I cannot imagine a garden in the UK without herbs of some sort even the large estates and restaurants have them in there walled gardens. We cannot grow Basil or Coriander in the winter here as it is far too cold here. They are summer plants unless you have a heated greenhouse and it is easier to buy them than take space up in your greenhouse over the winter. Most supermarkets sell pots of Basil and Coriander which do grow in a warm kitchen windowsill for ages in the dark days of winter/ Rosemary and Sage are very popular here as they are hardy through the cold and nearly everyone grows normal Chives in their window boxes or containers. Mint is grown in pots as it is a lovely plant but has bad manners when planted in the garden as it spreads everywhere. Although Chervil is an annual it is very hardy and if sown at 4 week intervals it provides a year long supply of this wonderful culinary herb which is so good with pork or fish.
I suppose it comes from when the Romans in 43 AD invaded some of the UK and brought Mediterranean plants with then like Rosemary and Sage but they also brought Bay trees and a lot of people have them so they can use the leaves which are wonderful in cooking. So the answer is yes!
Regards from a freezing England.
Neil.
