Herb Garden Plants
By admin at 19 December, 2009, 4:20 pm
There was a time in human history when each country and continent had its own cuisine and until the advent of modern exploration very few people had the privilege of being able to enjoy the foods from other lands. But today, we are truly fortunate to be able to eat almost any type of food from any country no matter where we live. The proliferation of different styles of cooking across cultures and borders is one of the great benefits we enjoy today thanks to the advances in modern transport and travel. However, there is still one area where we can still improve upon the availability of fresh food and ingredients and that is by growing our own herb garden. Here are a few examples of herb garden plants you can grow in your home.
Basil is a good herb to begin with. The plants are attractive to look at and easy to grow. Plant the seeds directly sometime in May and expect it to germinate in about a week. Basil can be transplanted easily and it grows to an average height of 18 inches. Space the plants about 12 inches apart. Dark opal basil has gorgeous foliage which is deep red in color with pink flowers. It’s reat for decorating a garden and also good for use to flavor tomato juice and sauces.
Borage, which has lovely pink flowers, is another good plant to use. Borage should also be planted in early May directly into the garden. Space them about 10 inches apart. Borage plants grow to about 2 feet in height and they transplant well when they’re small. It’s great for use in salads.
Chervil can germinate in the fall and live through winter but you would be still better off growing it in May like other annuals. It grows to about 2 feet high and does not transplant very well. It’s great for adding to egg dishes and the plants mature in 6 weeks. Its leaves can be frozen for later use. Space the plants about 8 inches apart for best results.
Chives can be grown from bulblets or seeds. You can start growing them indoors under fluorescent light or in a greenhouse. The seeds germinate in about 10 days and look like blades of grass. These herbs are quite hardy and can survive a drought even in cold places. The flowers are quite pretty too and can be used for decorative purposes besides their use in food. They can even be grown easily in pots on a window-sill. Use them in salads, sauces and egg dishes.
Dill blossoms are yellow in color and very small. You can plant them in the same time as tender vegetables. You can space them close to each other (4 inches) and use them for pickles and for flavoring meat.
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