Start an Herb Garden
To start an herb garden is not as difficult as you might think many herbs are hardy, growing easily in any soil, and capable of thriving in any light. Some are even able to withstand extreme temperatures and even drought conditions, enabling you to use them year-round. Before you start an herb garden, however, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
What type of herb garden do you want?
There are three types of home herb garden. Culinary herbs are used for food. These may include fennel, thyme, parsley, sage, or oregano. Tea herbs are used to make teas. These include chamomile, peppermint, and lemon balm. Medicinal herbs have healing properties. Alfalfa, feverfew, and marshmallow are a few of the medicinal herbs you may find. You will find that some herbs overlap categories. Rosemary, for instance, can be used in cooking to flavor chicken, can be drank as a tea, and can be used to treat insomnia.
How much space do you have?
If you have a large garden space, you can plant pretty much anything you want provided you have the right growing conditions. For those who plan to grow their herb garden in pots on an apartment balcony or in a windowsill, you have to be more selective. Some herbs grow fast and large. Peppermint is one such herb. It spreads quickly so it’s not suited for small spaces. If you’re stuck on growing a specific herb that requires more room than you have, look for a miniature variety.
How much time do you have?
Once planted, some herbs require little maintenance and do fine with very little attention from you. Others, however, need more care. This care may include frequent pruning, watering, or fertilization. Before planting a high maintenance plant, look around to see if there is a low maintenance one that offers similar flavor, or if you’re planting a medicinal herb garden, similar healing properties.
Keep in mind that while some plants are low maintenance once they’re in the dirt, they may need special care to get them started. Some plants that begin as seeds can be sown directly on the soil. Others need to get their start indoors in trays before they are able to be transplanted outdoors.
Do you have the right soil or sunlight?
While there are herbs that will grow happily in any soil or sunlight you put them in, others are more finicky about where they put down their roots. Take some time to research the needs of your plants to make sure you can provide the proper environment for growth. If most of your plants will grow in the soil you have, but one requires a different type of soil, planting it in a pot by itself may be an option to consider.
As you can see, a little thought is required before you start an herb garden. However, once you’ve found the herbs that do fit your requirements, you’ll be on your way to the perfect herb garden in no time at all. If you’d like to know how I started my herb garden and the useful things–the do’s and dont’s–that I learned over the years, you can find the information here.
How To Plant An Herb Garden
Learning how to plant an herb garden is easier than you might think. If you have a little bit of time, an herb garden can be started in as little as a day. It won’t be long until you’re enjoying fresh herbs from your garden.
The first step to planting your home herb garden is finding an area. Those with an existing garden may have room to simply add the herbs. Starting a small separate garden close to the house is another option. People in cities or those that prefer staying indoors can still have an herb garden, but will be limited by which herbs can be planted in pots and how much space they have for the pots. Keep in mind the amount of sunlight in the area you’re placing your herb garden. Some herbs can grow in partial shade while others prefer full sunlight.
Choosing your plants is the next step. There is a wide variety of herbs available for your garden. You want to look for ones that do well with your soil type and the amount of sunlight available. Some herbs will grow just about anywhere, while others prefer specific types of soil and light. If you plan to grow your herb garden in pots, you need to consider which herbs are small or grow well when contained.
Prepare your space. You want to be sure that weeds and any other impediments to growth are removed. If one of your chosen herbs is a climber, you will want to put up a trellis. Some plants may require fertilized soil. For herbs that have a tendency to spread, you may want to consider putting up edging that extends several inches below the soil surface to prevent the plant from taking over your garden. Another option is to set aside a separate area for spreaders.
You will also want to prepare your plants. If growing from seeds, check to see if it needs to be started indoors and can be sown directly into the soil. When starting an herb plant from cuttings, you may find it necessary to dip it into rooting hormone and start indoors.
Now you can plant your herb garden. When planting, keep spacing in mind. It’s easy to forget spacing when dealing with seeds, but some seeds end up as large bushes. If you fail to leave adequate space between plants, you may find that they overrun each other. Stronger plants may deprive weaker ones of needed nutrients, moisture, and sunlight, leading to feeble growth.
After your herbs have had a little time to start growing, you may need to go back and thin shoots to prevent overcrowding. You may want to consider adding mulch after plants begin to grow. Much will help protect tender roots and help retain moisture in soil.
Now you know how to plant an herb garden. Before you know it, you will have fresh herbs for use in cooking, teas, and natural medicine. Click here for more information on how to grow virtually any herb and how to ensure your herb gardening success.
Tea Herb Garden
For tea drinkers, planting a tea herb garden can be an easy way to keep your favorite teas on hand. When used for medicinal purposes, fresh herbs can be more effective than dried. However, fresh herbs are difficult to find in stores. Most are dried to enable them to be stored and shipped. This can affect taste as well. When you have your own tea herb garden, you can be sure that you are getting the most potent and tasty herbs for your teas.
Tea cup with mint leaves
Common tea herbs include chamomile, peppermint, rosemary, lemon balm, alfalfa, and fennel. Chamomile has long been known for its soothing properties. It’s also an effective treatment for calming digestive ailments. It needs moist, well-drained soil and partial shade to full sunlight to grow. The flowers are what is used to make tea.
In addition to serving as a digestive aid, peppermint also provides tea drinkers with B vitamins, potassium in calcium. It should be added in small amounts to your tea herb garden as it has a tendency to spread. To prevent it from taking over, some people plant inside barrels or large pots. Partial to full sun and rich well-drained soil is necessary to grow peppermint.The leaves are steeped to make tea.
Rosemary
The leaves and flowers of the rosemary plant are used to make tea. It is an effective treatment for nervousness and insomnia. The leaves and stems can also be used to flavor food, making this plant a multi-purpose one. While rosemary can be propagated from seeds, it is difficult which is why most people use cuttings or buy a plant from a nursery. It grows well in full sun and well-drained soil. A hardy plant, it can withstand frost, but in extreme cold temperatures, you may want to bring it indoors.
Lemon balm can be grown in light sandy soil and does well in full sun to partial shade. The leaves are used to make tea, which can treat migraines, asthma, and toothaches. Lemon balm has antiviral and antibacterial properties, making it a good choice for flu sufferers. It has a pleasant taste and is often used in combination with other herbs to help flavor.
Alfalfa provides several vitamins and minerals in addition to its medicinal properties. This tea is good for treating digestive problems, arthritis, urinary tract infections, and boils. It also freshens the breath. Alfalfa tea is made with the leaves and seeds of the plant, which grows well in well-drained soil with full to partial sunlight. Sprouts may also be used in salads. Due to the bland flavor, it is often combined with red clover, lemon verbena, or mints.
Fennel and Raddish
Fennel makes a good tonic for the kidney, reproductive glands and spleen; can ease flatulence, cramps, and bloating; and has expectorant properties as well. It has both medicinal and culinary uses. The leaves and seeds are commonly used to teas, while the whole plant can be used in cooking. Fennel is easily grown in any soil, provided it has lots of sunlight.
Once planted, a tea herb garden can provide you with flavorful teas for years to come and help you keep your natural medicine chest stocked. Why not plant your own today? For more information and step-by-step guide on how to grow tea herbs, or any herbs for that matter, click here.
Medicinal Herb Garden
Herb Tincture
Using medicinal herbs for healing is a growing trend in healthcare. However, buying herbs can sometimes stretch the budget. Also, since herbs sold in stores are usually grown elsewhere and shipped to the store, they may be less effective at treating ailments when compared to fresh herbs. Growing medicinal herbs yourself is an option to both save money and ensure peak performance of your herbal medicines.
When growing medicinal herbs, you should take into account your needs, how much time you have, and the type of soil and sunlight your garden has. For those with little time or space for gardening, low maintenance herbs are best. Arnica, calendula, lemon balm, and yarrow are only a few of the plants you can select for your medicinal herb garden.
Arnica is an excellent addition for herb gardens at high altitudes. It is sown in the spring in a mixture of sand, loam, and peat moss. It needs full sun and moisture to grow well. The orange-yellow flowers can be harvested whole and dried. Some gardeners also choose to harvest the rhizome, or root, after the flowers die down in fall. A tincture can be made from the flowers or root to treat bruises, strains, and sore muscles.
Calendula is one of the easiest plants you can have when growing medicinal herbs. Seeds are sown in April in warm soil and plants begin to flower in June. It grows well in most soils, provided the location offers partial to full sun. Other than weeding and occasional thinning to keep plants 9 to 10 inches apart, calendula requires little care. It will reseed itself, increasing each year. The bright orange flowers can harvested as needed through the year. Leaves should be gathered in the morning after the dew has had a chance to dry. An infusion made of flowers can help break a fever. A freshly-picked flower applied to stings can offer fast relief from pain and swelling. The leaves can be chewed and applied to the skin to relieve sprains.
Lemon balm can be sown outdoors in fall or early spring in partial shade to full sun. It requires minimal watering and will grow in normal garden soil. As a tea, it can promote sweating to ease a fever. Mixed with salt, it is used to relieve gout.
Yarrow is another easy to grow herb. Seeds can be sown directly in early spring. It should be planted in full sun and watered sparingly. This plant grows well in any soil. The entire plant has medicinal properties. The leaves can be used to encourage clotting, making yarrow an effective treatment for nosebleeds, cuts, and scrapes. A tincture of the flowers can be used as part of a salve to be rubbed on the chest for relief of colds and the flu. A decoction of the whole plant can be used to treat hemorrhoids and aid kidney function.
Growing medicinal herbs is rarely difficult. It’s fairly easy to include a few medicinal herbs in your garden. For those without garden space, such as those that live in the city, there are many herbs that grow quite well in pots placed on a balcony or in the windowsill timber frame. If you’d like to know exactly how I grow my herbs, medicinal and other types as well, find more information here.
Windowsill Herb Garden
One of the best things about windowsill herbs is that they are fun and relatively easy to grow. The smells of fresh herbs wafting through the house, the enjoyment of adding fresh ingredients to your food dishes is an experience in itself. Potted herbs, in small containers can easily be moved from one window to another, if needed. Small pots also make it simple to maintain your little garden far better than a larger one.
You’ll find more information on how to start and maintain a windowsill herb garden in my ebook that can be downloaded with a few clicks: Nova’s Home Herb Garden.
Potted Basil
Many windowsill herbs thrive in interior micro climates, with diffused sunlight. There are many common herbs that can be grown successfully. Oregano, basil, and thyme, are just some of the many. Mint herbs do well as potted herbs, but need to be trimmed regularly to keep in check. There are many others to choose from, and if you are not sure you may want to ask your local nursery for more information.
One of the many benefits of growing windowsill herbs is that you can have fresh herbs all year round, even in the winter. Potted herbs can be moved to warmer spots, and do well. You certainly can’t do that in a regular garden. And with potted herbs you can even group herbs together, to have a theme, or when you have certain ones that you use a lot.
When grouping windowsill herbs, it is a good idea to pick herbs that share the same needs, like soil, light and nutrients. That way you have a balanced arrangement that won’t kill one plant while another thrives. With some planning you can make a fantastic arrangement of potted herbs that you will enjoy for many years to come.
There are many different ways you can start a windowsill herb garden, and you can buy seeds and start from scratch, or seedlings are also available. If you are an impatient person and want to see instant results, then the latter way is the best way to go for you. You will want to buy a pot that is at least twice the size of your seedling. If you are planting from seeds themselves, you may want to consider starting them out in the same pot you plan to use to display them.
You will want to buy fresh potting soil, not from your garden outside. Fresh soil gives young plants the best nutrients for them to grow. Make sure that any pot you use has good drainage, and buy some kind of tray that the pots will fit in, so when you water it doesn’t get all over the place. Plant seeds up to ½” into the soil, gently dampen the soil and set in a window. With windowsill herb gardens, it is best to try to keep the pots small enough to easily handle full.
Planting an indoor herb garden isn’t so difficult once you take the time to do some planning. With all the information and tips available, you should be on your way to fresh herbs in a short period of time.
You’ll find more information on Tiling and on how to start and maintain a windowsill herb garden in my ebook that can be downloaded with a few clicks: Nova’s Home Herb Garden.
Herb Garden Information
Herbs have in all times been used by man, the origins can be traced back to ancient Egyptians and is also found in ancient China. All through the Bible, references are made as to the use of herbs in the households. The use of herbs is also described in documents dating from the medieval period. Herbs can be used for so many different purposes. They may be used in food for flavor, to brew tea and also for medical reasons to cure different kinds of ailments. Herbs are also used as repellent for insects such as mosquitoes or wasps or to control pests in a garden for example.
Some herb gardens are specifically planted to be used for a specific purpose, others do not specialize in any area. The herbs can be grown outdoor or in containers indoors. Not having a garden is not an obstacle to growing herbs, as a small plot of four feet by six feet is a large enough area to support a small family, and this pot can be broken up into different pots and containers.
Culinary Herbs
Herbs are most commonly used for cooking. These are culinary herbs that perk up the flavor of a dish. But herbs can also be grown for their aromatic foliage. Some do also have very beautiful flowers! The most convenient thing about herbs might be the fact that they can be used fresh or dried.
Like all other plants herbs grow as annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Be sure when you plant your herbs that you use well drained soil. Fertilizers are not needed but if the soil is too heavy, try adding organic matter to it. You should choose a sunny location for your herbs but few need direct sunlight for a longer period of time. Fortunately very few insects attack herbs and they are not prone to many diseases which make their keeping very easy.
You can either buy grown herb plants or grow them from seeds. The latter option takes of course a little bit longer but it is a real joy to see the plant growing from a seed and to follow he whole process. Almost all herbs can be grow from a seed. The best way to grow herbs from a seed is to place the seeds in a box or a pot just before spring. This container should be very shallow. The soil must be very light and well drained. Be careful not to cover the seeds with a too think layer of soil as the herbs do not have deep roots. The finer the seeds, the less deep the sow. During spring, you can transplant the seedlings in the garden. Not all herbs transplant well. Be very careful with herbs like fennel, anise, coriander or dill. It might be preferable to plant these seeds directly into the garden.
Young seedling sprouting from the ground
Growing herbs in your garden is very pleasurable and it is not difficult if you have the right information. I have given you some information in this article and I will be happy to teach you everything I know. In fact, I gathered all my herb gardening knowledge and condensed them in an ebook so it’ll be easier to share with anyone who’s interested in growing herbs. Click here if you want to have access to this wealth of gardening information.
Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden
Using herbs you have sown and planted requires a little bit of know how. In order to make the best use of the herbs, you will need to harvest them.
Timing the harvest is the key factor. Harvesting does not mean to cut down the whole plants: you should leave 2/3 of the plant to allow it to re grow properly. The best time is a calm and dry morning during midsummer, just after the dew has dried and before the flowers open for the day.
Beware of the wind and the heat as these factors can disperse the essential oils of the herbs. You should avoid harvesting on a damp or rainy day as fewer oils are produced on these days. You should also inspect the plant for insects and damaged leaves before you harvest it.
You do not need to use the herbs immediately.
There are three main ways to preserve the herbs for a later use. You can dry the herbs or freeze them. You can also preserve them in a medium like salt or vinegar.
If you want to dry herbs, the most efficient way is to bundle a few stems together with a string and remove any foliage near the base of the stem. The bundle should be hung in a cool location away from sunlight. Individual leaves can be placed on a rack if you want to dry some herbs one by one. And don’t forget to turn them often so that they dry properly. You can also try dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry herbs as well although these ways have proven less satisfactory.
Dried Herbs
Freezing herbs is rather easy if you know what you are doing. It is best to cut the herbs into ¼ inch pieces and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. When the herbs are frozen, you can place them together in a bag and store them in the freezer until you need to use them.
Finally, you can preserve herbs through a medium. For instance, you can cover some types of herbs with vinegar and it will be preserved for several months. Or you can make a flavored salt to preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between salt. When completely dry separate the brown herb from the flavored salt and store it in an airtight container. Be sure to keep the salt, it can than be used when cooking and will leave a nice aroma to the dish.
You can also use herbs fresh right out of the garden. Take care cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes: place the herbs in a bowl filled with cool water, or use the sink. Put about two tablespoons of salt in the water. This will drive away insects and do no harm to the plant. After a few minutes, remove the herbs from the bowl and dry them in a salad spinner.
Different types of herbs are used for many different uses. Each different type of herb has their own list of instructions on how to use, harvest, and chop them. Make sure to research the specific type of herb you are using to use it correctly.
If you’re interested in harvesting and storing herbs that you can use to give to friends as gifts or to make an income out of, I am giving away a free ebook about it here.
Herb Garden Kits
Growing Herbs in Container
Using a herb garden kit can be a short cut to getting your herb garden alive. Often the lack of knowledge holds us back. We might wonder about things like: do some herbs do better if they are grown from seeds, and which ones? Which kind of soil should we use? All herb garden kits usually include these kinds of information.
Usually herb garden kits contain a large variety of herbs such as Italian herbs, German herbs, international herbs, herbal tea herbs, salsa herbs or culinary herbs… These are just categories.
All kits are slightly different but they all contain items with which to get started with. In addition, some kits may contain a growing dome that helps providing a constant temperature and humidity to help the plants to grow a healthy root system and to thrive. Herb Garden Kits always include an instructional guide with all the information needed to get started. Sometimes you may also get recipes so you can use the herbs you are growing.
Herb Garden Kits are also sold on the Internet and some sites will offer a newsletter you can sign up for and which will hopefully provide additional useful information. You will also most certainly get the planter in which to grow the plants. Again, all kits are different but, most kits will also provide either soil or pellets.
An Indoor Herb Garden Kit has many benefits because it is easier to enjoy the herbs as they will always be within reach and you don’t have to trek out to the garden to add a little seasoning in the salad. In addition, the temperature being more or less constant indoors, it provides constant growing conditions to the herbs which is largely appreciated by these small plants. Besides, a compact Indoor Herb Garden Kit is very convenient for small apartments.
You do not need either to worry either about winterizing herb plants or about which area of the garden will ensure the right amount of light for each plant, nor if the amount of rain is right, as too much rain can be fatal to most herb plants.
By growing herbs indoors with a complete instructional guide, you are able to take the guess work out of this hobby. Your herbs will be successful every time. (If you want my very own step-by-step guide in growing herbs, something I learned from over 20 years of experience as a gardener, you’ll find more about it here.)
Using this method might not give you the same feeling of accomplishment as growing them all on you own. But all new expertise has to be acquired and needs practice. By using a Herbal Kit you get to learn a new and useful hobby in an easy manner. When you get a little bit “seasoned” and get to know the different herbs, you will be able to move them to you garden and you’ll be on your way to becoming an expert in the art of growing herbs.
Herb Garden Plants: Basic Knowledge
Herb Garden Plants
Herb garden plants come in so many different types and species: they can be annuals, perennials, or biennials just like other types of plants.
This article will get you started in understanding general different types of herb plants and what they are used for. But if you are interested in a specific herb, you need to research that herb in particular to learn how to grow and use it. Or you can find more complete information on growing any herbs here. Anyway, the following advice will give you some useful knowledge.
You need to know that annuals like basil, cilantro, and summer savory will not survive a frost. Every year you will have either seed or to plant new ones.
Sage and winter savory are perennials that can survive during winter and will return year after year.
Biennial herbs form leaves the first year and flowers and seeds during their second year, then they die. Biennial herbs should be sown in late spring directly into the garden. Most common biennial herbs are parsley, angelica, or caraway
When you want to sow these herbs, you need to prepare the soil first. This is done by Tiling, working it to a fine texture and wet it slightly. The seeds should be planted in shallow rows. Then, add some soil on top of the seeds. The fine seeds should be planted in a mixture of sand. During germination, protect the soil by covering it with some paper which will keep it humid.
The most useful herbs are probably the culinary herbs as they can be used in cooking in many different ways. Thyme, basil, sage, marjoram for example have strong flavors and can be used in cooking and only need to be added in a very small quantity. Some herbs are used as a garnish like parsley.
Herbal Tea
Aromatic herbs, such as loyage, mint and rosemary can be used in oils. Their flavor comes either from their foliage or their flowers, or both. These oils are then used in perfumes, or cosmetics.
Some aromatic herb plants such as lavender are also used in the home to scent linens or clothing. Or, when dried and made into potpourri, they will retain their aroma for a long period of time.
Herbs can also be used for medicinal purposes. If some herbs can treat an ailment, some might be poisonous when taken in large quantities or by a person that is fragile for some reason (somebody with a cardiac condition or a pregnant woman).
Other herbs are used solely for their beauty. These herbs have beautifully colored flowers and/ or foliage. The colors range from white or very light colored to very bright red or blue like the flowers of chicory. These herbs really light up your garden, so don’t forget to plant some valerian, borage or chicory.
We have tried to categorize different herbs but in truth many herbs have multiple purposes, like mint for example which can be used as well to brew tea as for pest control or in cooking, or even for decoration a cup of ice-cream.
Understanding the purpose and qualities of the different herb will enable you to make the best use of these wonderful plants. The more you get to know about herb the more amazed you will be at how they can enhance you life, and not only your cuisine. So if you’re seriously considering herb gardening as a new hobby, I highly recommend that you check out the information on this page.
Grow Herbs Indoors
Growing Herbs in Pots
If you do not have a garden, you can just as well grow herbs in your apartment. Herbs can also be grown indoors in pots or window boxes. You can also use containers or hanging baskets. Growing an indoor herb garden is not much different from growing herbs in your backyard. The same growing requirements are needed in both cases.
These are sunlight, soil and water. These three things are required to assure a successful growth for any plant, including herbs.
Enough sunlight is the key for growing any plant. Therefore you should place the pots or boxes in a room with a south or west facing window, the most convenient being of course the kitchen, as long as the orientation is good enough. Different sorts of herbs require more or less sunlight but they do all need to be in a sunny location. If needed, you may supplement the sunlight with fluorescent lamps.
The soil needs to be rich and well drained. If you grow herbs in a container, add two parts of potting soil and one part coarse sand. It is also important to add about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot. This will ensure a good drainage. If you grow you herbs in a pot, you can add one teaspoon of lime per 5 inch pot which will make the soil sweet, something that herbs appreciate!
Herbs that are grown inside do need to get more water than the herbs growing in a garden but do not drench the roots. You can try to keep the pebbles moist and spray mist on the plants frequently.
Growing Herb Indoors
If you have the possibility to put you herbs outside during summer time, this can be a good idea and it is easy to move around the herbs when they are planted in a container. Be careful though to take the plants inside before the first frost. Otherwise they may loose their foliage. Chives, tarragon and mint are exceptions to this rule as they grow back, after a rest period, even firmer when they have been exposed to light frost.
Talking about mint, this is an herb that needs to be planted in a container even if you have a garden because it is capable of taking over the garden. It is very vivacious.
As you can see, maintaining an indoor herb garden is not difficult. It is also very convenient as the herbs are always within reach when needed and you will be more prone to using them when cooking or preparing a salad.
Just follow the advice listed above and you will be able to grow fresh and healthy herbs. Don’t forget to re-pot every year. With these tips listed above, you will be able to care for your herbs and ensure a healthy plant. Of course you will need to replant annuals each year. Make good and active use of you herbs and harvest them from time to time, this is essential in order to encourage new growth. If you do not use all the herbs you grow, give them to friends. They will appreciate it as well and your plants will strive.
For those seriously interested in growing herbs, you’ll find more information about growing herbs indoors and herb gardening in general here.
Grow an Italian Herb Garden
Italian Herbs
Some of the most famous herbs come from Italy. These herbs are amongst the tastiest too and contribute to the renowned Italian cuisine. These herbs are mainly: basil, parsley, oregano, fennel, rosemary, garlic and sage.
Basil is widely used in Italy for cooking and adds flavor to many receipts. But it is not it’s only use because basil is very useful in the garden to other plants.
Did you know that planting basil next to your tomatoes or peppers will improve their flavor?
And also, basil has the can serve as a repellent for flies and mosquitoes. Just put a pot with basil on the window pane and you will not see a mosquito in the house.
Parsley is used not only in Italy but by many other cultures. Parsley plants are not easy to grow though. You’d be surprised to learn that parsley used to serve as breath mint before these were invented, as eating parsley after a meal helped to cover up the bad breath left over from eating a flavorful meals full of garlic, for example. This is why parsley was usually served at the end of a meal. This tradition is probably the reason why we still serve parsley as a garnish.
Oregano is a decorative and flavorful herb. It’s flowers are purple and they sprout out when the herb is mature. This is also the best time to harvest because it is most full of flavor when it has flowered.
Fennel seeds is used to enhance the flavors of Italian sausage. It is an easy plant to grow as it is a perennial plant. You will only need to divide and replant it every few years to fully enjoy it. Do note that the herb looses its flavor as it matures.
Rosemary plants have pretty little blue flowers. It is very beneficial to the garden as it attracts bees. It grows in large shrubs. It is a tough perennial plant but it does not like frost. So it will need to be protected during winter months.
Garlic is certainly the most used herb in Italy. It is a must in an Italian herb garden. It is easy to grow also. Garlic gloves can be planted in all kinds of gardens and will need very little attention. The good thing is that you can harvest the garlic and store it for a long time. They can be stored in the refrigerator or even be frozen.
Sage can be used as well in cooking meats as in salads. You find the most flavor in new shoots of sage. It is therefore wise to trim the plants frequently as it will encourage the growth f new shoots. Wait until the plant blooms before harvesting.
Italian Herbs
There are many plants that constitute an Italian herb garden. It might not be possible to grow all. You need to learn a little more about the growing conditions of each herb before you can assess if you can provide ideal surroundings. Italian herbs are a wonderful add on in cooking but they do also make amazing additions to the design of your garden thanks to their colors and their aroma.
By planting Italian herbs in your garden, you will be rewarded with the wonderful sent that will remind you of the Italian hill side. It will be like taking a trip to the country of the pope.
To know more about herb gardening and how you can specifically grow any herbs, you’ll find more information on this page.
