One of the easiest plants to grow in your garden are herbs.There are many different kinds of herb gardening tips, just as there are many different varieties.They are drought tolerant, can be grown either in the garden itself, or even in small pots, making them ideal for smaller spaces, and even in a sunny window sill. Because they have a relatively short growing cycle, it is possible to have all the fresh herbs and spices throughout the year, even in the winter time.
While it is a definite plus that herbs can grow in small pots, if you have to space, why not consider just planting a whole herb garden? The advantages of herb gardening is that they don’t need that much space, and a plot just 2-4 hundred square feet is more than enough for all the herbs you’ll ever need. It is important to figure the diameter of a mature herb plant, and you should sketch out your garden on a piece of graph paper first, making sure that you have 1′ of space between each plant, to make any pruning or weeding easier.
One of the most fragrant herbs to add to your garden is lavender. The scent of lavender in bloom is heavenly and is wonderful for making scented sachets to hang in your closet or place in your dresser drawers. This is the only herb I would suggest you plant as many as you have space for as those sachets make wonderful gifts.
There are four basic herbs that you should plant in any herb gardening setting. Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, and Parsley.Parsley can be a good compliment to pasta, potato salad, and can be used as a garnish for all of your dishes. Whether dried, or fresh, can be added to stuffing mixes, and all three of these can accent a variety of dishes, including poultry, lamb, and pork. All of these except parsley are very expensive at the supermarket, even in small containers.
When herb gardening, consider planting a little tarragon as well. This herb is a great additive for vegetables, soups, and even in different kinds of salads. It can be made into sauces for chicken and fish, and is one of the basic ingredients for any Bearnaise sauces.
If you intend upon canning pickled vegetables from your garden or making pretty vinegars for gifts think about planting some dill. While its true you can purchase dried dill weed very cheaply, there is no way you can get a full stalk of dill unless you grow it or pay rather dearly for it when needed in quantity.
In my opinion, no herb garden is complete without chives. In fact, if I could plant only one herb, it would be chives because they are so very useful. While I love green onions, by the time I get around to using them, alas they all but lifeless. No problem with chives growing right outside my door. They not only add that touch of needed green, they also have that subtle onion flavor which is perfect for salads and potato toppings.
Unfortunately, another one of my favorite herbs is not worth planting. Cilantro tends to bolt so quickly you would be lucky to retrieve a leaf or two. Obviously those that grow cilantro commercially know something we don’t know and they aren’t telling. If you figure it out please let me in on the secret. I will let you in on my secret for preserving store bought cilantro, however. Place the bunch of cilantro in a glass of water and cover with the plastic bag it came in. This way, the cilantro will stay fresh and crisp for up to 2 weeks in your fridge.
Mint is a crazy plant and caution should be used when planting this herb. While it makes great tea and garnish, no matter what the variety, it is an herb gardening bully. It has tangled roots, that like to spread out and snuff out the roots of other plants, and once it takes hold, it is impossible to get rid of it. Even if you put weed killer around it, it will dig down deep and come up somewhere you least expect it. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add it to your garden, but you should only plant it in a container, and move this around often so the roots don’t come down through the water holes and go into the soil.
Learn more about Herb Garden Plants. Stop by Winston Tietgens’s site where you can find out all about Herb garden Secrets and what they can do for you.
