subject: Growing Herbs [print this page] Starting an herb garden is a great way to grow fresh produce, especially if you don't have a lot of space for a garden. Fresh herbs enhance the flavour of your cooking, and a supply of fresh herbs in your backyard or windowsill will inspire your creativity in the kitchen. Herbs can be grown in a variety of conditions and climates. This article will outline the steps to starting an herb garden, indoors or outdoors.
When starting an herb garden, the first thing you will want to do is prepare your soil, whether it be in a garden or garden box. For outdoor gardens, begin to spreading a layer of compost over the garden, and mix with the soil, then repeat this step using peat moss. For garden boxes, mix 1 part soil with 1 part each of compost and peat moss. You may want to use separate boxes for different herbs as they prefer slightly different growing conditions. Once you have prepared soil, you can start planting.
A number of herbs are relatively easy to work with, which suit both outdoor gardens, garden boxes, and indoor gardens. Since some herbs require a year of both before they are ready for harvesting, and therefore those new to herb gardening may wish to buy seedlings to plant instead of seeds.
An excellent choice to start an herb garden is basil. Although basil is intolerant of cold, it will thrive in warm conditions to provide excellent yields. The most common cultivar of basil is sweet basil, although there are over 50 varieties available. For a twist on basil flavouring, consider planting lemon basil, which provides a great citrus aroma upon cooking, or purple basil, which has a faint anise flavour. Basil can be harvested throughout the growing season, and should be frozen to preserve its flavour. Basil is an annual plant, so it must be replanted each year.
Sage is among the easiest herbs to grow, and produces a large crop yield with powerful flavour. Sage is a perennial plant, but may require planting each year depending on your climate. Sage benefits from lots of sunlight, and will grow quickly under the right conditions. The herb can be used fresh in recipes, and retains its flavour when frozen or dried.
Starting an herb garden is a fun and rewarding way to grow produce at home, and is easy to grow indoors or outdoors to suit house or apartment living.
