Nothing brings taste and freshness to your meals and your senses like fresh herbs. The scent that greets you as you walk past bushes of lavender or rub the top leaves of basil adds a further level to the joy of gardening.
Herbs have been an important part of the garden for hundreds of years, perhaps first cultivated in apothecary gardens maintained by monks who studied them and discovered their uses.
The study of the medicinal use of herbs continues to this day in non-traditional medicine. Most of the herbs we use today in our cooking were first used to treat various ailments.
Fresh herbs to choose
Sage is an important medicinal herb and adds a wonderful flavour to chicken and other main dishes. Make a sage tea with fresh sage leaves and honey to help with the symptoms of a cold or flu.
Use lavender with sugar and sprinkle it on cakes: While its sweet smell adds interest to your dessert, the scent may also ease stress.
Parsley is used for flavour in cooking but might also suppress flatulence and bad breath.
As you get to know the herbs in your garden, you will discover a lot of uses for many of them.
Growing herbs among flowers adds extra excitement to your garden. A hedge of lavender or lemon thyme is great for cooking, but also attracts various pollinators, which are important for your flowers and vegetables.
If you are blessed with a hot area that has poor soil, an herb garden will bring you great satisfaction. Many of the woody herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and lavender will thrive in less-than-perfect conditions. Herb gardens can be swaths of plants running one into another or they can be highly structured, like Victorian knot gardens.
Another way to enjoy fresh herbs is from a container. Containers are wonderful alternatives for those who do not have the space for a large garden. Try putting a planter beside the barbecue this summer for easy access to flavor enhancers.
A large barrel with herbs such as basil, thyme, rosemary, sage and parsley will add a flair to your summer recipes. Put a few nasturtiums in as well (both bloom and leaves) for a peppery hit to your summer salads.
If you have a sunny window, why not try a few herbs through the winter? Chives are well suited to this treatment, along with rosemary and thyme. Nothing fancy is required, just good potting soil, light and water. Harvest your herbs as you need them.
If you have a plant stand or an area with a grow light, you have more of an opportunity to experiment with growing fresh herbs all winter long.
Many grocery stores sell small pots of herbs such as basil, rosemary and thyme throughout winter, allowing you to experiment with new and exciting taste sensations. And while it may be difficult to think about at the height of summer, if winter’s grey days get you down, nurseries often have small pots of lavender and other aromatic herbs to help banish those winter blues.
