Culinary Herbs: Edible and Easy to Grow!
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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 further popular culinary herbs that you can grow.
Parsley Whether fresh or dried, you can use this culinary herb, which is rich in iron and in Vitamins A and C. It is widely known as a garnish and as a flavoring. Many garlic and onion lovers use it as a breath freshener. If you want parsley for cooking, treat it as an annual instead of a biennial. The fresher the leaves, the better the flavor. Grow this culinary herb in moderately rich, moist soil, under partial or full sun. It will need ample irrigation during dry weather. Peppermint This is a culinary herb that is widely used in teas. Its oil is used in confections, chewing gum, etc. It is a perennial, but replenish the beds every three years. It grows well in the sun or in the shade. Cut the sprigs very often, and you will be rewarded. The more you cut, the better its growth. If you want to dry peppermint, harvest the leaves just as the plant begins to bloom. Rosemary This culinary herb is widely used as flavoring and as garnish for meats. It also has medicinal value. Use the leaves as you need them. Rosemary grows better in sunny spots and lime-rich, well-drained soil. It is hardy, but for temperatures below 5oF, you should consider container gardening and move it indoor. Sage This is a culinary herb that is widely known as a flavoring. Think of Thanksgiving turkey, and you know you need sage. Sage loves the sun. It is a perennial, but renew it every three years so that the plants do not turn woody. You can grow from seed or cuttings. Since it is a slow starter, sow the seeds indoors and transplant. You can harvest the seeds before or during flowering, but prune the stems after blooming. Spearmint The leaves of this culinary herb are used for mint sauce, teas, and cold drinks. The oil is for confections. It is a perennial plant, but renew the beds every three years. Propagate by cuttings or division. Frequent cuttings will augment its growth. You can use the fresh leaves and stem tips at any time, but cut the leaves just before the blooms appear if you want to dry them. Spearmint prefers moist soil. Tarragon This is a culinary herb with leaves that are anise-like in flavor, used in salads, sauces, and marinades. If you want flavor, use only young fresh leaves and stem tips. Tarragon prefers partial shade, but will also grow under full sun. Propagate from root cuttings or by division. Replant every three years. Thyme This is another perennial that is used widely as seasoning. It oil is used in perfumes and medicines. Thyme grows to about ten inches only. Propagate with divisions, cuttings, or direct seeding. Thin the plants about 12 inches apart, and renew them every three years. This culinary herb also makes a good border plant and over rocks. 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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