Your Own Herb Garden

Generally, herbs are a group of widely distributed plants excluding fruits, vegetables, and other micronutrient plants. Herbs come with aromatic and savory properties that are used for garnishing and making foods flavorful. Also, they are used for perfumes and medicinal purposes. The culinary purposes of the herbs distinguish them from spices. Herbs are usually referred to as leafy green plants or flowers, whereas spices are dried parts of the plants. 

Italian food gets its flavor and fragrance from robust spices. The essential components of Italian cooking are cheese, tomatoes, and pasta. If you don’t have the right mix of herbs and spices, you won’t have a great Italian meal. Therefore, the best way to get the perfect Italian meal is to grow an Italian herb garden. You can grow basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and sage in your garden.

How to Make Your Own Italian Herb Garden

It is not always easy to go to the store last minute when you realize you need that sprig of basil for the pasta, or bushel of rosemary for the lamb. So how about knocking out that need completely by planting an herb garden of your own?

Planting and maintaining your own herb garden is simple and will provide you with endless seasoning opportunities for your foods. Whether you have acres of garden or simply an apartment window box, the opportunities are endless.

Most all of the herbs mentioned below will thrive without your supervision and do not require a lot of care. So, with or without a green thumb, the steps are simple.

Basil

Basil

Basil is not only the most known of all Italian herbs, but it is also one of the easiest herbs to grow. Basil is absolutely essential in almost all Italian cooking. Mixed with olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts, it is the base of pesto. Basil is also the perfect compliment to the flavor of tomato sauce and is generally added to most marinades, soups, salads, and on top of pasta dishes.

Sweet Italian Large Leaf basil is what you will find at most stores or outdoor markets. You can either buy the seeds, or the grown plant, depending on the amount of work you want to do. Remember that you can always start with the seeds in a pot and move them into a garden.

Whatever you do, always have the basil in a sunny location. Basil does not like too much shade, rain, or fog, so a sunny window box or heat drenched area of your garden is perfect. Also make sure that you do not over water basil or any herb. Moist soil is a death wish for your herb garden.

To keep your basil growing out (rather than up), trim the flower buds below the node, keeping the tall stalks always at a low height. Harvest the leaves just before the plants actually flowers, as those leaves will have the most aroma and flavor.

After you pick your basil, it will generally keep for about a week. If you want dried basil, hang up the sprigs in a cool, dry place to allow for optimum dehydration.

Oregano

Oregano

Another herb used in most Italian dishes is oregano. Oregano pairs beautifully with basil and is widely used in tomato-based dishes, with fresh seafood, and infused in meats like lamb and beef. It also works wonders in bean dishes and risotto.

Oregano is very easy to grow. It is best planted from root divisions or with stem cuttings from existing plants. You can find these at most nurseries, or by stealing a cut from a friend. Oregano needs a lot of light and does not do well in damp soil. The more sun the leaves get, the stronger the flavor they will provide.

Pick your oregano leaves just before the flowers bloom, when the buds are fully formed. Prune your plants and trim back any dried or dead leaves as the plants grow to allow for the most from your plant.

After you pick your oregano, it will generally keep for about a little over a week. If you want it dried, hang up the sprigs in a cool, dry place to allow for optimum dehydration.

Rosemary

Rosemary

Rosemary comes from the Latin word rosmarinus, which is presumed to mean “dew of the sea.” It is found in the cuisine of almost every Mediterranean region because of its intoxicating aroma and uncanny ability to transform a dish. No roast is complete without rosemary whether you are roasting lamb, beef, carrots, potatoes, or corn. Rosemary is also found on top of focaccia as it provides the bread with extreme depth.

Rosemary can be planted from seeds or cuttings. It does not like wet soil, so make sure and choose a well-drained spot in your garden or window box. Rosemary also loves light, lots of it. It is a totally independent plant and will grow with little care or cannonading. This is not a tough herb to keep and, in some cases, it can last for over 20 years.

The leaves of the rosemary plant resemble pine needles and are bluish green in color. You can pick the leaves as often as you like. Dried rosemary is also an excellent soothing agent and is found in many teas or bath soaks. So, make sure and keep a little aside for that purpose!

Parsley

Parsley

Flat-leaf Italian parsley is arguably more flavorful than the then the typical decorative variety which you find as garnish. Italian parsley is used in soup stock and with many vegetable dishes. It also contributes to salads and in marinades for grilled meat or fish.

Parsley seeds are different then the rest as they do not necessarily need complete sun exposure. They can be planted in direct sunlight or in shade. The leaves from the first years’ plants will be the most flavorful, so it? best to re-plant year to year.

Pick the parsley when the plants reach six to seven inches in height. Cut the leaves and as much of the stem as you can, as the stems provide a lot of flavor. Fresh parsley is best, so although you can dry it, it? not recommended.

Sage

Sage

Because of Sage? slightly peppery flavor, it is another herb which pairs wonderfully with meat dishes. Sage is also found in a lot of Italian salads and dressings. It makes a perfect addition to stuffing for poultry, pork, seafood, and lamb.

As with oregano, use cuttings from existing sage plants for your garden or go buy it pre-planted. Sage can be frustrating as a seed because it is unreliable and take a long time to germinate. But be patient. The plant must have partial sunlight, but don’t let it get too dry. Make sure and watch how you water it. Sage is more temperamental than the rest.

Pick the sage before it blooms. Trim off the stems and strip the leaves to use fresh. Or dry your sage? the leaves are fairly thick, so they will not dry hard and crumbly like other herbs.

Herb Garden – Grow Your Italian Herb Garden

All the Italian herbs are relatively easy to grow outdoors or even in pots. Creating an Italian herb garden is a fun thing to do. Italian herbs are mostly grown in a warm Mediterranean climate. So, if you have a cold climate, you can grow them indoors. For example, rosemary is an evergreen perennial herb but a little frost can kill it. If you are planning to grow your Italian herb garden, then keep them indoors.

At times, when you plan a gathering at home, you might run out of special herbs to complete an Italian dish. It is better to have your herb garden or even an apartment window box. As a result, you will have all the herbs at your ease for making a perfect Italian dish such as pasta, lasagna, beef, etc.