Whether a newbie cook who enjoys messing with recipes or an accomplished chef, most home cooks agree that fresh herbs bring a rather more vibrant, savory taste to dishes. Unlike dried herbs that lose their flavour over time, fresh herbs from your kitchen herb garden are at the top of perfection. While planting a kitchen herb garden could appear like a tough job, you’ll find that it is really surprisingly easy..
the 1st step in planting your kitchen herb garden is to choose the type of garden that best fits your requirements. If you have adequate space, planting a garden outdoors close to the kitchen for straightforward access could be the best choice. For those with less space, a potted garden will permit you to have herbs close by. However , you’ll be restricted to the herbs that grow well in pots and the quantity of space you have available for the pots. Keep in mind that whatever sort of garden you choose, you have to be sure the space has adequate daylight for expansion.
second, decide which herbs you need. When selecting herbs for your kitchen herb garden, consider the herbs you use often in your cooking. Parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil, chives and sage are common selections.
eventually, begin planting. While most herbs can be started from seeds, if you are new to gardening, you can find it less complicated to start with young plants acquired from a nursery. Take care to set plants apart to allow them room to grow. Taller plants or ones subject to climb should be placed at the rear of the garden. It is also a great idea to split evergreens from annuals to make it simpler to replant when required.
If planting in pots, you’ll want to remove the plant from the pot it came in and replant in a larger pot to make allowance for expansion. Pots should have drainage holes in the bottom. While there are a variety of options for soil, soil-less potting mix is a sensible choice as it drains well.
Feed if required. While this won’t be needed for outside kitchen herb gardens, indoor gardens occasionally require a little extra boost for ideal growth. However , watch out to limit feeding to just what is mandatory. Herbs that are growing will concentrate flavor and scent if conditions are slightly lean.
Monitor herbs to figure out when they need water. Out of doors plants sometimes perform well in this as they can drain away excess water, but indoor ones need more care. A finger test can help you see how dry your plant is. If soil is dry to one inch, water, but be careful not to overdo it. Over-watering can cause root rot.
Before long, your plants will start to mature and you can start to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Leaves can be snipped as required. Take care not to get rid of more than a third of the plant at one time as this will slow regrowth.
Tracy Mascali is a herb garden expert. For more great information on herb garden, visit http://www.herbgardeningtips-tracy.com/growing-herbs-in-pots/.
