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Looking to create a kitchen herb garden but unsure which herbs to choose? Here’s a selection of versatile herbs perfect for any culinary enthusiast. Whether you have a large or small garden, these herbs are not only easy to grow but also add flavor to a variety of dishes. Consider growing any or all of these herbs and enhance your culinary creations!
1. Garlic
Most of us love garlic, but not everyone knows that it can be grown in practically any type of garden. Try planting it in containers, for the most portable garlic garden ever!
2. Parsley
Parsley brightens up any plate, and that same delicious taste makes it an easy herb to love. Grow parsley from plants though. They can be temperamental to start from seed.
3. Chives
Chives are a commonly grown herb, but often they are not eaten. Yes, they are pretty to look at, but their gentle onion flavor is perfect for dishes that need that layer of taste, without an overpowering with onion.
4. Sweet Marjoram
Sweet marjoram is a lesser known herb, that deserves some of the limelight! It is easy to grow and tastes like oregano, with much more depth. Have you ever tasted oregano and found it to be bitter? Then sweet marjoram is the answer. Never bitter and much bigger flavor, this herb deserves a second look for any culinary herb garden.
5. Sage
Sage is such a rewarding herb to grow. It comes in many varieties and colors, that you can easily incorporate it into your garden design. Be sure to check out the pinks, greens and golds that sage can produce. It is truly a spectacular and tasty herb.
6. Mint
Mint is wonderful for so many things, it just makes good sense to grow it in your garden. Mint grows in sunny or shady gardens, fills out quickly, and loves to be trimmed back numerous times. Grow this tasty herb for teas or just to attract beneficial insects, mint belongs in your culinary herb garden for sure.
7. Lemon Balm
If you have never tried lemon balm, now is the time! This luscious lemon herb is a prolific grower, filling your pots or garden beds with beautiful green leaves. Cut it back throughout the growing season, and keep it for tea all winter. I find that lemon balm gives a true lemon flavor, and can be used in any recipe that uses lemon juice. Try it in a pesto for your fish and as a substitute for cilantro in ceviche. It is truly a useful and lovely herb.
8. Dill
Dill makes an impressive herb for the culinary garden. What’s nice about dill, is that you don’t have to wait for it to flower to enjoy the flavor. I find cutting back the leaves gives me a much larger harvest in a smaller space. Dill is also great as a backdrop (although not very sturdy, in windy areas), and if you are looking for an herb that will draw in beneficial insects, dill is the one for you! I grow my dill and harvest it as much as possible, while still leaving it in place for the caterpillars. The best of both worlds. Grow at least a few plants of dill in your culinary herb garden.
9. Thyme
Thyme is an often overlooked culinary herb. This is too bad since thyme brings an unmatched flavor to meat dishes. It also dries well and keeps its flavor throughout the winter – making it useful for brightening up those heavier winter meals. Thyme grows easily and loves to be both in the garden bed or in the container. Try buying a few varieties of thyme and see which scent you like the best.
10. Basil
Basil is one of the most recognized and loved herbal flavorings for most of us. You may not realize just how simple it is to grow! Basil starts fast and grows like crazy, so it is very rewarding for the first time herb gardener. I like to grow copious amounts of basil, to use all winter long, in pesto. Remember to cut it back often, for bushy plants with plenty of leaves.
Finally
Although there are hundreds of herb varieties, don’t let all the choices overwhelm you. Start by picking a few of your favorite recipes and then growing the herbs that you will need to make them.
