Culinary kitchen herb garden

 

Saturday, July 13, 2024

If you are just starting gardening, an herb garden is a great place to start.  Most common herbs are perennials and do well being neglected.  Want full bodied flavor in your cooking on the cheap-just add fresh herbs.  What can be better than that!

Now, you just have to decide what type of herb garden to you want?  It could be a medicinal herb garden, a fragrant herb garden, a Victorian herb garden, a French herb garden, a culinary herb garden, and the choices go on.

So, what are the herbs you should start with?  A basic culinary herb garden would include parsley, basil, chives, French tarragon, sorrel, sage, dill, oregano/marjoram, and thyme. 

Of these, parsley, basil and dill are annuals, the rest are perennials.  With perennials, you plant once and you get to enjoy them for a lifetime.  Parsley and dill will likely “self sow”, meaning their seeds will sprout into a plant next year.  Basil does some self-sowing but you may have to replant each year when all danger of frost has passed.

You can pick up your herb plants at any big box store or for more fun varieties, go to your nearest nursery or for the more adventuresome, start unique varieties from seed.  Many catalog companies offer a wide variety of mail order plants.  There are many options out there.  I prefer getting my herb plants from a local organic nursery or trying new types from seed catalogues.  Right now, the big box stores are marking their edibles down so deals are out there.. 

You can buy an entire plant for less than the cost of one tiny bottle of dried herbs.  Herbs are easy to preserve; just dry them.  Cut the herbs back in mid summer and put in a paper bag.  Do not pack tightly, pack loosely so that the herbs do not mold.  Put in a warm, dry place out of direct sunlight if possible and a few weeks later you will be rewarded with enough herbs for your cooking and all your relatives for the entire year!   Make your own "Herbes de Provence"

To get varieties that even your nursery does not have, order seed.  I have phenomenal luck with the Aerogarden seed starter.  The germination rate is near 100% using it.  The best time to start new herbs is in the spring.  All plants are primed for growth in spring.  However, herbs will do fine being planted in summer.   Indoor seed starting tips

This time of year, I like to start my seeds in pots on the covered patio so I can keep a close eye on them to make sure the soil stays moist.  Soon, I will be starting seeds in pots to transplant in the garden for fall and winter harvests.  Just be sure to harden off your transplants before putting into the garden.  Once transplanted, give them extra water the first week or two if the temperatures are hot.  I like to transplant the day before they are forecasting rain.  Outdoor seed starting tips  

You can even make your own peat pots for your seeds.  Make your own peat pots  If you are really industrious, you can make your own potting soil and fertilizer!  Make your own organic potting soil  Make your own all natural, complete fertilizer

Most herbs like full sun and dry feet.  Too much water is about the only thing that will kill an herb plant.  I plant mine amongst the flowers and near the back door for optimum convenience for cooking.  You can also grow in pots if you like and put right at the door!