Grow your own Pimm’s!
The garnishes of the classic drink have never been more plentiful, so why not...
IT’S difficult to imagine summer without a tall glass of Pimm’s, the gin-based tipple that’s de rigueur at everything from Wimbledon to casual barbecues. The two main ingredients are obviously the tawny liqueur itself and a big glug of lemonade, but it really wouldn’t be worth drinking without its classic garnish.
Oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, cucumber, borage and mint are traditional accompaniments. Most of these ingredients, of course, can be found easily in supermarkets but to really impress guests at a party, have a go at growing your own.
Young plants are widely available from garden centres or online nurseries and are ideal for growing in containers. Some are annuals that will need replacing, while others will provide pickings for many years.
Fresh mint is a must. Ideal in sun or partial shade, there are many varieties of this perennial herb to choose from. As a bonus, their flowers are a magnet to bees. Among the best varieties are Tashkent mint (Mentha spicata ‘Tashkent’) and Eau de cologne mint (Mentha x piperata f. citrata) with its highly aromatic leaves.
Sadly, mint is a rampant thug that will spread all over the place if planted straight into the ground, so confine it to a large pot.
A native of the Mediterranean and Central Europe, borage (Borago officinalis) is an attractive annual herb with bright blue, edible flowers. It’s fast-growing and vigorous, forming a 3ft-tall clump of large leaves that have a refreshing taste.
Set young plants in the ground or containers, choosing a sunny, sheltered spot. It’s a prolific self-seeder, so keep the plant under control by harvesting seeds before they fall – sow these in spring for another crop.
Cucumbers add a subtle flavour to the drink. For the largest choice of varieties it’s best to raise plants from seed sown in spring. Clearly it’s too late to start from scratch this year, so snap up readygrown plants from your local garden centre.
A slice of lemon, orange or lime provides a sharp note to the cocktail. ‘Eureka’ is a fantastic lemon with thick-skinned, fragrant fruit, while ‘ Tahita’ produces the limes sold in shops.
Calamondin is probably the easiest orange to grow, forming a compact plant covered with small, sour fruit.
Citrus species are too tender to be grown outdoors all year round, but they like an airing over summer. Move them undercover before night-time temperatures drop – a cool conservatory or greenhouse with a minimum temperature of 10C is ideal.
They work best in pots of John Innes No 2 compost or specialist citrus compost. Add a few drops of a citrus fertiliser every time you water, allowing compost to completely dry before giving them another soaking.
STRAWBERRIES thrive in pots, hanging baskets or growing bags. If you’ve got the space, bare-root, plug or ready-grown young plants can also be planted directly into the ground. For my money, everbearers such as ‘ Albion’ or ‘Mara des Bois’ work best because they produce fruit on and off from early summer into autumn.
Strawberries are largely trouble- free, but will need copious watering and feeding once a week with a high-potash fertiliser to ensure a good crop. After harvesting, cut back tatty foliage to leave a tuft of undamaged foliage at the centre of the plant.
So find room for a few pots, or squeeze some of these edibles into beds, and you’ll soon be throwing them together to create the best summer punch you’ve ever had.