Creating a culinary herb garden need not be an elaborate affair. Herbs may be planted in a container outdoors or even in small pots on your window ledge. So whether you’ve a sizeable plot available or simply a little room on your balcony, there is no reason as to why you should not try your hand at growing culinary herbs.

What you choose to grow will depend upon what your prefer to eat and what environment your plants will be exposed to. Locations facing south and west tend to be hot and sunny and are suitable for herbs that naturally grow in warmer environments like bay, thyme, dill and lemon verbena.

Shade loving herbs such as borage, parsley and mint will grow better in a north or east facing situation.

If you plan to cultivate your herbs in a raised bed vegetable garden or straight into the earth, be sure your site is as close to the house as possible. This will stop you from being put off using them when the weather is wet or cold. This may be a valuable tip in the event you choose to grow a vegetable garden also.

You can make the composition look more desirable by picking plants in a variety of hues and shades and with varying foliage such as that produced by mint, thyme and sage. The different colors of greens, reds, grays and purples can be very pleasing but it is a good idea to draw a colored plan before you actually plant anything, to enable you to get a good impression of how the planting will actually look. It is simpler to reorganize on paper than once the herbs are in the ground or container!

Be conscious that some herbs spread very swiftly and use up the water and obstruct sunlight from other herbs. A popular case of this is the mint family. If you want this kind of plant it is better to plant them in an individual pot.

Should you raise them in the ground make sure to add barriers so your herbs can not proliferate so easily. An on ground instance of this would be a dwarf hedge of a plant like lavender. Or you could make use of stones, bricks, or construct small channels from chippings. These have the additional benefit of providing a landscaped design and you’ll be in a position to pick your herbs without difficulty from the paths without disturbing the other plants close by.

We grow herbs because they go so well with what we cook. Our home garden wouldn’t be complete without a section dedicated to herbs we love eating.

We even have a herb garden in our kitchen all winter long. Herbs just go with so much, from ordinary dishes to fanciful ones, culinary herbs really transform bland to delicious. For this reason, people have been growing kitchen herbs to spice up their daily cooking.

Herbs have really several varieties. Among all these, growing kitchen herbs that are most common will be most appropriate. There are those you can frequently add to your dishes. Take basil for instance, a staple herb in any garden. It is popular in pesto pasta, as the main garnish. It is also added to soups and salads, and has a sharp, distinct taste that just go well with any tomato dish. This herb is a tender annual, and is very susceptible to cold. It has to be indoors during winter. It definitely loves the sun and can be planted through its seeds.

Another sun-loving herb which loves rich soil is chive. Chive is a hardy perennial that can be planted in the fall or spring. When planting, keep each herb 9-12 inches apart. Add in mulch to ward off weeds. Chive has dark green leaves with a weak onion taste, which makes it a fine addition to baked potatoes and dips.

Dill has a slightly bitter and strong taste that is often garnished to fish, meat and poultry. Leaves and seeds of this plant can be used as seasoning, and they also compliment soups and salads. To plant this herb, choose a sunny spot with a sandy or loamy soil. Make sure the soil is well drained, and plant dill in early spring. Keep a distance of 9 inches for each plant, and sow the seeds in a 1/4 inch deep soil. Make the soil a little acidic, with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5.

Fennel is closely related to dill, and has a sweet flavor. It is also a good garnish to fish and meat, soups and salads. The seeds have sharper flavor though. Plant fennel in a rich and well drained soil during early spring with more space between each plant. Place them one and a half feet apart. Dig a small hole that is 1/4 inch deep and sow the seeds. This herb prefers full sunlight, and a little acidic soil. However, do not let the pH level go below 6.0. Do not interplant this herb with its relative, dill, as they may cross pollinate.

Parsley is yet another classic that has been used for generations. It is a popular seasoning in fancy dishes and also in home-made soups. It is also added to salads and omelets. This plant can thrive in partial shade to full sun, and prefers a richly fertilized soil. Parsley can be planted in mid spring or mid summer. You can sow seeds, or better yet, buy a young plant and transfer in your garden.

Growing kitchen herbs is a rewarding experience, especially if you get to harvest and cook what you personally tended.

Growing herbs in your kitchen is just one way of utilizing your home space efficiently. You can grow herbs in all parts of your home. Herb gardening is great for your home with many benefits including harvesting delicious aromatic herbs.

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It might be surprising to some, but most herbs grow better in an indoor herb garden. A large number of herbs are annuals. Annual herbs and plants have a year lifespan. They grow and bloom in one season then within a year, they die. You may think that this type of herbs is too expensive, but you actually extend the life of your annuals.

Here are some key points explained in establishing an indoor garden.

Knowing the easy-to-grow indoor herbs

Annuals are the best type for indoor gardens. Since their lifespan is limited, they cannot be exposed continuously to changing weathers. Their roots usually have small growth; which is why they cannot stand the outside environment. They can be easily uprooted and their leaves would easily wither.

Some varieties of basil like Thai, Holy Basil or Tulsi and lemon, chives, scented geranium, lavender, rosemary, sweet woodruff and lemon verbena are some of the annuals appropriate in indoor settings. These could be grown in small pots and they could survive without constant exposure to sunlight. However, some may need to be taken outdoors once in a while. These would be further explained in the succeeding parts.

On the other hand, some perennials could also survive in indoor environments. They just need to be exposed outdoor from seasonally.

Having the right locations

Window areas, door openings, atriums and any area inside your house with natural lighting or close proximity to outside ventilation are the most suitable places for indoor herbs. Place them near the windows in the kitchen which should always be left open or at least ajar. Just a few hours under ample sunlight could make your plants healthier.

If you are into aromatic herbs, you most definitely want them placed in various parts of the house. But do make sure that you take them outside for at least one to three hours daily. Too much sunlight will cause their roots to dry up and that would result to frequent wilting of the leaves.

Perennials could also stay indoors but as much as possible expose them to sunlight regularly. Put them in places where there is most sun exposure. If you have limited space near the open areas, you could use chains to hang them instead.

Taking care of the herbs – on watering, pruning and soil maintenance

Indoor plants need as much water as outdoor plants. You can have them watered every other two days. But never drown the soil as this will make it too soggy to absorb other nutrients from the soil.

You can also do occasional pruning. But do not take out the drying foliage immediately. Letting them fall on the pot would make them possible fertilizers. However, if there are too much falling leaves, you have to remove some of them. They may be too moist, thus killing the roots.

Your soil should have regular peat moss or compost supplements. At least every three months, dig up an inch from the surface and put in a new batch. This is also a basic in growing herbs in pots.

Before annuals die, start repotting so you would not have to start planting all over. Trim off a healthy part of the herb. Each cut piece should have some roots and foliage already this will make it easier for you to grow them.

Now these three easy key methods would ensure you of a flourishing indoor herb garden all year round.

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Although sage is most commonly associated as THE herb used in the bread stuffing we all squish inside of the Thanksgiving turkey, this herb plant grows in several different varieties that each impart their own unique flavor.

Hopefully reading this article will expand your use of the sage herb into areas never considered possible….and….will take you on an enjoyable culinary journey of the herb.

Common Sage (salvia officinalis) grows as a perennial evergreen bush. The plant should be pruned to encourage new growth with stronger flavored leaves. Pruning will keep the plant in a uniform bush shape without the woody stems associated with the sage plant. The leave should be harvested before the plant flowers and either dried, frozen or preserved in vinegar. Common sage is best used to flavor fatty meats such as pork, goose, lamb or duck and oily fishes. Sage is used in sauces and stuffing and is many times sautéed in olive oil until crisp and added to pasta sauces.

Tricolor Sage (salvia officinalis tricolor) sports three colored leaves, hence the name of tricolor. The leaves are beautifully streaked with variations of the colors green, pink and white, lending this plant a beautiful appearance that is guaranteed to add color and texture to the herb garden. The tricolor sage plant is not as hardy as other sage varieties and will need mulch cover to survive a harsh winter – or consider bringing it indoors for the winter to enjoy fresh. Tricolor sage has a milder flavor that lends well to use in poultry dishes, soups and eggs.

With grouping the pots in batches having one large plant in each group can create a focal point for the container garden that will make it look more focused. Bold leaves and striking colors can also be used to create focal points.

You can use a touch of garden art on your container garden design flora pots. A mix of perennials, houseplants, herbs trees and shrubs can be used for your pot garden and you can try and experiment as many number of times you want with your different ideas before selecting one.

An indoor herb garden is fun and easy to create and maintain. They take up little space and once the planting is done, it requires minimal time and effort to keep them growing and producing.  Creating and maintaining an indoor herb garden can also be a relaxing activity which helps calm stress.

But did you know that an indoor herb garden can also help you control your weight? Believe it or not, fresh herbs are a powerful component of a healthy diet and they can help you manage weight challenges. They affect digestion and metabolism in a positive way that can help individuals lose weight and keep it off.  The easy access to fresh herbs with an indoor herbal garden can aid in your healthy weigh goals.

The use of any medications or herbs should be carefully considered and reviewed with a doctor if there is a plan to use them in their natural form or in large quantities. Supplements and herbal combinations can be harmful in some cases and herbs often interact with certain drugs negatively.  But we’re not talking about herbal supplements, pills, and herbal “wonders” that claim to make the weight melt away.

The type of weight control we are talking about is safe and healthy. It simply requires the use of a herb garden to wake up foods and make them delicious – even if the food is green like broccoli or brussel sprouts! Herbs can be used to spice up the flavors of healthy, natural foods in a way that makes them more appealing and inviting. When foods taste better, people are more likely to enjoy and even crave them.

Using a herb garden to create delicious, nutritious, and flavorful dishes is one way to help control weight.  Fresh herbs make a lot of difference too.

Consider the possibilities of using herbs from your indoor herb garden to enhance a dietary plan.

1. Cayenne pepper is an herb that is often used in cooking. It is a very spicy, hot addition to dishes and it wakes up flavors. It can stimulate digestion and increase metabolism. Once the body begins to metabolize foods faster, the body becomes a fat burning machine.

2. Have a cup of green tea with breakfast, lunch and dinner to aid in weight control. Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that fight cancer and it is a good way to help control weight.

3. Add a sprinkling of basil to tomatoes, pasta sauce, squash, and zucchini for a flavorful burst of taste. Using herbs to add more vegetables to your diet increases your intake of antioxidants and high fiber foods.

4. Crush mint leaves and sprinkle them over fruit, tea, or fresh vegetables. Use herbs to up your intake of fruits and veggies.
5. Nothing wakes up peppers, onions, tomatoes, and pasta sauce like fresh oregano. A light coating of homemade pasta sauce covering whole-wheat noodles is a dieter’s delight.

6. Bake chicken with a generous dusting of crushed rosemary to make it delicious and nutritious. Just remove the skin, spray lightly with cooking spray, sprinkle with crushed black pepper and a generous serving of fresh, crushed rosemary and bake at 400° for about 50 minutes. Healthy and nutritious!

7. Add a healthy sprinkling of tarragon over fish before cooking to make it tasty and healthy. Eating 2-3 portions of fish weekly will help with your weight loss efforts.

8. Thyme is often overlooked but it is one of the most versatile herbs to wake up foods and taste buds. Try some on potatoes, pork, tomatoes, pasta, eggless quiche, and other dishes. The flavor is worth it.

Indoor herb gardens are a great way to have fragrant herbs on hand any time. They are easy to grow and maintain and the rewards are tastier, healthier foods prepared at home. Wake up the flavor of foods by creating your own indoor herb garden. You’ll find the time you spend creating your herb garden is well worth it and you’ll enjoy the stress-free activity.

Ralph J Miller is the author of this article and the creator of the Ebook “My Sectets to a Successful Herb Garden”. For more information and tips on herb gardening and growing herbs indoors, please visit our website at http://www.MyHerbGardeningSecrets.com and while your there you can register to recieve your Free Herb Gardening Secrets Mini-Course.