Growing Kitchen Herbs – Some Top Tips
It is undeniable that herbs are grown for this primary reason: to enhance the flavor of food. Herbs are commonly used in special dishes and cuisines. No wonder many people turn to this magical plant as an additive to their everyday cooking. More people resort to growing kitchen herbs for the love of it.
There are many varieties of herbs to choose from. If you are really interested in growing kitchen herbs, choose the ones that are regularly used. Basil has been a classic in any kitchen. It is the main ingredient for making pesto pasta, and is also used in making soups and sauces. The pungent taste of basil also makes a good combination with any tomato dish. Basil is a tender annual, and will not live in winter, unless transferred indoors. It is a sun-loving herb that can be propagated through seeding.
Chive is also a sun-loving herb that thrives in rich soil. It is a hardy perennial with tall and slender dark green leaves. It has a mild onion taste and goes well with baked potatoes. You can plant this herb by seeds or root divisions. Plant this in the fall or spring, and give them a lot of breathing space, about 9-12 inches apart. Apply mulch around it to keep out weeds.
The leaves and seeds of dill can be used to enhance the flavor of fish, poultry and other meat products. This herb has a strong taste, and a little bitter. It is also a fine addition to salads and soups. Dill thrives in a slightly acidic soil, ranging from 5.8 to 6.5 pH. A sun-loving herb, it prefers a sandy or loamy well-drained soil. You can plant dill in early spring by sowing the seeds in a 1/4 inch deep soil. Also keep each plant 9 inches apart.
Fennel is closely related to dill, and has a sweet flavor. It is also a good garnish to fish and meat, soups and salads. The seeds have sharper flavor though. Plant fennel in a rich and well drained soil during early spring with more space between each plant. Place them one and a half feet apart. Dig a small hole that is ?inch deep and sow the seeds. This herb prefers full sunlight, and a little acidic soil. However, do not let the pH level go below 6.0. Do not interplant this herb with its relative, dill, as they may cross pollinate.
Parsley is yet another classic that has been used for generations. It is a popular seasoning in fancy dishes and also in home-made soups. It is also added to salads and omelets. This plant can thrive in partial shade to full sun, and prefers a richly fertilized soil. Parsley can be planted in mid spring or mid summer. You can sow seeds, or better yet, buy a young plant and transfer in your garden.
Growing kitchen herbs is a rewarding experience, especially if you get to harvest and cook what you personally tended.
