Many herbs are easy to grow and have beneficial qualities. They are aromatic and add flavours to your cuisines. The herb garden can be a source for all the herbs you need, saving you from trips to the supermarket for supplies. Herbs can be grown in container gardens as well. In this post, we have listed the top herbs that are essential for cooking and easy ways to grow them in a garden.
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Basil
Sweet basil is a popular herb noted for its anise-like flavor and clove-like aroma. It can be used fresh or dried in cuisines. Use the leaves and remove the flower stalks. They can be germinated from seeds as well as grown from clippings. They take 5-10 days to germinate and they are very sensitive to frost. They grow best in rich, moist and pH-neutral soil. There are different variants of basil too. African Blue Basil can attract pollinators but tastes terrible. Wild Magic Basil and Mountain Magic Basil are tasty and have attractive purple flowers that beautify your garden.
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Chives
Chives drive away harmful insects like mosquitos and aphids. They are high in sulphur and are a natural antibiotic. This herb also has anti inflammatory and digestive properties. They are excellent addition to soups, vegetable and fish dishes. Removing all the leaves from the plant encourage it to regrow. Preserve them by drying them or add the fresh herb to oil, butter and vinegar. They grow well in moist, well drained soil and germinates in 7 to 14 days. It is a perennial plant and can be grown in direct light as well as in shade.
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Lavender
This is a popular and versatile herb noted for its health benefits as works well as a culinary herb. It is a natural deterrent for mosquitos and suitable seasoning in salads and for baking. They bloom in the summer. To encourage it to bloom throughout the season, clip the blooms once they begin to wilt. Two commonly harvested species of lavender are “Hidcote Blue” and “Grosso”. While Hidcote Blue is a versatile culinary herb, Grosso is more ornamental and suitable only for savoury foods. It takes 14-21 days to germinate and needs full sunlight. Well-drained, slightly sandy soil is ideal for lavender.
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Thyme
Thyme is a good source of antioxidant and vitamin A which is beneficial for eyes, skin, hair, and nails. They are versatile herbs which pair well with onions, garlic, and ginger in cooking. Flavour soups, stocks and sauces with thyme along with other herbs for its piney flavour. They can be germinated from seeds indoors and transplanted outdoors during the springs. Thyme takes 14-21 days to germinate in well-drained pH-neutral soil. It is a low growing and hardy plant, suitable for edging grass beds.
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Oregano
Respiratory maladies, digestion trouble, dandruff, muscle pain, joint pains and types of fungal infections can be treated with oils obtained from oregano. It is a staple ingredient for Greek-style dishes. As seasoning, it is suitable for egg dishes, meat, legumes, and bread. Both the leaves and flowers of this plant is edible with similar taste. This plant is like a ground cover but has restrained growth. It can be harvested throughout the year. Germination period of oregano is 7-14 days and it grows well in well-drained soil.
These are few among the many different herbs that you can easily grow. Now that you know which herbs you need and suitable for your garden, get to work with your gardening tools for a self-sufficient herb garden.