Guest Post by: Liz
One certainly doesn’t have to be in Italy to enjoy fresh Italian herbs and vegetables during the summer months. The secret to much of Italian cooking is the strong emphasis on fresh ingredients. Sure we can get fresh produce at the market – but even that doesn’t compare to dashing out the back door right before dinner to grab some new born fresh basil or parsley for that special chicken dish you’ve been raving about.
Anytime I write about what to put in an Italian garden, I always stress to only include items which you already know you will use. For example, it’s one thing to use flat Italian parsley, but unless you like the slightly bitter taste, you might be better off sticking to regular curly parsley.
Therefore, don’t think about what an Italian garden "should" have, but what you "want" your Italian garden to have. Here are five key ingredients to get you started on creating your Italian garden.
Parsley
Parsley is a staple in any garden and rightly so. Even if never used in a recipe, it makes a perfect garnish and breath freshener! Surely you didn’t think restaurants used it just because it was pretty next to that garlic and onion laden steak?
Parsley comes in two popular varieties – flat or curly. The flat is also called Italian Parsley and is frequently used in many Italian dishes and sauces. However, the flavour is more bitter than it’s cousin the curly variety and is more frequently used as an ingredient rather than a garnish or raw ingredient, such as in a salad.
Parsley enjoys cooler weather and does well in partial shade. Just this past week (and it is currently winter) I was surprised to see I had a bunch of parsley growing right outside in one of my pots!
Oregano
Although the most popular oregano is Greek oregano, it can still find its way comfortably into an Italian garden. Oregano became most popular in the US after WWII when soldiers stationed in Italy came home raving of the "special" ingredient used in their pizza sauce overseas. The key ingredient which was previously lacking in the American version was… oregano.
Oregano plants can grow up to 20 inches wide and do not do well in rich soils, therefore be careful not to over fertilize this herb. It enjoys moderate water as it is not a thirsty plant and perks up quickly with a good watering if it goes too long without it.
Rosemary
Rosemary is an excellent Italian herb used in many meat dishes such as roast chicken or lamb. Rosemary also acts as a natural bug repellent and I have planted them closer to the house for this very reason. However, these fragrant plants can be used as bushes to outline your garden, whether as a hedge or as a decorative corner. The choice is up to you!
If started by seed, rosemary can take just less than half a year to grow into a mature plant. Plant the seedlings during April and by the summer months you should be enjoying the benefits of its aromatic fragrance not only as the wind gently blows, but for any cooking as well. Once it has reached maturity, it will become one of your easiest herbs to maintain as you only have to water it during very dry periods.
Rosemary can be frozen or dried for future use. To freeze it, cut the sprigs in 3 inch lengths and gently wash away any dirt then pat them dry. Freeze on a tray in the freezer then once frozen, place in freezer bags, seal well and don’t forget to label them.
Basil
Basil is an easy herb to grow and in this case "should" always be in an Italian garden. It grows well when planted next to tomato plants and is therefore called a companion plant of tomatoes. I tested this theory this past summer and planted basil on one side of my garden as well as between my tomato plants.
To my enjoyment, the basil did exceptionally well near my tomatoes. It seemed as if it they did not go to seed as quickly as the ones on the other side. Could this have been due to another reason such as I may have happened to simply water these better – or was it due to some moderate shade the tomatoes provided? Could be a combination of all three – but I can tell you this year I’ll be putting them next to the tomatoes again without a doubt.
Basil if planted from seed can take 2 months, so planting from a seedling is much easier. The problem is finding "organic" seedlings. It is extremely important that basil never be planted when it is still cold and when the possible slight overnight frost can occur. Basil is a fragile herb and this caution cannot be expressed enough.
Basil is a great herb that can be frozen and used for future use during the winter months. Simply wash the leaves and let them air dry after you pick them. Once dry, lay flat in some plastic storage bags and remove any air and place in the freezer. Some people recommend freezing the leaves on a tray first, then place in a plastic bag – this is a good method too as it prevents the leaves from sticking to each other.
As an interesting note, basil can be used in a variety of ways, from scrambled eggs with tomatoes and basil for breakfast to being added as an ingredient into an ice cream gelato maker to make basil gelato or sorbet for dessert. Who knew basil was so versatile?
Tomatoes
We frequently think of tomatoes as a vegetable, but technically it is a fruit. No matter how you classify them, they make definitely make their way on our list of the Top 5 for an Italian garden.
Since tomatoes come in so many varieties, if you truly want an Italian garden, you have to think of Italian foods. Tomatoes are most commonly used for sauces therefore you want tomatoes that are meaty and juicy at the same time. Roma tomatoes are a good option, however there are other "Italian" tomatoes which are similar to Roma tomatoes but on a larger scale. You may have to look online for a source that sells these by the plant or seed.
My husband and I grow a variety which comes directly from his Aunt in Sicily. She shipped the seeds a few years ago and now we save the seeds and grow them each year. We don’t know the official name of the variety so we creatively call them Sicilian Tomatoes.
Italian tomatoes tend to produce later in the summer months, so if you are craving tomatoes for earlier months you will be better off planting a variety of tomatoes and enjoy them all summer long!
When all is said and done, growing an Italian garden is not difficult. In fact, odds are most of the plants you already grow are listed in this article. For more unusual Italian plants look for items like fennel, or Italian varieties of zucchini.
The options are many, but remember to always choose foods that you will actually use with your cooking. If you know you do not like it – don’t grow it… no matter how Italian it may be!
This article was contributed by Liz who enjoys gardening and has strong memories of helping her mother in the backyard garden as a child. Only until recently has she picked it back up again and was happy to experience the same excitement and joy she had as a child when gathering vegetables and herbs for the dinner meal.
Today she owns and operates an Italian cooking website where she stresses simple recipes and ingredients. She also writes reviews of various kitchenware products used in Italian kitchens such as a stainless steel meat grinder for making Italian sausage and gelato machines for making the perfect Italian dessert. She enjoys sharing her experiences with others and encourages others to use simple and fresh ingredients whenever possible!