Herbs for cooking are plants whose leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers or other parts are used fresh or dried for flavoring food. (A spice–broadly speaking–denotes a flavoring derived from the seed, fruit, bark or other part of a plant grown in warm, tropical regions.) A “potherb” is a plant you cook in a pot. Herbs generally…
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More Best Herbs for Container Growing
Culinary herbs that grow well in containers include basil, chives, cilantro, dill, common fennel, garlic, lemon balm, mint, oregano and marjoram, parsley, rosemary, sage, French tarragon, and thyme. Herbs require well-drained soil, so use a good potting mix for container growing. (See the How to Grow instructions below for each herb.) Because culinary herbs are…
Best Herbs for Container Growing
Many useful culinary herbs grow well in containers. Basil, chives, cilantro, dill, common and Florence fennel, garlic, lemon balm, mint, oregano and marjoram, parsley, rosemary, sage, French tarragon, and thyme are excellent choices for container growing. Grow these culinary herbs in pots near the kitchen door or on a windowsill so they are readily at…
How to Dry Herbs
The herbs you grow and dry yourself will be far superior to those you buy packaged. Herbs with woody stems and thick or tough leaves are best for drying and hold their flavor—thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, and lemon verbena are good choices. (Herbs with soft leaves and stems such as basil, dill, parsley, chervil, and…
Lemon Herbs to Grow and Cook
Lemony herbs—lemon flavored and scented—are easy to grow and add a tangy zest to many dishes. Fresh leaves are commonly torn and added directly to salads and main dishes as seasoning or garnish. Leaves and some flowers can be steeped in teas or blended into oils and vinegars. All can be preserved for later use….
Bees and Herbs
Bees in the garden are a good thing. Bees pollinate about 75 percent of all of the food crops in the world. Many culinary herbs will attract bees to your garden. Grow herbs and you will get double-duty attracting pollinators and bringing flavorings to the kitchen. Many herbs can be harvested cut-and-come-again, leaves, flowers, and…
How to Grow Chervil
Chervil is a demure herb with a delicate myrrh-like fragrance. Use the finely divided leaves fresh in salads and as a flavor enhancer for fish, chicken, and egg dishes. Dried chervil leaves are an ingredient of fines herbes, the French culinary staple that also includes chives, parsley, and tarragon. Chervil can be used in place…
How to Grow Sweet Bay
Sweet bay is an aromatic herb that grows as a large shrub or tree. Bay leaves are used to flavor soups, stews, vegetables, and meats. Sweet bay is also called laurel leaf and bay laurel. Get to Know Sweet Bay Botanical name and family: Laurus nobilis is a member of the Lauraceae or laurel Origin:…
How to Grow Scented Geraniums
Scented geraniums are colorful tender perennial herbs with a variety of aromas. The scent of these flowering herbs includes rose, peppermint, lemon, nutmeg, apple, and chocolate. Scented geraniums are not true garden geraniums like their common name infers; they are pelargoniums, mostly hybrids created for their bright colors, beauty, and fragrance. The leaves, flowers, and…
How to Grow Bee Balm
Bee balm is a tall perennial herb native to North America. Bee balm is also called by its botanical name—Monarda, and is also called bergamot (because the scent is similar to the citrus fruit bergamot, an orange), and is also referred to as Oswego tea (the Oswego Indians made tea from the leaves). It has…
