Laksa herb (forum)

amanda starts with ...
I love this herb but really struggle with growing it.. does anyone have any tips please?
Sometimes called Vietnamese coriander (or Viet' mint). Does it need full shade?
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Time: 27th September 2009 5:04pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Michael says...
Hi Amanda,
According to my book " Food plants of the world " the plant is easily grown from cuttings rooted in a glass of water and then planted out into a container or directly into the garden. Best grown in a warm sunny spot.

Time: 27th September 2009 6:50pm

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Ellen says...
Amanda

this is vietnamese mint called rau răm, they are the easiest of all the herbs to take care and maintain .It loves water Amanda, the soil must be constantly moist. And part shade would be OK, but if you exposed it to full sun, then soil must be moist at all time .

By the way looking in the picture, you 've put it in a pot . This herb doesn't like potting for long term.

Time: 27th September 2009 6:52pm

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Original Post was last edited: 28th September 2009 5:38am

About the Author Ellen
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amanda says...
Thanks Ellen and Michael! I might put it in my shadehouse veg patch - it will be out of the wind there. I put the last plant in my massive mint patch - thinking it would like same spot - but it died there!?
It's the only herb I have had no luck with.. but Pho soup is just not the same without it for me!

Time: 28th September 2009 9:56am

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JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Amanda,

I have one pot in the garden and I found that apart from loving water as Michael and Ellen said it will perform much better when you prune them regualrly otherwise this herb seems to be very spinny and leggy.

If I was you I would give it a prune every now and then and some blood and bone light application every month.

We do eat them regularly so the more I havest the more bushy it will become.

Sometimes, when it is over grown I just give it a hair cut and bin the lot because it is a bit tough for salad or soup. Also when you pick them for pho just pinch the top young stem not just leaves.

Please note that in winter the plant stops growing, will come back in spring.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Time: 28th September 2009 10:18am

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Ellen says...
but Pho soup is just not the same without it for me!" said Amanda."


Amanda, this herb is only good for salad, or other asian soup noodle but not definite not to be use for Pho, heheheh for Pho you have to use Thai Basil .

Time: 28th September 2009 10:31am

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About the Author Ellen
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amanda says...
Yea I know Ellen - but I always muck around with recipes! I use Thai basil and spring onion too, sometimes coriander..we have them in little bowls to add as "sprinkles"... It makes it fun! I could live on asian soups...they are so tasty and healthy (making a huge pot of chicken stock as I type actually!)

Time: 28th September 2009 10:49am

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amanda says...
BTW Ellen - have u lived in Vietnam or are from there? do u have an authentic Pho soup recipe at all? I would b very happy to see how it's really done!?
I am also after an authentic chinese hot n sour soup recipe...? I am a bit addicted to this one.. :)

Time: 28th September 2009 9:12pm

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Ellen says...
Hi Amanda


I came from there, left there 30+ some yrs ago.

My gosh if you cook Pho from scratch then be prepare that your house will smell Pho for almost a week, hehehhehhe, all that spices, very time consuming. But worth it for a bowl of noodles with full of nutritious goodies for a family .
If you are still interested, next time I prepare this dish, I'll take pics. with you in mind and send it to you . Let me know .

I don't know how to prepare Hot & Sour Soup Chinese style, just have my own 3 versions of Hot & Sour Soups S.E Asian style .With lots of different Asian herbs.

Time: 29th September 2009 9:30am

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About the Author Ellen
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amanda says...
Thanks Ellen - would love to see the pics next time you make it! I make all these soups from scratch - it's worth it...steamboat is another fave here - very social meal and a bit healthier than fondue :))
I have put that herb in the veg patch now - I might have had more success b4 if had known about the pot thing! thanks for the info Ellen.

Time: 29th September 2009 9:40am

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Ellen says...
No sweat it .

But do as Nguyet had suggested, every 3 weeks cut your laksa herbs back a bit, to keep it growing young sprouting leaves for you to enjoy, otherwise the old leaves will be too tough to chew on, and it will lose it's aroma a bit too .

Time: 29th September 2009 9:48am

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amanda says...
Ah - thanks Nguyet! I didn't see your post up there!

Time: 29th September 2009 10:08am

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au0rey says...
Among all the herbs in my garden, vietnamese mint is the easiest to grow. They like lots of water and i feed them seasol or charlie carp once every 3 weeks or less. They grow really well whether under direct sunlight or shade. They hardly have any pest invasion of any kind. Yeah I harvest them by cutting off stems rather than pinch off leaves..They are good is Asian food such as spicy laksa and vietnamese rolls..love their 'spicy' taste.

They root easiest in water and then just pot into a good potting mix..

The one in the picture was grown from two small cuttings and I have propagated several pots from them. They not only look good as patio decor but provide yummy food as well. :)
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Time: 1st October 2009 9:15pm

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amanda says...
Nice plant au0rey.... maybe I need to up the food factor as mine a bit yellow. I will get it right one day!?

Time: 2nd October 2009 9:40am

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Wayne says...
Not going to show you a pic of mine Amanda because I have just really hacked it back. Mine is growing in a large pot and it just overflowed, so perhaps you might like to consider a hanging basket. This is how I'll be growing it in future as it hangs very nicely.

Time: 2nd October 2009 3:41pm

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About the Author Wayne
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amanda says...
Thanks Wayne.....I will get depressed if I see any more pics of outstanding specimens of this herb..that i can't grow... :(


Time: 2nd October 2009 6:26pm

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Ellen says...
Amanda,

If it'll make you feel any better, then know this, I've just propagated some through cuttings and soaked in water for 3 days, then once it rooted well, I've just planted it down in ground 2 days ago . I have to take advantage of the good rainy cloudy weather. So it is just basically bare stalks in ground .

Time: 4th October 2009 9:01am

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About the Author Ellen
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au0rey says...
Amanda, is yours in a pot? Given any seasol or charlie carp? A good potting mix and seasol/charlie carp are all it needs...need not even chemical fertiliser or composted manure..

I have tried cuttings at vege patch before but didnt grow as well as in a pot with good potting mix.

This plant loves lots of water and it is okay under the patio or in full sun. It survives the winter here in Melbourne too..

Hope that helps!

Time: 6th October 2009 8:23pm

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amanda says...
Thanks au0rey - I planted it in the shaded veg garden - it's perked right up! I try to avoid plants in pots here - too much work over summer and after renting for 20 odd yrs and having gazillions of potted plants - I am over them! only a select special few that love being in a pot (bouganvillias and succulents) for me now! :)))

Time: 7th October 2009 9:38am

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perthger says...
hi. i have killed two pots so far. not enough love i think. ;p
Anyway, i bought another pot and there's holes! lots of them on the leaves. i can't find any bugs on them.
any suggestions? thank you!

Time: 18th November 2009 1:14am

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