Herbs For Growing
All The Herbs You Need For Growing
All herbs can be grown in a range of different conditions, but of course some conditions are better for some herbs.
Anise
Anise is a tasty culinary herb that has a taste like licorice. It is also often used as a ornamental herb as it has small white herbs that look great in most gardens. In terms of growing, you will want to grow this herb in early spring as frosts will prevent it from growing. The best time for harvesting your herb is after about a month of growth has taken place and the flowers have had a chance to bloom. These herbs are great for tea herb gardening.
Basil
This is one of the most popular herbs and most gardens use it. It is an annual herb and has pretty white flowers. Again this wants to be sown in early spring or late winter as frost will devastate this plant. This plant will then need regular cutting as too much growth makes less flavorful growth. Luckily this plant can be used with most kinds of cooking, so you will enjoy cutting it!
Borage
This herb is often as popular for its pretty, pink flowers as it is for its taste. If you have flowers that need pollunating, this herb will be your best friend as it attracts a lot of bees. This herb is great for most gardens as it thrives on dry and sunny conditions. The only problem is that it is very tough to transport this herb. For this reason most gardeners try to disturb the herb as little as possible.
Chives
Chives are great herbs for beginner and advanced gardeners alike as they virtually take care of themselves. All that is needed is for the gardener to occasionally divide them to prevent overgrowth and make sure to cut them regularly to maximize growth. Then the best part: they are highly versatile herbs that can be used in most forms of cooking.
Coriander
When it comes spring time this plant can be planted in most gardens and will do well. This herb is an annual, however has a relatively low yield of edible parts to a herb such as herb garden cilantro. The best part of this herb are the flavorful herbs that make a great condiment.
Fennel
This herb along with oregano is one of the most popular Italian herb garden plants. Fennel seeds are usually sown in spring and can grow so large that they will often need to be tied to stakes. As a general rule, the shoots are at their most flavorful before flowering. The seeds are also commonly used to add flavor to spreads and dips.
Mint
Mint is a great herb that can tend to get out of control easily. It just loves to try to take over your garden and will happily grow into sunny or shaded areas. Make sure that it is carefully controlled by dividing or cutting regularly. You can also grow it using a concrete divider or in a buried pot to limit the amount it can spread. Although the herb can be harvested anytime, it is usually harvested before the flowers bloom to maximize the flavor.
Oregano
Another very popular Italian herb, it is also sometimes known as wild marjoram. This herb is another easy to grow plant as it can be found growing in the poorest of soils. Once some growth is established, it will then grow if cuttings are regularly taken. From then on it should be harvested, dried and added to any Italian dish.
Parsley
Parsley is a slightly unusual herb as it is a biennial that acts like a cross between an annual and a biennial! Other than this oddity, it is pretty straightforward to grow and can be used as a great garnish or flavoring for broths and soups.
Rosemary
This is a hardy shrub that unfortunately does not like the cold. Many gardeners like to bring it indoors during the winter, as temperatures of less than 5 degrees damage the plant! Drainage is also important, so ensure that your garden has plenty or increase drainage by burying a layer of stones under your rosemary plantation. Despite these drawbacks this is a great herb and forms the basis of many a dish.
Sage
This makes the ultimate stuffing for poultry. Like many culinary herbs, it is most flavorful before the flowers bloom, so harvest early. The good news is that the herb has a long life span, however it can be hard to grow at first. Many gardeners initially grow it indoors and then transplant it outside as it grows. It requires a lot of sunlight, so it will need to be planted in an unshaded area.
Thyme
Thyme is a great ‘all-rounder,’ as it can be used in cooking, medicine, perfume and just for looking at. It is also relatively easy to grow, requiring only a light, well-drained soil. There are many different kinds of thyme that I discuss in my article on thyme herb gardening.
