Herbs

 

Growing a herb garden can be a gratifying hobby that can produce multiple benefits...from adding a wonderful aroma to your garden, giving an ornamental effect to your landscaping, flavor to your food and even producing worthy medical benefits. Herbs are plants  that are primarily used for flavor but their uses go on and on.

Herb use can be traced back thousands of years, and examples of using herbs have even shown up as far back as ancient Eygpt. Over the last decade there has been renewed interest in the practice of using herbs...taken that little unattended patch in the garden into a whole new lease of life as people search for way to add new health benefits into their lives.

 

Why grow herbs?

 

There are multiple reasons to get started growing herbs - a hobby that is relatively easy and can be done by almost anyone, to add decor and wonderful fragrance to your garden, to seek out and try thr medicinal properties that many herbs have - and of course the most common reason - to add flavor to your cooking.

More and more recipes are calling for the use of herbs. The use of herbs does not add texture but instead is relied upon for the wonderful flavor they impart. This is  turn adds health benefits. Herbs can be used in lieu of less desirable additives such as butter and salt.

Growing herbs can, after a small investment, produce considerable cost benefits, particularly for those who cook a lot. Without your own garden you have two choices - using dried herbs - this is a cheaper option but the results are not quite the same; and some recipes really require the fresh plant. The other option is to buy the fresh variety which can set you back $3 / $4 per bunch. This can add up over time.

Growing your own herbs means these costs are diminished - there is also the time factor...no more popping out to the store to buy that basil when you get just hop out to the garden, cut off a few leaves....and think of the satisfaction knowing this is something you produced!

Getting started growing herbs!

Growing herbs is easy and can be done both indoors or out - meaning those with or without a garden can participate. Herbs really have two main requirements: well drained soil and a sunny location.

Prior to starting your herb garden, you need to consider the space you have - are you going to grow indoors, outside in pots or directly in the garden? What amount of room do you have? What herbs do you want to grow? This will allow you to make the right choice in selecting the herbs that are right for you.

You have two choices when starting your herb garden - the first and probably easiest for the beginner, is to buy small starter plants. These can be found in any local home store with a garden section, and there is usually a wide variety available. The advantage here is that you can get started right away and be using your herbs relatively quickly. Each plant typically comes with a little care for guide that will allow you to understand the conditions that herb prefers.

You can also use eBay to buy your herbs - yes, you can actually have a live plant delivered to your doorstep. I have had great success with this option, particularly in getting hold of herbs that may be harder to find locally. They are shipped typically priority or using other express mail options so you get a healthy live plant that is good to go. Search using herbs under the gardening and plants section.

Of course the other option is to grow from seed. This requires  little more patience and care. Seeds can be planted at any time indoors but late winter is best if you plant to transplant into the garden for spring. Herbs do not like frost so you will want to make sure all danger of the cold has passed.

Seeds need a shallow container and only a small amount of soil - up to 1/8 inch covering the seeds. If you plant to move your seeds, beware that some types of herbs such as dill, simply do not like to be transplanted so you may want to put them in the pot they will stay in, or directly in the garden with a good covering of mulch to protect them during the colder weather.

All herbs require well drained soil....but if this is not the case in your garden, you can fake it. You can create what is often termed as a French Drain. Quite simple to do - simply dig down about 15 inches creatin a hole, and layer the 3/4 inches at the bottom with small broken rocks or stones. You then mix the remaining soil with a handful or two of sand which lightens it and allows for better drainage. This can also be replicated in large pots or you can simply buy a good soil mix and add some sand before placing into the pot.

Make sure the herbs get some sun and water and you should be well on your way to a strong and successful herb garden!

 

Types of herbs to grow.

There are many types of herbs on the market. Some are annual - will grow one year / season only then die; some are perennial - will last season after season, and this is most often the case with the majority of herbs grown for their use in cooking!

Also note that besides those herbs that are grown for their culinary purposes, there are others that are grown for their fragrant properties - Lavender is a good example fo this (it is sometimes used in cooking but this is not its primary use.)

You need to consider what you like and what you need when chosing the herbs you want to grow...some choices may include >

 

BASIL

 

This is a well known, easy to grow herb. It is available in several varieties, but the most common is the sweet basil pictured above - this can grow to about a foot to a foot and a half, and produces big bright green leaves that are very fragrant. Basil does not like the cold so is perhaps best in a pot so it can be brought indoors in cooler weather! It also favors lots of light  - at least 10 or so hours daily so think of this when considering its placement. This is one of the most widely used in cooking - especially in Italian foods  - it is often combined with Tomato to make a pasta sauce or take lots of basil leaves, good slices of tomato and Mozzarella to make a great summer caprse salad! It is much better fresh than dried.

 

MINT.

 

Another well know herb...this one can get quite wild  and carried away so it is often best to keep this in a large pot in order to keep the plant under control. This is also easy to grow and seems to do well in a wide variety of climates (it even does well in my mom's chilly British garden). It can grow to over 2  feet in height producing a darker green leaf, likes sun or shade and also a good watering. mint can be used for medicinal purposes and is otfen found in tea. It is also natures breath freshner - good after a pungent meal, and is a key ingredient in many dishes, most notably deserts. For a refeshing and unusual desert - try this offering from the chef Jamie Oliver.....marinade a punnet of strawverries in enough Balsamic vinegar to cover them and throw in a handful each of chopped mint and chopped basil   - leave for a couple of hours to sit, in the meantime mix a pot of Marscapone cheese with the seeds of a couple fo vanilla pods and chill.....drain the strawberries and serve on a good sized dollop of the Marscapone mix, drizzle on some of the balsamic dressing and top with a good sprinkle of chopped basil and mint...sounds odd but it really does work!

 

ROSEMARY.

This is an evergreen herb that has thin, needle like leaves. This plant can grow rather large - around 1.5 metres in fact so I find this one best in the garden; though it does depend on your location, as it may need to be indoors if you get particularly cool winters. It is drought tolarant so useful in hot areas  - we use it as much for its landscaping benefits as for its culinary purposes. This goes well with meats, and is very useful in marinades. One great use for this relies upon its sturdy stem....you can use this as a skewer....thread your meats and veggie onto the Rosemary stalk and grill...this imparts the flavor and it is a unique serving idea.

 

CORIANDER

More widely known as Cilantro in the US; this plant produces unique green almost feather shaped leaves. This ia a delicate little plant and it many be better to grow several plants form seed , staging the planting so you get a steady supply year round. This can flower producing white flowers that will seed...these seeds can be collected, dried and used in cooking where they produce a wonderful flavor. The herb itslef can be used in many tyoes of cookign though we prefer it in Mexican foods..homemade salsa is lost without Cilantro. The flavor is very delicate so this does btter used as is...cooking will actually remove a lot of the flavor.

 

FRENCH TARRAGON

 

This herb likes the shade but not the cold, and can grow up to 2 foot tall. It produces long, thin, bright green leaves. I have found this one more difficult to get hold of (a recent ebay purchase no less) and it is tougher to grow so buying  a plant is better than starting from seed. The Russian variety may be easier to begin as a seed, but the flavor it produces is weaker. This has a flavor that is similar to ansie...used most in flavoring vinegar and also egg / tomato dishes.

DILL

This plant has unique bluish green leaves that are very feathery...unlike Tarragon, this grows easily from seed and can grow between 2/3 feet tall. It also produces flowers than when allowed, will seed. This is much better fresh than dried and the latter results in poor flavor (another reason to grow your own herbs rather than miss out on the natural flavor they impart). Used in Marinades, rubs for meat and fish and most often seen in that jar of pickles in the back of the fridge!

LAVENDER

No guide to herbs would be complete without paying attention to lavender! One of the most fragrant herbs, well known for its relaxing properties. There are many different varieties (an Australian variety is pictures above), but they average about 18 inches to 2 foot in height. This has small narrow leaves, in the most traditional form they are a grayish green color; and this herb produces light purple flowers. This herb really favors well drained soil and adding a little lime may help adjust the PH level to produce a good solid plant. While some varieties many have culinary uses, this herb is most often grown for its fragrant properties.....try drying some of the flowers and use in a sachet under your pillow to promote good sleep or in pot pourri type fragrances.

 

Summary

Growing herbs can be an easy, fun hobby. It adds aroma to your garden / home; flavor and health benefits to your cooking and saves the time and money associcated with buying herbs to meet culinary requirements. There are so many herbs on the market today so you can experiment with what you chose to grow and how you use your herbs. This guide simply touches on some of the varieties available to you but in time you can expand upon your choices and will find those that grow well in your region / conditions and those that you enjoy to use.

 

Good luck and happy growing!