So you’re thinking of planting a few herbs? Herbs are often very easy to grow and fun. You can use these fresh spices in place of any of your store bought ones. They not only add extra character, but they have a flavor that cannot be duplicated by any dried store spices. Take a look next time you go to your local grocery store. Often time there are fresh herbs right in the vegetable section. Now take a look at how much they cost! I was shocked when I saw how much a packet of fresh mint costs. I mean it grows wild where I live! Most herbs are very easy to grow, hardy, and become established easily. Next, you need to decide on where you are going to plant your garden. You can plant it outside near flowers, vegetables, or in its individual space. Herbs also grow great in pots! You can keep them on your deck or windowsill for easy and quick harvest. If you live in an environment where it freezes in the winter you can even bring them in so you have fresh spices all year long. Now you may ask yourself “what are the most useful herbs to grow?” Well basically your answer is…it depends!
If you are going to be using your herbs for cooking you should take your cooking style into consideration. If you like to make a lot of Italian food, meats, and original dishes there are a number of great herbs you can plant. I would recommend planting some oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary. These are all very easy to grow and very prolific. You can harvest them fresh to cook with, or you can dry them yourself for use in the winter months. If you like Mexican food, salsa, and guacamole you definitely need to plant some cilantro. Chives are another easy to grow herb. They are probably the most versatile plants you can have at your disposal. They have a slight onion flavor, but aren’t overpowering.
Mint and dill are two herbs you need to watch out for. They are both great, can be used in many dishes, but word of warning they can take over. Dill is much easier to control than mint. Dill plants get quite tall and its seeds can be used to make pickles, and as a seasoning. The leaves can also be dried and used as a spice. It goes great with fish and chicken. Mint plants spread and spread. They are almost impossible to control once they get well established.
The reason for this is because they spread by their root system. Plant them out of the way somewhere where you don’t want weeds. Mint plants make a great addition to certain drinks, can be dried for tea, or even used in salads. If you haven’t tried growing a few herbs yet you should! What better feeling can you have then saying, “not only did I grow all these vegetables I ate for supper, but I grew the seasonings too!”
Here is a list of the Top 10 most useful vegetables to grow
List of the Top most useful vegetables to grow in your garden:
1. Thyme
Thyme is a member of the mint family and is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a perennial herb that grows to about 18 inches tall. The leaves are dark green and have a strong, spicy aroma. The flowers are small and white and are produced in clusters.
Thyme is used in cooking and is a common ingredient in Mediterranean and French cooking. It is used to flavor soups, stews, sauces.
2. Basil
3. Rosemary
4. Oregano
5. Cilantro
6. Chives
7. Mint
8. Dill
9. Sage
10 Parsley
Check out my link on my intro to container gardening! There are some videos and some cool ideas of what you can use for pots.