Create An Edible Garden With Herbs

Whilst a garden these days is very much a place to relax, and enjoy the sights, smells and senses from a host of plants and flowers, more and more people are beginning to grow their own foods. High on the list of things being grown are herbs, which both look beautiful and provide all year round flavours to use in the kitchen.

The sheer variety of herbs that are easy to grow from home allows a host of different combinations to be grown together. There are of course some favorites, which are excellent additions to the garden for first time growers, whether added sporadically around the garden, or placed in a container on the patio.

An excellent staple to have on hand all the time is parsley. There are two types to grow; curly leaf and flat leaf. The first of these is often used as a garnish, though the flat leaf variety usually contains more flavor and is an excellent addition to soups and sauces.

Parsley is a biennial herb, which will of course require replacing every two years, but other than that it is very easy to look after. Simply planting in nutrient soil and fertilizing regularly will see it thrive, whilst snipping the young leaves for cooking purposes can be done with a simple pair of scissors.

Another staple to have to hand at all times is the wonderful basil. This will need replacing on an annual basis; though will require a little more protection from the elements, in a sheltered and warm environment.

As with parsley, it can be added to a myriad of dishes, though is most closely associated with pasta dishes, and other Italian kitchen favorites. When adding to food however, it is important that the leaf is torn, rather than cut, to minimize bruising and discoloration.

These are of course soft herbs, and will not respond well to colder temperatures. Whilst replacing the plants each year or two may seem a chore, it is not expensive and does not take long for them to settle. However, cuttings can be taken and if you have an indoor growing area, can provide you with fresh herbs all year round for many years to come.

There are also a wide variety of 'harder' herbs available, which will be perfectly suited to living in changeable climates, as is enjoyed by most of us.

Thyme is an excellent herb for this, and is perennial, with a beautiful delicate flavor that works with many meats; particularly poultry. It grows on a wooden stem which, though perfectly fine to add flavor, should not be eaten.

Likewise, rosemary is excellent to have in your garden through the year. Wonderful with lamb, and again excellent in Mediterranean cooking, the woody stem here can provide flavor but should not be consumed as with thyme.

These are just a small selection of the herbs available from most garden centers, though if just starting out with herbs in your garden, are a great entry route. If you find you have an abundance of herbs, they can be simply dried or frozen so you have use of them no matter the season outside.