Herbs
Chives are a perennial member of the onion family that sport beautiful edible flowers. They are cool-season, cold-tolerant perennials that are best planted in early spring for a late spring and early summer harvest. Be mindful when planting this herb, as it will take over your garden if the flowers are allowed to develop fully […]
Basil is a warm-weather, fragrant herb that tastes great in Italian dishes—and let’s not forget homemade pesto! Plant seeds or transplants after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm, and it will yield an abundant harvest within weeks. Keep harvesting the leaves to keep the plant going strong. The most common type of basil is sweet basil; other types […]
Dill is an annual, self-seeding plant with feathery green leaves. It is used most commonly in soups and stews (see sour cream dill cucumber salad recipe) or for pickling. Dill weed is easy to grow. If you’re planting dill for pickling, plant every few weeks into midsummer to ensure a constant supply for when the […]
Cilantro is a fast-growing, aromatic, annual herb that grows best in the cooler weather of spring and fall. This herb is used to flavor many recipes and the entire plant is edible, though the leaves and seeds are used most often. CILANTRO VS. CORIANDER Cilantro and coriander are different parts of the same plant. Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, usually refers to […]
Marjoram is a low-growing herb, perfect as a garden edging or planted in a container or window box. In the kitchen, marjoram complements almost any meat, fish, dairy, or vegetable dish that isn’t sweet. Planting Sow seed indoors in early spring. To speed up germination, soak seeds in water overnight. Cover seeds with a light layer of potting […]
Lavender is a bushy, strong-scented perennial plant from the Mediterranean. In most regions, its gray to green foliage stays evergreen throughout the year. Prized for its fragrance, medicinal properties, and beautiful color, lavender is a valued plant across the world. It also attracts pollinators to the garden. See earl grey lavender ice cream recipe. Planting It is […]
Oregano is a perennial herb with rose-purple or white flowers and a taste reminiscent of thyme. Oregano’s taste is zesty and strong and is commonly used in Italian dishes. It is a hardy plant and makes for a good ground cover. Planting Oregano loves the sun, so ensure that your placement has full, strong sun for […]
Mint is a perennial with very fragrant, toothed leaves and tiny purple, pink, or white flowers. It has a fruity, aromatic taste. There are many varieties of mint—all fragrant, whether shiny or fuzzy, smooth or crinkled, bright green or variegated. However, you can always tell a member of the mint family by its square stem. […]
Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub with blue flowers. It is an aromatic and distinctive herb with a sweet, resinous flavor. This plant is ideal for a rock garden or the top of a dry stone wall. In warm areas with fair humidity, rosemary can grow into a shrub several feet in height. In fact, […]
Parsley is a biennial plant with bright green, feather-like leaves and is in the same family as dill. This popular herb is used in sauces, salads, and especially soups, as it lessens the need for salt. Not only is the perfect garnish, it’s also good for you; it’s rich in iron and vitamins A and […]
Tarragon is a perennial herb with long, light green leaves and tiny greenish or yellowish white flowers. For cooking, use French tarragon. Russian tarragon can easily be mistaken for French, but Russian tarragon is coarser and less flavorful than French tarragon. Planting You can’t grow French tarragon from seeds. You must purchase the plants or […]
Garden sage is easy to grow—and a wonderful culinary herb that flavors meat and bean dishes (including that Thanksgiving stuffing). Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, grayish green leaves that like as good in a perennial border as they do in a vegetable garden. It grows spikes of spring flowers in different colors, including purple, […]