I love to cook with fresh herbs but find that they are quite expensive at the supermarket and they are also very perishable. Several years ago I began to cultivate my favorite herbs in pots and keep these on the patio. When I need some for cooking, I just step outside and clip. My herb garden includes:
~ rosemary
~ thyme
~ oregano
~ basil
~ mint
~ lavender
I probably have less than $20 invested in the original plants and because we live in a mild climate, they usually last several years. Herbs are easy to care for and great for small or patio gardens. The exception is basil which I buy each spring from Trader Joe's. A a gallon plant is ~$2.99 and I will use it until December.
I also dry my own bay leaves because I have access to a beautiful Bay Laurel on one of my walks. A very small clipping will yield dozens of leaves that will quickly dry and will last for a good long while.
Have you ever eaten a dish that contains lavender? A lot of folks don't realize that lavender is edible and there are many
Economical Herb Gardening
October 1st, 2009 at 06:40 pm
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October 1st, 2009 at 06:47 pm 1254422873
I forgot to mention I also grow chard and bok choy. Today I'll pick the Swiss chard and prepare it for our dinner.
October 1st, 2009 at 06:49 pm 1254422951
This is one of my future tasks. We really need to grow our own herbs. I unfortunately have a black thumb.
A co-worker gave me a basil plant because hers was growing in abundance this summer. She brought in TONS and my spouse told me he couldn't find any fresh basil in the store. So when I told her how grateful we were, she potted some for me.
Anyway, the plant was doing well, but I noticed today it was dead. Could be the colder weather?
I have MUCH learning to do!
October 1st, 2009 at 06:53 pm 1254423233
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Our winter is the same as Analise's so I feel hopeful that other herbs will survive outside, year round.
October 1st, 2009 at 07:53 pm 1254426829
Becus i'm in zone 6 here, i have to treat herbs like the basil as annuals. I plan to get 3 basil plants next year as i felt like i was denuding the 2 i had this year when i wanted pesto sauce.
chives are also very easy to grow, as are garlic. Pretty much maintenance free, and the chives come back every year with very pretty (edible) spring blossoms.
Herbs are incredibly expensive in the store, so much so that i refuse to discard my 5 year old bottled herbs! I just use double what the recipe calls for!
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Normally one just needs few leaves. This saves a person from having to buy an entire bunch, only use few leaves, and throw the rest out - the ones you buy in a store wilt very fast.