Fresh Herbs Anyone?

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Homes & Gardens

Sunday, 30 August 2009 05:55

By Jolene Skerritte

My love of using fresh herbs drove me to start my first herb garden a couple of years ago. There is something satisfying about growing your own fresh herbs and adding them to a meal. Plucking a

parsley stalk or stem of thyme from your own small herb garden can be exhilarating.

Starting your own herb garden is very easy. Actually, all you need is a plant pot or two, depending on how much you want to grow. Better yet, you can build a window box directly outside your kitchen. The first task is to decide what type of herbs you like to use. Some of the most common are chives, thyme, and parsley.

Next, find a spot that's not too sunny for these types of herbs. If you’re lucky to have good backyard space, you can start an attractive little garden there. Make sure the soil you use has good drainage. Be sure to keep your herbs well watered as well.

Herbs can grow from seeds, plants or cuttings. When planning your garden, think about what you'd like to grow. Do you want height, colour, smell, practicality, or all of the above? Different herbs will generally grow well together; the rule is to group herbs from the same family.

To keep your plants healthy, pick the leaves regularly. This encourages new growth. Your herb garden can sprout several plants, so the more you pick them, the more they will grow. Basil, chives, parsley and thyme are better started from seeds, while rosemary and mint are easily propagated from cuttings.

 

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