The usual pronunciation of the word herb--in America--is "erb", but when you
are in England, sound the "h"! If you have always thought of herbs as
grocery-store products sold as packaged powders, you are due for a new and
exciting experience when you grow your own! They are attractive plants with
fragrant and flavorsome leaves or seeds that can be used either fresh or dry to
add distinction to your cooking. Some are perennials that live from year to
year. Others are annuals started from seed each season. A few are biennials on a
two-year life schedule. Most are grown primarily for their foliage, but a few
have pretty flowers besides.
Requirements for Outdoor Growing of Herbs
Contrary to some beliefs, herbs do not thrive in dry and poor soil. They
require good garden care. Herbs will thrive in the same sort of situations, and
by the same methods, that vegetables and most annual flowers like. They want
lots of sunshine, moderately fertile soil and good drainage.
You will find them easy to grow in average garden conditions, and
conversation pieces as well. When you have a plot of them by your back door or
patio, you can dash out and snip a bit of this and that to add to your simmering
stew or half-completed salad. Your cooking will achieve gourmet quality! Along
with the pleasure of surprising your family and friends with your abilities, you
will have fun growing the plants just to discover what they look like and how
they taste when fresh.
It is not necessary to have an ornately designed, fancy herb garden. Yet it
is well to arrange the plants in a pleasing way, since everyone will want to see
them and will undoubtedly want to pick pieces to nibble. The plants can be in
orderly rows, or scattered in flower and vegetable beds according to their
needed space. They can be in pots sunk to their rims among pebbles or in clay
tiles up-ended to form planters. Edgings can be made of basil, chives, parsley
or thyme. Lettuce can be grown in rows that form patterns among the herbs. As
you can see, an herb garden can be whatever you wish to make of it. You can keep
it simple or go all out in having it decorative as well as useful.
