ENGLISH CHEF Jamie Oliver says everyone should do it. Lan Kwai Fong's newest restaurant has made it a feature of its decor. Growing your own herbs is kitchen chic. And it makes sense - no more rushing to the supermarket for a $20-pack of parsley that wilts within days. With a fistful of seeds, a plant pot and soil you can grow herbs on your windowsill. Now is the time to plan.
With the summer rains behind us, October is the ideal time of year to grow seeds in Hong Kong. Any herb can be planted in the autumn, though not all will survive through our hot and humid summers. Basil, mint, rosemary and tarragon should endure the summer months.
There are dozens of herbs available, but for the beginner it is best to begin with ones you know and like. Among the easier herbs to grow, says Nicola Newbury, former chairman of the Hong Kong Gardening Society, are basil, thyme, mint and sage.
One of the best places to buy seeds in Hong Kong is wholesaler Chan Man Hop Seed Company (8 Connaught Road West, Central, tel: 2544 1862), which stocks a wide selection of herb seeds as well as vegetable and flower seeds, fertiliser and soil. Prices here are reasonable - one packet costs $8 and a bag of soil is $25.
Even some restaurants are adopting this do-it-yourself attitude. The latest addition to the Lan Kwai Fong scene, the Annexx, opens next week, replacing what was American Pie. One of the best features of the venue is the terrace, which has been revamped. A herb garden bordering the dining area gives a funky edge to the scene. 'The aim is to grow our own herbs, so that the chef can come out and pick them fresh,'' says owner Richard Feldman.
However, few people in Hong Kong have the luxury of a garden. But the beauty of herbs is they can be grown in a window-box in the kitchen, within arm's reach of your chopping board.