Can A Basic Herb Garden Supply Your Kitchen Needs?
The use of fresh herbs to add flavor and taste to food is a universal habit. Now that cooking shows are all over the television, we are encouraged to try all types of cuisine from all over the world. As the professional chefs like to use fresh herbs in their cooking it is only natural that we should do the same.
It is quite easy to put in a basic herb garden to grow the ones used the most. Most of the common herbs used as spices in cooking can be successfully grown in average soil but some do request rich soil, such as oregano.
Additionally, some herbs in a basic herb garden such as parsley are biennial in nature. This means the first year they are grown they will not be useful for seasoning. It is during the second year that the crop can be used. Ideally, with parsley, , plant a new crop of seeds one year after planting your first parsley plants so that in a couple of years they will overlap, providing u sable seasoning every year.
Most herbs are tolerant of direct sunlight, these herbs are, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano. All they require is minimum amount of water to survive. You can harvest leaves, sprigs and twigs from any of your herbs as they are growing, you don’t have to pull up the whole plant. This will provide you with fresh organic herbs for your kitchen.
However, some plants like thyme is a very forgiving plant and if it dries out will likely come back when an appropriate amount of water is given. Since some have different soil requirements and can grow under slightly different conditions, having them separated by variety can help get them started and keep them growing throughout their life.
Plant Herbs Close To Where They Will Be Used
For the sake of time and ease of harvesting planting your basic herb garden close to your kitchen makes a lot of sense. In the case of most herbs the entire growth does not have to be cut and used at once. With the right care, the spices will continue to grow and be usable during the entire season. As the season comes to an end drying or freezing the extra cuttings can possibly supply the herb throughout the winter, often lasting until the next crop produces the following year.
If you are little short on space why not consider companion growing? When planting a basic herb garden that would take more room than available, certain herbs can be planted among other plants, especially tomatoes. Parsley can play well with other plants specifically tomatoes, asparagus and among roses. Broccoli and cauliflower also welcome rosemary in their midst. Basil also likes to grow alongside tomatoes too.
The only problem with planting herbs among other plants is that they can be mistaken and trampled on inadvertently when weeding, pruning and maintaining the other plants in your mixed garden bed. A basic herb garden is a valuable addition to your kitchen supplies and really wont take to much of your valuable time to look after.
