Herb Garden

Herbs are commonly associated to plants with leaves, seeds or flowers used in cooking to add flavor to dishes, or in medicine, or as fragrances. In botany, the scientific study of plant life, the term “herb” is given to any plant that has a stem which dies every year. Do not worry most are perennials which grow back from its rootstock, while replanting annuals, the one that does not grow back, would be a yearly event and a time to seriously evaluate your garden.

Ancient civilizations had been known to use herbs in medicine. The connections between herbs and health have been established; hence encourage the use of herbs in cooking. Do not be fooled, sometimes claims may have some truths, but mostly it were superstitions, so have some care.

Easiest Herbs to Grow

Starting a kitchen garden with herbs in pots is easy as most herbs require little sunshine, just enough watering to keep alive and little or no fertilizer. In general most herbs like lean condition like well drained or sandy soil. Some people believe the flavor of these herbs is much better or more intense when they are a little bit distress. Beomg a novice gardener is already a source of distress to some plants and so there is no need to recreate it deliberately.

1. Mints and Lemongrass

Mint and lemongrass are two herbs that are easy to grow but depend on the climate zone. Mint may have adapt well in a tropical climate with small adjustment in watering, but lemongrass, a tropical plant, should be avoided in a dry inland zone, as it can be killed by temperature10 and below.

Lemongrass grown in a pot, place indoor and in a bright, south-facing window would adapt and thrive. It has as sweet citrusy hint great for simple teas, hearty soup, meat sauces and dishes.

Mints, whatever the zone, are always aggressively invasive like a weed, so plant them in their own pot to prevent killing other plants. Peppermint flavor is more intense than spearmint, and better planted from a seed than a cutting. While milder-flavored spearmint can be grown from cuttings. Both thrive in partial shade and incredible easy to grow.   

2. Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, and Thyme

Rosemary, sage, oregano and thyme are the most common culinary herbs. All are Mediterranean and perennials plants, most are tolerant to drought but cannot grow in full shade. They can resist strong prevailing wind like in a coastal area but a combination of cold weather would considerably weakens them, hence a sheltered spot from the wind but receive full sunlight is most ideal. These 4 herbs can be planted together in a large pot with a well-drained potting mix. Most culinary chef prefer a certain variety of this herbs like Tuscan Blue Rosemary; Greek and Italian Oregano; English, French and Lemon Thyme; and Common Sage or “Berggarten.”

3. Chives and Parsley

Chive is the cutest indoors herb to grow, not only it looks good in a small pot but also drought tolerant and thrives well in partial shade. If one is planning to have vegetable and/or flower rose garden in the near future, propagate chives as it is a great companion plant to garlic, onion, carrots, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, strawberries, cabbage, broccoli, mustard and roses. It is believed to repel a number of harmful insects like aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms, beetles and slugs. Another herbs that thrives well in partial shade is parsley, they are great companion plants.

Dill and French tarragon would be great to be planted with chives and parsley as they are all use for sauces, spread, garnish; but bit temperament would recommend it only once garden and gardening skills are better established.

The incentive of growing edibles is not only having healthy fresh source, great flavored dishes but also an effortless physical and mental exercise. The health truth about gardens could be on the activity and the fresh flavor and food is just a great plus. 

The next gardening article would be about vegetable garden as a continuance to kitchen garden. If you have comments, questions, reactions, suggestions and correction please feel free to post down below. And do not forget to follow. Thank you.

As always enjoy gardening!

References

1. Kinkead, E.B., Sehbai, D.S. & Tunney. C.J, (Eds.). (1972) Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia.(Vols10).  Austialia: McGraw-Hill far Eastern Publishers.

2. Tapsell, L. C., Hemphill, I., Cobiac, L., Sullivan, D. R., Fenech, M., Patch, C. S., Roodenrys, S., Keogh, J. B., Clifton, P. M., Williams, P. G., Fazio, V. A. & Inge, K. E. (2006). "Health benefits of herbs and spices: The past, the present, the future". Medical Journal of Australia. 185 (4): S1–S24.

3. Food Wishes (2015, June1). How to Plant a Culinary Herb Garden! DIY Kitchen Garden. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbYbI-uGEyg&gl=US

4. Entertaining With Beth. (2014, April 18). How to Start an Herb Garden. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzXHNlb1bos

5. Faulkner, Z. (n.d.).  The 9 EasiestHerbs to Grow Indoors.  [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.more.com/living/stylish-home/9-easiest-herbs-grow-indoors