Grow Herbs
Cooks and anyone with a sunny window should look to grow these five simple herbs. Grow fresh herbs in a pot or on the ground, make a snap, and be a great addition to the garden. And they are very tasty when eaten fresh. What could be better than eating a few spices to add or fry in a summer salad? For tips on how to harvest five simple and fresh tasty herbs, see the information below.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Wow, dill. We will figure out how we like you and more ways: you offer fresh leaves to chop in grilled fish and summer soups, and refresh the ho-hum egg salad sandwich. Then there are the flowers - those wide yellow umbrellas that look beautiful even in containers, window boxes, and bouquets. Summer turns the flowers into seed heads, which are filled with spicy little flavor pockets that give the cucumbers their delicate (re-born pickle). Dill is a favorite of mixologist menus, appearing with gin and vodka in delicious martinis. Dwarf 'Fernleaf' dill, above, is suitable for small gardens and containers; It grows to a height of 14 to 18 inches (standard dill can grow up to 4 feet).
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
If you like Thai or Vietnamese cuisine, you will have passed the chopsticks with this fragrant, delicious basil. ‘Siam Queen’, above, has a classic basil flavor with an anise overlay. Start with basil from seed or plant seedlings. The plants grow to 12 to 18 inches long and are covered with small, almond-shaped leaves and covered with stunning purple flowers (which are edible). Basil leaves are at their peak when the plants are harvested before flowering. Add a spicy kick to any dish by chopping fresh leaves into soups or pasta dishes before serving. This delicate perennial can not be planted until the threat of frost has passed.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Respected for its pine flavor in Mediterranean cuisine (think Italian, Greek, and French), rosemary is a delicate perennial plant with a trunk. The ‘‘Arp’’ above is one of the coldest rosemary, surviving the winter in zones 6 to 10. In colder areas, dig up the plant and bring it home. '‘Arp’' has a habit of growing upright, up to 3 feet tall and wide. Rosemary grows happily in containers and is drought-resistant, and, deer-resistant, and pollinators are obsessed with its pale blue flowers. Top recipes include 'Tuscan Blue' and 'Spice Island'. Rosemary is one of the ingredients in the classic French dried herb blend Herpes de Provence.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is one of the most commonly used herbs and can serve as an anchor in the garden as it is evergreen. Cold-resistant, dry thyme in zones 5 to 10 has a beautiful shrub habit of growing to 6 to 10 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide. In late spring, it produces pollinated magnets with purple flowers. ‘Gray Hill’ has icy green leaves, ‘Orange Balsam’ has orange scented leaves and ‘Argenteus’ has green and creamy white leaves with pink in winter. Lemon Thyme (Thymus x citriodorusthat ) 'Variegata', above, is so beautiful, that you might want to use it in mixed containers as an accent plant (you should!). Its yellow and green, rat-eared greens, are vigorous, beautiful, fragrant, and delicious with a mixture of thyme and lemon flavors. Use thyme in herbal butter, salads, and soups.
Italian oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Take a cooking trip to Italy as you grow and harvest the leaves of this delicious herb. Oregano can be used as a fringe plant in containers or in sunny herb gardens. Collect stems before flowering plants for best taste. Use oregano in sauces and soups - any Mediterranean recipe should deepen the flavor. Italian oregano grows to 12 to 18 inches and does not tolerate cold in zones 5 to 10. Oregano grows well in full sun but can take up some partial shade (unlike most herbs). Use dried and fresh leaves in recipes for everything from soups, meats, and pizzas. Try the dwarf type ‘Nana’ in containers and window boxes. For a less bitter herb with a similar taste, try marjoram (O. marjoram)
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