subject: Is An Italian Herb Garden Right For You? [print this page] Growing your own herbs in an Italian herb garden provides a huge amount of possibilities. Some of the most famous and tastiest herbs in the world come from Italy. Some of the best cuisines come from Italy and are famous for their herbs. Basil is one of the many herbal jewels in the crown of Italian herb gardens. It comes in various subtle flavours and enhances Italian dishes. In addition to being a flavouring agent in cooking Basil is of great value in the garden. Used as a companion plant to peppers and tomatoes it enhances their rich garden flavour. Basil is also said to repel flies and mosquitoes. Hang it in loose bunches outside your kitchen door, or keep pots of it by the back entry. The next flavour of note comes from Parsley. Parsley is a more challenging herb to grow, but is well worth the effort it takes. It graces not only Italian fare but many other cuisines. Prior to the commercial trend of buying breath mints, gourmet diners discovered the power of parsley to sweeten the breath and remove the odor of spicy and flavourful foods. That discovery is the origin of serving parsley as a garnish with a meal. Lovely Oregano at its maturity has pretty little purple flowers. The flowers are the sign that it is time to harvest Oregano, for when it flowers, the flavour has peaked. Fennel is famous for its seeds that grace and enhance the flavours of Italian sausage. The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant looses its flavour as it matures. It is a perennial plant that should be divided and replanted every few years to savour its flavour. Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden. It grows into a large shrub that spouts pretty little blue flowers. It helps the garden by attracting bees. Although it is a tough evergreen perennial, it is sensitive to frost. Garlic is quite likely the universal herb and is an essential part of an Italian herb garden. Plant garlic cloves in most soils and ignore them, they still will yield good harvest. Harvest the bulbs, and store them in the refrigerator, in vinegar or in oil. Braid the stems and make an artisan looking chain to hang in your kitchen. Sage, is a very old and traditional herb that is found in meats, and salads and side dishes. Sage tea is soothing to the stomach. New growth from the plant has the best taste, and will add the most to your dishes. Keep the woody growth cut back so that you will continue to have those tender shoots. Harvest sage after it blooms. Use it throughout the growing season, without trimming back the entire plant. Has reading about Italian herbs got your mouth watering? Do you know which herbs you would most likely use from an Italian herb garden? If you can provide the right growing conditions and are ready to do some herb gardening, consider planting some of these culinary herbs. Remember they also beautify your landscape while lending their aromatic essence to the surrounding area. Their soft colours and fragrance filling the air are like a vacation to Italy.
