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    How to Prepare and Serve Lemongrass

    Lemon grass sliced1

    The stalks of lemongrass are commonly used in the kitchen. Lemongrass is a subtropical plant. Lemongrass is flavorful fresh rather than dry. It is popular in Southeast Asian cookery. It can be used to season soups, vegetables, curries, poultry, shellfish, fish, and marinades. Use lemongrass to make herbal teas. Lemongrass is a member of the […] More

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    Seven Ways to Prepare Horseradish

    Horseradish root

    The peak season for freshly harvested horseradish is early spring and late fall.  Horseradish is a long, knobby root—it’s an herb, not a vegetable–that has no aroma until you scratch, cut, or grate it. The pungent odor and the hot taste of horseradish are due to a volatile oil—similar to mustard oil—that is released when […] More

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    Herbs for Tea

    Mint tea 1

    Mint and chamomile are the most common herb teas, but you can brew tea from almost any garden herb. Herb teas are soothing and often health-giving. They contain virtually none of the caffeine found in coffee. Herbal tea is easy to make: put a handful of fresh herbs (about ¼ cup) per cup of tea […] More

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    Vegetables and Herbs for Growing in Shade

    Basil in dappled sun1

    Vegetables grown for their leaves and roots are the best choices for shady gardens. Salad greens such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and celery can be grown in shaded gardens. Roots crops such as beets, leeks, potatoes, and turnips can be grown in shady gardens. A garden site that receives as few as two hours of […] More

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    How to Grow Herbs Indoors in Winter

    Herbs potted up 1

    Pot up herbs for fragrant, fresh green leaves indoors in winter. Herbs set on a sunny window sill through the winter can be used at any time. While herbs are at their best in a sunny garden, many will grow quite well in containers indoors. When winter comes there is often no choice but to […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Chives

    Chives growing in the garden

    Chives are a hardy cool-weather perennial plant, a relative of the onion. The tips of chive leaves have a mild onion flavor. Adds chives to salads and as a garnish for many cooked dishes. Chives have slender, round, hollow grass-like leaves 6 to 10 inches long. Globe-like pinkish-purple flowers shoot up in spring on stalks […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Sage

    Sage in the garden, Salvia officinalis

    You can learn how to grow sage in minutes. Sage is an herbaceous perennial herb that is easy to grow in most sunny gardens. In the kitchen, sage has an aggressive pungent aroma and flavor which is often described as camphor-like and musty. Sage is commonly used in dishes containing pork, cheese, and beans, and […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Chamomile

    Chamomile leave and flowers

    Chamomile flowers are used to make tea. Chamomile tea has a fresh, clean flavor that is immediately soothing. There are two chamomiles: Roman chamomile (botanical name Chamaemelum nobile) and German chamomile (botanical name Matricaria recutita or Matricaria chamomilla). Both are members of the Asteraceae daisy family.Roman chamomile has a fragrance and flavor similar to that […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Dill

    Dill plants in garden 1

    Dill is an annual herb that is easy to grow. Dill’s delicate leaves are feathery. Mature plants flower in late summer. Flowers are followed by seeds. Dill leaves, flowers, and seeds can be used in the kitchen. Dill leaves are an herb. Dill seeds are a spice. Dill grows well in full sun or partial […] More

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    Best Herbs for Container Growing

    Herbs in containers

    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 […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Parsley

    Parsley

    Parsley is a biennial herb usually grown as an annual. There are two types of parsley: curly-leaf parsley has finely divided, ruffled leaves and grows from 8 to 12 inches tall; flat-leaf parsley has flat, bright, green leaves that resemble a celery stalk and grows 18 to 24 inches tall. Flat-leaf parsley is also called […] More

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    How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Rosemary

    Rosemary 2

    You can learn how to grow rosemary in a few minutes. Rosemary is commonly used in the kitchen as a flavoring. The spicy, aromatic leaves can be used fresh or dried in many dishes flavoring beef, veal, pork, lamb, stuffings, soups, sauces, and salad dressings. Rosemary is a woody, evergreen perennial herb that can be […] More