GROWING HERBS
The important thing to remember about growing herbs is that they are relatively easy to cultivate and will do well as long as they have good drainage and ample sun. Herbs add great beauty to the landscape and provide variety and flavor to any recipe in which they are used. An herb garden can be as simple as a few pots on a sunny deck or as complex as a traditional knot garden with elaborate designs and a great number of cultivars. Learn more about organic herb gardening here. |
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| Basil - Harvest in the morning after the dew has dried just above a leaf node. Do not wash the leaves or aromatic oils will be lost. |
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Borage - Easy to grow, Borage does well in herb gardens, pots or containers. It prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade, and rich... |
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| Chives - A member of the Allium family, most gardeners are growing chives for the mild, onion-flavored leaves, although the plants also... |
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Cilantro - Native to the Mediterranean, no Mexican meal is complete without this herb. The fresh leaves are called cilantro and the... |
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| Dill - Will cross-pollinate, so only one type should be grown if you intend to save for seed, or can be isolated by 1/4 of a mile. |
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Hyssop - Plants do not have many problems with insects or disease. In fact, several articles suggest that Hyssop is repellent to... |
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| Lovage - Native to southern Europe, growing lovage was very popular during the Middle Ages when it could be found in almost every... |
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Marjoram - Pick marjoram anytime after the plants are 3 inches tall. Picking shoots before the flowers open gives the best flavor. |
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| Mint - Stand back! Mint grows quickly and can be invasive in ideal conditions. As a result growing mint is perfect for the beginning... |
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Oregano - Flowering doubles the concentration of oil in oregano leaves, so for the strongest flavor don't harvest until the plants start... |
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| Parsley - There are two basic types of parsley; flat leaf and curled. Which type you choose to grow depends on your taste. |
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Rosemary - Harvest leaves anytime throughout the year for fresh use. Pick in the morning for best flavor. Cut 3-4 inches from one branch... |
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| Sage - Attractive plants grow 2-3 feet tall and are equally at home in herb gardens and in ornamental gardens. Hardy perennial. |
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Stevia - Native to Paraguay, Stevia extracts are 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Extremely low in calories and all natural. |
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| Tarragon - To get the right tarragon for cooking, buy nursery plants marked "French tarragon." Russian tarragon, which can be grown... |
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Thyme - Begin harvesting sprigs during the first year from cuttings; snip seedlings sparingly until the second year. For the best flavor... |
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