Herbs & spices
Growing Garlic In The Kitchen Garden (Container)
Growing Garlic In The Kitchen Garden (Container) – Garlic is not difficult to grow in a kitchen herb garden. In this article we describe some of the many uses of garlic and provide some easy-step lessons on how you can start growing it in your herb garden or in pots or containers on your patio or balcony. Garlic is definitely famous as a herb with healing properties. Reports of these go back to Egyptian times. Even today with the vast numbers of over the counter cold remedies and prescription medicines lots of garlic enthusiasts start taking it in one form or another during the winter weather to reduce the chances of catching colds and flu. It’ also still commonly used to clean out the stomach.
Constructing A Herb Tower
Constructing A Herb Tower – The cooking enthusiasts always like to have pots of herbs next to the kitchen door, so that they can take one step outside and pick a sprig or two while cooking. Most herbs are sun lovers, so a sunny site is of prime importance to grow a good crop.
The smaller species – thyme, chives, oregano and sage – can be grown in a group in a herb pot or, as here, in a herb tower. The larger-growing shrubs and trees, such as rosemary and bay, are best given a pot to themselves. Mint, also, should be grown on its own as it can be extremely invasive. For a better look you can add strawberries.
Creating Rosemary Garden
Creating Rosemary Garden – Rosemary is an herb that is easy to grow, many beginners of herb gardening generally include a small rosemary garden in their herb gardening plans. You can find them in just about any nursery. Generally, younger plants are cheaper than those which are mature, since it takes sometime for this plant to fill out.
Rosemary herb is grown from seed, cuttings and pre-seeded plants. It you have a friend who enjoys their own rosemary garden, ask for some plant cuttings. Most often you wish will be granted.
How To Grow Saffron?
How To Grow Saffron? Saffron is a delicious spice that is used in many Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines. It has a distinct bittersweet flavor and a brilliant yellow color that it adds to dishes that it is used in. It is the most expensive spice, weight for weight being worth more than gold!
The reason that saffron is so expensive is that it is the stamen of a flower that needs to be picked by hand. The stamen is part of the central parts of a flower. Namely the area that the pollen is deposited on to fertilize the flower. Each flower only contains three of these stamens that are 1.5 to 2 cm long and a few of millimeters wide. When they are dried they are even smaller and lighter!
How To Make Herbs De Provence?
How To Make Herbs De Provence – Herbs de Provance is a traditional blend of aromatic herbs that flourish in hills of southern France during the hot summer months. Used by the handful when fresh, herbs de Provence is also good using dried herbs.
Bay leaf, thyme, fennel, rosemary, chervil, oregano, summer savory, tarragon, mint, and marjoram are some of the herbs typically used. Orange zest is sometimes included as is lavender, though the lavender is less traditional and was added more for the benefit of tourists who saw lavender fields as almost emblematic of the Provence region. Traditional or not, the addition of lavender is a nice addition to the blend.
Decorating Your Garden With Herbs
Decorating Your Garden With Herbs – Most herbs are perennial plants that need six to eight hours of sunlight and well drained soil. Some are annuals and must be replanted every year. Even some annuals like rosemary and lemon verbena become annual in very cold areas of the country unless brought inside during the coldest part of the winter. One of the nicest things about herbs is that most can grow even in small areas with the help of containers.
If you have never cooked with herbs be prepared to have your taste buds awakened. You may want to start with a small herb garden. We suggest beginning with containers.
