The State of California is known for herbs. The warm weather is conducive for growing herbs practically all throughout the year. California herbs thrive in almost all kinds of soil so the process of growing them is not complicated.
Although herbs have become popular for medicinal use, these botanicals seem to be more appropriate and beneficial for cooking. Culinary experts recommend that if you want to use herbs and spices for seasoning, it is better to use these in moderation. In the first place, these are meant to perk up the natural taste instead of dominating the flavor. You can use the leaves, stems and flowers of such plants in your recipes. Each herb owns a unique tang that can make a meal more scrumptious.
There are several ways to store fresh herbs such as freezing. You can freeze the entire plant or slice them into smaller portions before putting these into plastic bags or airtight containers. Sliced herbs supposedly for soups or stews can be stuffed into an ice cube tray, covered with water, and put in the freezer.
You can even plant California herbs in your backyard. You need to choose a good location for your herb garden which should ideally be near the kitchen so it will be easier to harvest when you need one for the recipe. This should not be part of your decorative landscape so if you cut off big portions of the plants, the artistic design of your lawn will not be altered. The site should have exposure to sunlight as well as some shade.
It is important to cover plant bed with a layer of organic compost (about two inches) and mix it into the soil using a shovel. The depth should at least be six inches. Refrain from putting any chemical fertilizer. This should be done during the first two weeks of spring before planting the herbs.
If you are using seeds, read the sachet carefully to determine the depth and space required between the plants. Gather soil in heap which should approximately be six inches high and six inches wide if you are planting in an area with poor soil drainage. The mounds will see to it that water does not accumulate around the roots of the plants. Place the herbs or seeds in the holes and cover them with soil. Water the area until the soil is able to settle down.
Cover the soil with one inch of organic mulch such as fallen leaves or grass cuttings. The mulch will maintain moisture in the soil, prevent weed growth and add further organic matter to the soil. Allow the soil to dry out between watering and water again to make the soil wet up to at least three inches below the surface.
When it comes to harvesting, you must use sharp kitchen shears. Once the herbs begin to produce flowers, these will no longer be capable of yielding edible leaves. Thus, you can just cut the plant or pull it out of the ground. California herbs are easy to grow so it is not necessary to buy these products from natural food stores or supermarkets.
