It kills me to buy fresh herbs at the grocery store because
they are so expensive and you have to buy so much of it. Herbs are easy
to grow at home year-round, though, in a container on a balcony, in a garden bed
or in a sunny window.
Growing Herbs at Home
I just learned it is NOT a hot weather plant like I had always thought. Another favorite is Thai basil which is a beautiful purple plant and has a more licorice flavor. It’s really fantastic.
I just learned it is NOT a hot weather plant like I had always thought. Another favorite is Thai basil which is a beautiful purple plant and has a more licorice flavor. It’s really fantastic.
 |
| Basil |
 |
| Parley |
I have a thriving tarragon plant that started as an
experiment two years ago. I had gotten an herb in a CSA share one time and
could not remember what it was but I really wanted to grow it. My guess was
tarragon. I was wrong, but it grows really well, and does not die over the
winter in zone 7a so it lives very happily in the corner of my raised bet. Maybe
you know the herb? It was a lemony flavored roundish leaf. Any guesses?
Caring for Herbs
To ensure success growing herbs this summer, read about the conditions that the plants need, like anything else you grow. Some like sun and heat, others do better in the cooler spring and cilantro does not transplant well. A little bit of research will really help.
To ensure success growing herbs this summer, read about the conditions that the plants need, like anything else you grow. Some like sun and heat, others do better in the cooler spring and cilantro does not transplant well. A little bit of research will really help.
 |
| Thai Basil |
Don’t let your plants flower, or “go to seed.” Once the
plant starts to flower, it will get bitter and taste pretty bad. So keep
cutting back the plants - don’t worry, it will keep growing back. And if the
basil grows like crazy in the heat of the summer, cut some off and bring it to
the office. You will be a hero!
Using Herbs in Your
Cooking
I like adding fresh raw herbs to green salad and pasta salad. They add a fresh, bright flavor. I also cook with them in soups, sauces and in marinades (here’s a favorite chicken kebob recipe that I make all summer long that features parsley). Playing around with herbs can make an old stand-by recipe something new, you just have to experiment.
I like adding fresh raw herbs to green salad and pasta salad. They add a fresh, bright flavor. I also cook with them in soups, sauces and in marinades (here’s a favorite chicken kebob recipe that I make all summer long that features parsley). Playing around with herbs can make an old stand-by recipe something new, you just have to experiment.
Preserving Herbs
Like tomatoes and zucchini, herbs can be prolific in your garden so preserving the leaves for later use is something you might want to do. You can dry the leaves, preserve them in olive oil or preserve them in sea salt (I have not tried this yet).
Like tomatoes and zucchini, herbs can be prolific in your garden so preserving the leaves for later use is something you might want to do. You can dry the leaves, preserve them in olive oil or preserve them in sea salt (I have not tried this yet).
No comments:
Post a Comment