Growing Your Own Herbs Versus Buying Them.

One of the easiest plants to grow in your garden are herbs.There are many different kinds of herb gardening tips, just as there are many different varieties.They are drought tolerant, can be grown either in the garden itself, or even in small pots, making them ideal for smaller spaces, and even in a sunny window sill. Because they have a relatively short growing cycle, it is possible to have all the fresh herbs and spices throughout the year, even in the winter time.

Growing herbs in containers can be easy for those with small spaces, and may only have a small sunny window sill. However, if you have the space, herb gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially the first time you use them in your kitchen. Herb gardens don't have to take up a lot of space, and any area just 200-400 feet square is more than adequate for all of you needs. Start with a piece of graph paper and plot out your garden, taking into consideration the size of a mature plant, and adding approximately 1 foot around each one for pruning and weeding the plants.

If you want a really fragrant herb to add to your garden, consider putting in some lavender. Not only will it's scent make you want to spend more time out doors, but you can make satchels of the herb to put into your closet, or drawers, or any other place you want to avoid other smells, (like the bathroom.) Because you can make lavender satchels as gifts, you may want to plant as much as you can without jeopardizing your other herbs. This is where herb gardening balance is needed.

As the song goes, 4 great savory herbs to add to your garden are Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Fresh chopped parsley is a wonder addition to potato and pasta salads, not to mention a lovely garnish for many other dishes. Try drying sage leaves to add to many dishes including stuffing for turkey and chicken. And, both rosemary and thyme are excellent accents when roasting poultry and lamb among other savory dishes.

When herb gardening, consider planting a little tarragon as well. This herb is a great additive for vegetables, soups, and even in different kinds of salads. It can be made into sauces for chicken and fish, and is one of the basic ingredients for any Bearnaise sauces.

Anyone who does canning knows that you need a lot of dill, and this is one herb you can easily add to your herb gardening experience. In addition to canning, dill can also be used in a variety of vinegars, and some people love giving vinegar that they make at home as gifts around the holidays, or any special occasion. While you can purchase it cheaply, you can't get full stocks unless you either pay a high price, or grow it yourself for almost nothing.

Another plant that should be put in your herb garden is chives. While not a lot of people are fond of the green onion part, the green chive of the upper part of the plant is loved by most people, and gives of a subtle onion smell in your garden, which can be a repellent for some garden pests.

Unfortunately, another one of my favorite herbs is not worth planting. Cilantro tends to bolt so quickly you would be lucky to retrieve a leaf or two. Obviously those that grow cilantro commercially know something we don't know and they aren't telling. If you figure it out please let me in on the secret. I will let you in on my secret for preserving store bought cilantro, however. Place the bunch of cilantro in a glass of water and cover with the plastic bag it came in. This way, the cilantro will stay fresh and crisp for up to 2 weeks in your fridge.

On a final note, let's talk about mint. A favorite of mine is pineapple mint. It has a wonderful fragrance and taste and makes a lovely tea and garnish. However, there is a real problem with mint. It's tangled roots go deep and it tends to try to take over every other plant in the garden. Spray it with Round-up and it comes right back again. Once planted, you simply can't get rid of it! So, if you want to add mint to your garden, plant it in a container and move the container often enough to insure it doesn't take root in the ground through the drainage hole in the container.