Southern peas are tender bushy or vining annuals. Southern peas are also called black-eyed peas, crowder peas, and yard-long beans. Southern peas are sometimes called cowpeas or field peas. Southern peas are more beanlike than pealike. The best-known Southern pea is the blackeyed pea. It is white with a distinctive black mark at the hilum […] More
Use mint fresh or dried to flavor vegetables—cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini. You can add fresh mint to cold and hot soups and beverages. There are all types of mint to choose from spearmint, peppermint, pineapple mint, orange bergamot, and apple mint to name a few. Mint has a striking aroma, […] More
Learn how to grow French tarragon in a few minutes. Tarragon—often called French tarragon—is a rich but delicately flavored herb with an anise flavor. It is one of the four sweet or fines herbes favored in French cooking—along with chervil, parsley, and chives. Tarragon is particularly compatible with eggs, fish and shellfish, tomatoes, chicken, and […] More
You can learn to grow thyme in a matter of minutes. Thyme is one of the most commonly used culinary herbs. Its subtle aroma and flavor add complexity to many dishes. Thyme is used in cooking to add flavor to vegetables, meat, poultry, and fish dishes, soups, and cream sauces. Thyme is often used with […] More
Basil is one of the most beloved herbs in home gardens around the world. As someone who has grown basil for many seasons—indoors, outdoors, and in containers—I can tell you that it’s as rewarding as it is aromatic. Whether you’re making homemade pesto, adding fresh leaves to summer salads, or companion planting alongside tomatoes, basil […] More
You can learn how to grow marjoram in minutes. Marjoram, also called sweet marjoram and knotted marjoram, is a tender perennial grown as an annual. The flower buds look like little knots and so the name knotted marjoram. Marjoram has a savory, sweet, pungent aroma. It is a primary herb used in the preparation of […] More
The herb leaf called cilantro and the herb seed called coriander grow on the same plant. Cilantro is also known as Chinese parsley. Both cilantro and coriander come from the plant Coriandrum sativum. In the United States, cilantro is the name for the plant’s leaves and stem; coriander is the name for its dried seeds. […] More
You can learn how to grow lemon balm in a few minutes. Lemon balm is a perennial herb that grows best in cool weather. It has lemon-scented, mint-like leaves that are often used to make refreshing, lemony hot and cold drinks. The leaves also add a tart-lemony flavor to green and fruit salads as well […] More
Anise is a small herb with lacy leaves. It’s a member of the parsley family. Its leaves and seed have a sweet, licorice-like flavor. Both leaves and seeds can be used to flavor soups, salads, and sausage. They are used in bread, cookies, and candy. Here is your complete guide to growing anise. Where to […] More
There are two types of savory: summer savory and winter savory. Summer savory is a bushy annual that grows 12 to 18 inches high. Winter savory is a spreading perennial that grows 6 to 12 inches high. Summer and winter savory share a peppery flavor, but summer savory is milder. Use the leaves of either […] More
The apple is a hardy, deciduous woody perennial tree that grows in all temperate zones. Apples grow best where there is cold in winter, moderate summer temperatures, and medium to high humidity. There are apples for fresh eating, some for cooking, and some for preserving. Some apples are sweet and some are tart. Some apples […] More
Caraway is often grown for its thin, crescent-shaped seeds but all parts of the caraway plant are edible—leaves, stems, seeds, and roots. Caraway is a biennial that produces carrot-like leaves the first year and flower heads and seeds the second year. The flavor of caraway leaves and seeds is earthy, with a hint of citrus […] More
Stephen Albert