficial in improving memory, and is a symbol of remembrance, love and fidelity. It has been used both at weddings and funerals for these reasons.

Thyme

Thyme contains the oil thymol, a powerful antiseptic. An ancient herb it was used by the Egyptians as part of the embalming process. It is often used as one of the components of massage oils of muscular pain but can also be used as a mosquito repellent and as a hangover cure!
Thyme symbolises courage, strength and happiness. It has also been associated with young girls seeking their true love.

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme – that famous song

Scarborough Fair was an annual event which began on August 15 and lasted for over a month. Granted a charter in 1253, it ran until 1788 when competition from other local and regional fairs made it unprofitable to continue.

The Simon and Garfunkel song blended together a traditional ballad with extra, new lyrics ‘Canticle’ which were anti-Vietnam war. Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme is a repeated phrase throughout and probably dates to the 19th century. This type of ballad is much older with versions documented from the 17th century. It should be sung as a duet with both male and female parts setting impossible tasks for a former lover.

It has been argued by experts in folk songs that the refrain Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme is highly relevant. The symbolic nature of these particular herbs reflecting searching for love, love once held, love lost and the bitterness ensuing. Potentially, however, a reconciliation is possible; there are more verses than are sung by the famous duo.

“Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Remember me to the one who lives there,
For once she was a true love of mine.”

If you’d like a herb garden designed around this ballad and those ubiquitous herbs, Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme or indeed your own favourite herbs, why not get in touch?