Herb gardening is becoming more and more popular – and with good reason! Herb gardens have a practical, as well as an aesthetic, value from the fresh herbs produced for cooking.

However, herbs grown at home can serve many purposes beyond the culinary. Fresh herbs can be used in home-made beauty products, decorations and potpourri, or just enjoyed as part of a beautiful, aromatic garden.

Most people grow herbs to use during the winter months, when fresh herbs are not as readily available. If you fall in this category, you’ll need to know how to dry the herbs, as well as plant them. First, you’ll need to cut off the tops of leafy herbs, then wash them and hang them so that the water can evaporate. Once dry, they should be placed in a paper bag with the stems tied together and hung upside-down so that they can dry completely. This process will take about two to three weeks. Once done, you can crumble the leaves and dry them out further in the oven before storing them in a glass jar.

When planning your herb garden, it’s helpful to think about the kinds of herbs you’ll use most often. Basil is one of the most commonly grown garden herbs. “Dark Opal” and regular green basil are great for cooking and also make a beautiful addition to any herb garden. The Dark Opal variety has light pink flowers and dark red leaves, while regular basil provides a splash of bright green to your garden. Basil is most commonly used in tomato juices and pasta sauces – it’s a must if you enjoy good Italian food!

Chives are another herb that is commonly grown in the garden. Chive plants are long and delicate and resemble tall blades of grass. But don’t worry – they’re much stronger than they look! Chives require very little maintenance once planted. They are also very hardy, meaning that they grow well in a range of different temperatures, making them an ideal choice for the beginning herb gardener. Chives are often used in salads, egg dishes and many different sauces.

Mint is another easy to grow herb. It’s extremely low maintenance and it smells great! Just be careful to keep it contained – mint plants grow rapidly and can easily take over an herb garden! This herb can be used in mint jelly, mint juleps, mint teas, lemonade and other fruit drinks.

Two other commonly grown herbs with culinary applications are thyme and sage. These herbs are commonly used for flavoring soups, chicken, turkey, pork and sausages, and they’re a staple in any well-balanced herb garden. You’ll also enjoy the beautiful blue spiked flowers that bloom on the sage plant.

If you’re interested in growing herbs for other purposes, consider growing lavender. It is often used to make candles and perfumes, or added to linen chests to improve the smell. In addition, a small sachet of these light purple flowers gives off a wonderful scent that can be used as a natural air freshener. Just watch out – lavender is another plant that will eagerly take over your garden if you aren’t watching carefully!

Other commonly grown garden herbs include:

Borage - used in salads

Chevil - used in egg dishes

Sweet Marjoram - used to flavor lamb, fish, salad and soup

Sesame - used to flavor crackers, cookies and bread

Dill - used to flavor meats and pickles

When planning your herb garden, choose the herbs that you’ll use in cooking and around the home. You’ll get much more pleasure out of growing these beautiful plants if you enjoy the fruits of your labor. Plus, growing your own herbs is a great way to save money. The herbs you grow at home will be better quality, have more flavor and cost less than the ones you can purchase from the supermarket.

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