Herbs
Herbs
fit beautifully into any landscape. Ground hugging Thyme
is
a perfect choice for planting between the rocks in a flagstone walk.
Tall clumps of Angelica or Rue provide attractive and dramatic accents
in flower borders. Nasturtiums and Chives add outstanding floral
color to a garden, as well as making attractive cut flowers. The
purple-leafed variety of Basil is an eye-catching
accent
in any location.
Herbs
can be mixed into any garden, with a few exceptions. The more aggressive
herbs should be planted in containers or in separate gardens. Some
of these are Mint, Lemon Balm and Woad.
The best approach to deciding which herbs to grow is to make a list of herbs you're most likely to use. Write down their soil, light, and water needs; their height and spread; and any special notes such as unusual growth habit.
Generally herbs have the highest level of flavor in their leaves just before they bloom. It's best to harvest them at this time. Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, and many other perennials need their active growing shoots snipped in 4 to 6 inch lengths. For annuals collect a few leaves. Pick herbs early in the morning when aromatics are at their highest. If possible wash the plant a day before harvesting and discard any wilted or bug infested portions.
The
most common method of preserving herbs is by hang drying. Another
good way to preserve many herbs is by freezing them.
Many
people grow herbs in pots in the house during the winter.
Following are some of the herbs I grow, and additional information on how to grow them and their uses.
