Herbs are both beautiful and useful. They require a small amount of effort for a great reward. An herb garden is easy to start; you can grow herbs in their own stand-alone bed, include them in existing flower and vegetable beds or grow them in decorative pots. Herbs are highly adaptable they will grow in […] More
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 holding 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 […] More
Many herbs have edible flowers than can be used as a colorful garnish for salads and for both sweet and savory dishes. Add herb flowers to delicate salads and salad herbs such as lamb’s lettuce and chervil. Tip: toss the leaves of a salad you plan to add herbs to first then add dressing then […] More
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 a seasoning or garnish. Leaves and some flowers can be steeped in teas or blended into oils and vinegars. All can be preserved for later […] More
You can grow borage in minutes. Borage is a decorative herb festooned in summer with clusters of intensely blue star-shaped flowers. The leaves and flowers of borage taste like cucumbers. The flowers can be floated in summer drinks and candied for decoration. The leaves can be used in salads, sandwiches, and desserts or sautéed like […] More
Common fennel–also called sweet fennel–can be grown for its leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds. Common fennel is grown as an herb. Its leaves and seeds are used in cooking and baking. Florence fennel—which has a bulbous stem and is a variety of common fennel– is grown for its stem which is eaten as a vegetable. […] More
Here are common questions asked about growing herbs indoors: Do herbs grow well indoors? Herbs can be grown indoors if the conditions are right. Here are the basics: (1) daytime temperature of 70°F (21°C) is acceptable but 60° (15°C) is better; night temperature of not over 55°F (12°C) is best; (2) plenty of light and […] More
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
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. Herbs easy to grow in pots indoors include anise, basil, bergamot, borage, calendula, caraway, chamomile, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, lemon balm, lemongrass, pot marigold, marjoram, nasturtium, parsley, peppermint, […] More
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 […] More
Add herbs to wine or cider vinegar to make herb-flavored vinegar. Basil, chervil, chives, dill, garlic, marjoram, mint, rosemary, sage, and tarragon are ten common herbs well-suited for making flavored vinegars. Use herb-flavored vinegars in salad dressings, marinades, for flavoring soups, or in any almost any dish where you would use unflavored vinegar. Just taste […] More
Stephen Albert