Culinary Herbs: Edible and Easy to Grow!
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Edible, and Easy to Grow!
Growing culinary herbs under full sun for about six hours everyday give them better flavor and quality. They grow well in containers, in hanging planters, in raised beds, and thrive even in soil-less techniques of gardening like hydroponics and aeroponics. If you are planting culinary herbs in containers, put an inch of gravel on the bottom for drainage. Excepting strawberries, plant just one variety per pot. Below are some of the more popular culinary herbs that you can grow.
Anise You can grow anise for garnish and for salads. With its licorice-like taste, you can also use this culinary herb for cakes, cookies and other confections. Wait to plant until the danger of frost is completely over. If you are growing anise in raised beds or your ground, plant it in rows that are two feet apart. To use the seeds, wait until four weeks after the flowers bloom. Basil This beautiful aromatic culinary herb is quite popular as seasoning for tomato dishes. To grow it, you will need moist but well-drained soil. Do not over-water the seedlings. Protect basil from the mid-day sun, and water thoroughly about every eight days when there is no precipitation. Plant until all danger of frost has gone. Pinch the stems to prevent luxuriant growth, which impacts the culinary herb’s flavor. If you want to dry basil, harvest the leaves just prior to the opening of the blooms. Chives This culinary herb is a decorative plant that has an onion-like taste. There is a distinct difference in the taste between fresh chives and the dried ones. Plant the clumps about 10 inches apart, and divide and replant every three years. They grow to about ten inches high, and the leaves can be harvested as they develop. This culinary herb requires little care, but it needs to be divided to avoid overcrowding. Apply fertilizers sparingly. Coriander The seeds of this culinary herb are used in confections, but the leaves have a bad taste and a pretty strong odor. Grow coriander from seed in the spring, and thin about 10 inches apart. When the plants are about six inches tall, start harvesting and gather the seeds as they ripen, about mid-summer. Dill The dill seeds are quite popular for pickling. They flavor cucumbers, beets, and sauerkraut. Grow this culinary herb in the spring after all danger of frost has gone. It does not transplant easily, so be firm where you want it to grow. Wait for the seeds to be flat and brown prior to harvesting. The leaves, however, can be harvested just as the blooms open. Oregano This culinary herb is quite popular to those who love pizza and Italian-inspired sauces. The plant is easy to grow, even in poor soil, and can be propagated from seed or by division. Oregano can be preserved through dehydration. You can use the fresh leaves as needed. Remember your herbs need full sun for about six hours every day. If necessary, plan on a mobile garden. Growing culinary herbs is easy! More on Culinary Herbs!
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