Culinary herbs can be found in many places such as in herb gardens, farmers’ markets, and in the produce aisles in grocery stores. These fresh herbs have become essential ingredients in every type of international cooking and cuisine, in every continent across the globe. Fresh herbs are aromatic edible plants used in small amounts to add flavor to cooking dishes. Some of these also have medicinal use and have been grown for thousands of years by different cultures to serve as medicine or balms to soothe the body’s illnesses, discomfort, and pain.
The type of herbs we are going to focus on is those which chefs and home cooks use to make both sweet and savory dishes such as the rich sauces of different meats, dressings of light salads, or perhaps those that can be infused with water and tea. With so many possible uses and benefits from these fresh herbs, why not grow some in your own home or garden?
Table of Contents
Sage
The dried and fresh herb has an intense flavor, with a savory and slightly peppery taste. It is often paired with meats and used in stuffing, making it one of the most widely used and grown herbs in the world, and one of the most versatile. It comes in different varieties, often in green and white or in purple forms, this stunning difference in appearance also makes it an excellent source of color for one’s fresh herb garden and can even have ornamental use in one’s house. The flavor of the sage plants also increases as the leaves grow. This means that even the larger leaves can be used to create dishes as well. Sage, being an evergreen shrub, is often best grown in well-drained and sunny areas. It is available to pick all year round though and can be used whenever one needs it.
Rosemary
Rosemary has always been associated with traditional healing and has been used as a revitalizing medicine from way back during the Greek civilization’s times. It was believed to enhance the brain and improve one’s memory, as it is full of brain-growing nutrients. Its flowers are also known to blossom into white, pink, purple, and blue colors, and these make rosemary a particularly attractive addition to one’s home and landscaped gardens. This fresh herb is best paired with roast meats such as chicken or lamb and is used in stuffing and puddings. Rosemary is grown best in well-drained soil with lots of sun exposure. It is tolerant of drought and is resilient against pests.
Basil
This fresh herb is a key ingredient in many recipes including light salads and Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare. It is one of the most widely sold dried and fresh herbs in the world as well. It has a fragrant aroma and a distinct taste which can add flavor to a wide range of dishes including meat, chicken, pasta, salads, and soups.
Basil needs care when growing though and is unable to withstand cold weather and frost. It can only be grown outdoors in the summer times and should be indoors during the colder seasons. This herb needs fertile soil to thrive in, and receive as much warmth and sunlight as possible.
Chives
Chives were hung from high places in one’s house to ward off evil spirits, but today, these are much more popular as ornamental plants with their strikingly beautiful purple blossoms. The entire chive plant is edible, and this means that you can use this for many needs in the kitchen. The flowers can be picked and used as garnishes to any meal, while the bulbs and leaves could also be consumed with their mellow taste. Chives have this light onion flavor to it and can be used in many summer dishes including salads, soups, and omelets. This fresh herb doesn’t need much maintenance to grow as well. You just need to find a spot in the ground to plant them in, or in any pot, and provide them with a sunny spot where they can have good and clean sunlight for up to five hours a day.
Parsley
Parsley is yet another world-renowned herb, with a multitude of dishes it can be used on. This ranges from Middle Eastern salads, pasta, soups, and stews, or even in fishcakes. The fresh herb comes with curiously curved leaves and is also widely used as a garnish to dishes. It comes with a strong, sharp taste and leaves an intense flavor in the mouth when consumed. It is often combined with the basil to create an exotic mix of flavors that will surely spice up any dish. Parsley is best grown in fertile soil, with lots of water available to it during dry seasons. Full sunlight exposure is preferred, but it could also grow under partial shade. Some types of parsley are also tolerant of seasonal variations, against sunshine and rain, and are preferred for locations with lots of varying weather conditions.
Tarragon
Tarragon, or the more specific type, French Tarragon, is often seen in many chefs and food enthusiasts’ kitchen repertoire, especially lovers of French cuisine. Tarragon comes with a sweet, aromatic scent of anise and licorice. This is best paired with chicken and meats and can be used as a flavoring for oils, and different types of vinegar and sauces. You must be careful though, as tarragon is a bit tricky to grow, and can rot in wet regions and overly saturated soil. Plant it in fertile soil, and give it ample warmth and good sunlight. The fresh herb rarely flowers as well, which means you need to raise it by root division instead of planting from the seed.
Fennel
Fennel is a fresh herb mostly found in the Mediterranean regions of the world, but could easily be grown in one’s garden. It has a highly aromatic smell and comes with an anise flavor, which sees it being used in both sweet and savory dishes. Its leaves can also be used as garnishes for soups and salads, or as flavorings for sauces and puddings. The whole plant can be edible, which shows in the many varieties of its usage in the kitchen. Fennel isn’t hard to grow and will be fine being planted in any garden soil. It appreciates an ample amount of sunlight through, so be sure to leave it in a sunny spot.
Coriander
Coriander is a versatile herb, with the whole plant being edible and used for kitchen wizardry. It is also known as Chinese parsley and is often seen in Asian dishes, including curries, noodles, and soups. Coriander seeds have a distinct taste to them though, having a more lemony taste and can be ground down and used as spices. Meanwhile, the leaves taste a bit more on the bitter side and are usually chopped up and used as a garnish in soups. Coriander has also been known to provide many health benefits and is widely used as a herbal medicine all around the globe. When growing coriander, be sure to plant it in fertile or garden soil, located in a sunny position. Be sure not to give it too much sunlight though, with partial shade helping in the premature setting of its seeds.
Dill
Dill is quite a versatile character, being an herb you can use in many culinary dishes, as well as a flavoring in the production of soaps and oils. Its many uses make it an appealing choice to grow and cultivate. Particularly when it comes to cooking, fresh and fried dill leaves carry with them an aromatic smell which is a good pairing for seafood such as smoked salmon and tuna. It is also a good match for soups and potato sides, giving these an extra bite to their flavor. Dill is best grown in moist soil and needs lots of warmth and sunlight. Now and then though, be sure to give it partial shade which can slow down the setting of its seeds.
Mint
The mint family has several varieties and these include mint leaves, spearmint, and peppermint are a very versatile fresh herb you can grow in your garden. It comes with a light and refreshing flavor and is often used in flavoring salads and sauces for many types of dishes. It is commonly seen in Mediterranean and Indian cuisine, French cooking, and even in Asian soups and salads. Another common use would be to use its leaves in making herbal teas and have been used for thousands of years as a herbal remedy to many ailments. Mint is quite easy to grow, only needing moist, fertile soil and plenty of sunlight. It is quite hardy against changes in weather and can withstand frost and low temperatures.
Making Your Fresh Herb Garden
9 Herb Window Garden
This 40 piece fresh herb garden starter kit includes 9 reusable pots, 9 soil dishes, 9 bamboo markets, 9 packs of seeds, and an instruction guide. The seed set includes Dill, Basil, Chives, Thyme, Parsley, Oregano, Cilantro, Sage, and Mustard.
Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit
This fresh herb starting kit includes seeds for Italian Large Leaf Basil, Coriander Cilantro (slow bolt), Peione Parsley, Broad Leaf Sage and Thyme. 5 Certified USDA Organic compostable peat pots, 5 Certified USDA Organic rich potting soil discs, 5 custom wood burned plant markers, and a growing guide.
AeroGarden Harvest Elite
Start your indoor fresh herb garden that you can conveniently place on your kitchen counter. This includes 6 seed kits: Genovese Basil, Curly Parsley, Dill, Thyme, Thai Basil, Mint, and Miracle Gro Plant Food. The lighting system in this pot is tuned to the specific needs of plants to maximize photosynthesis, resulting in rapid, natural growth and abundant harvests.
Nothing beats home-grown, fully organically grown food. Fresh herbs are a good way to get one’s garden started towards leading this healthy lifestyle, as well as being able to save up on costs in the long run. The key to growing most of these fresh herbs would be to plant them in healthy and fertile soil and provide for them a balanced mix of sunlight, water, and shade. One can place these fresh herbs in a dehydrator machine, to make the dried spices we commonly have in the kitchen.
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