Fresh herbs will change your whole cooking routine. There is nothing like adding fresh herbs from your kitchen herb garden to a nice fresh salad to flavor up that hot meal.

For years and years I used to only use commercially dried herbs but over time I found that the flavors became less and less concentrated, to the point where I stopped using them because it just seemed like a waste of time.

That is when I thought that I must get to and grow a herb garden.

What type of herb garden should you grow?

For many years I had a herb garden outside my kitchen door with a good variety of herbs but then again in other instances I have had a window sill herb garden when we were living in temporary accommodation. In later years I have grown my herbs in containers because I keep them with my bonsai plants which makes for easier watering.

You can see how each living condition will give different people the opportunity to create different sized herb gardens. When the family were all living at home is when I had the larger selection and in the outdoor garden, but as they have left the nest I have reduced my selection and use the container method for growing.

What selection should you grow?

The selection of herbs you choose and grow will depend on your cooking style.

For example, I personally like salads and roasts so now I grow a lot of basil, parsley, mint, chives, rosemary and thyme, plus a few others at times. Many people I know like cooking Asian meals so they grow herbs like coriander, marjoram and other popular Asian herbs.

Also, the selection you choose may be affected by the time you have to look after your herbs. Most herbs grow very easily but others take more care so consideration does need to be given to the amount of time you can give them.

When should I grow my herbs?

Some herbs will grow all year round but the majority of herbs either dies back in winter or don't grow very much. Where you live will have an impact on whether you can grow through winter or not. Obviously if you have very cold winters herbs won't grow outside, but if you live in the more tropical climates then many of them will manage to struggle through the winter.

It is possible to start growing herbs prior to spring by starting them in seed boxes inside and slowly acclimatize them to the outside during the first weeks of spring, eventually planting them in full sunlight. This is how you will get a start to having fresh herbs throughout summer. Different herbs are only picked for their seeds, like dill or when a bulb has formed, like fennel.

Keep in mind that herbs are weeks and they really do thrive on being harvested. If you find that you have not used them for a few weeks then give them a light prune to keep new shoots and leaves being produced. When you grow your kitchen herb garden only a few meters from the kitchen door you will find that you will use them more than if you have them right at the back of the garden.


Copyright (c) 2009 Kaye Dennan