Growing your own herbs in your garden lets you pick them fresh for cooking and you'll never have to buy them at the supermarket again. Not only is this a great way to stock up on herbs, it also saves you money on buying dried products - and nothing is better for flavour than the fresh variety.
Here’s a good selection of herbs to grow in your garden:
1. Growing basil
There are many different varieties of basil, and they all love to grow in a sunny spot with regular watering. If you enjoy experimenting with different flavours in your home cooking, ask your garden centre for advice on the best varieties to grow in your garden. Thai basil has become an extremely popular option, and this will lend an eastern touch to your home-cooked meals.
2. Cultivating chives
More suited to cultivating during the cooler months of the year, chives flourish if the conditions are right. So, there's no reason why you can’t grow them indoors on a sunny windowsill.
Grow chives in full sun and water regularly and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy crop that you can add to salads, soups and stews, or hang them up to dry for use in the warmer months.
3. Add cilantro and coriander
Love cooking Indian, Asian or spicy dishes? Then cilantro and coriander will be your go-to herbs. This is another cool weather herb that requires regular watering and that enjoys a partially shady spot in the garden - or grow it indoors in your kitchen on a windowsill that catches morning or afternoon sunlight. As with chives, you can dry these herbs for use in the warmer months of the year.
Freshly cut leaves will provide you with cilantro, while the seeds are dried and crushed for adding coriander to meals.
4. Rosemary in pots
One of the easiest herbs to grow in your garden, either in beds or pots, is rosemary. This herb can be used to flavour a variety of dishes. Rosemary loves a sunny spot and won't stress too much when conditions are dry, as long as it receives a light watering on a regular basis.
The delicate blue flowers of rosemary will add a splash of colour to beds and borders, or look wonderful when planted in containers.
5. Plant some parsley
Parsley is a wonderful herb that grows nicely both indoors or outdoors. This herb loves a sunny spot and a regular, light watering. Parsley can be used fresh in salads or added to almost any dish, making it a versatile and well-used herb for cooking.
With its many uses, it is so easy to dry this herb to make sure you have plenty of parsley for when you need it.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za
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