What is food without herbs and spices, no matter where you are in the world the local cuisine will definitely require the addition of fresh herbs and spices. With the popularity of Gourmet Cooking shows on television we are all trying new tastes including dishes from all over the world. As most professional chefs prefer to use fresh herbs in their cooking why should we not follow in their steps and grow our own basic herb garden at home.

It is quite easy to put in a basic herb garden to grow the ones used the most. Most of the common herbs used as spices in cooking can be successfully grown in average soil but some do request rich soil, such as oregano.

Some herbs, such as parsley are bi-annuals and can only be harvested after the plant is one year old. In this case it is suggested that you plant a second crop of parsley after the first year as the first planting comes into season ensuring that you have a constant supply from then on. Naturally there are plenty of other herbs which provide produce in their first year, these will make up the bulk of your basic herb garden..

Most of the herbs grown in a basic herb garden such as, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil are tolerant of direct sun, but will require a minimum amount of water to survive. You can harvest leaves, sprigs and twigs from any of your herbs as they are growing giving fresh organic herbs for your kitchen.

Thyme is a very forgiving plant, if you forget to water it and it appears to dry out just add water and it will come back to life. As different herbs have different soil requirements and like to grow under slightly different conditions it is suggested that, having them separated by variety can help get them started and keep them growing and flourishing.

Plant Herbs Close To The Kitchen

When the chef needs fresh herbs for the dish he or she is preparing, a long journey down to the far reaches of the back yard is not realistic, wouldn't you plant your herbs close to the kitchen for easy picking? It is important to know that, the entire plant does not have to be cut and used at once. With the right care, the herbs will continue to grow and be usable during the entire season. Before winter arrives drying or freezing the extra cuttings can possibly supply the herb throughout the winter, often lasting until the next crop produces the following year.

For those of us who have a space problem, try companion planting. If planting a basic herb garden takes more room than is available, certain herbs can be planted among other plants. Parsley can live well with other plants specifically tomatoes, asparagus and among roses. Broccoli and cauliflower also welcome rosemary in their midst. Basil also likes to grow alongside tomatoes too.

When companion planting, be sure not to trample the herbs under foot whilst weeding, pruning etc. Maintaining a basic herb garden is not a full time job and with little work you can easily be self sufficient in your fresh herb requirements throughout the year.

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