Essential Herb Garden Plants

It only takes a basic knowledge of the variety of herb garden plants in the market place to get started.  This article is fortunately the right place to help with a general understanding of what you’ll need.  First decide what it is you would like to accomplish, do you want herbs you can use year round or only for certain seasons?  Herbs are like all other plants, they come in perennials, biennials and annuals.  Take a close look at what these terms mean:

Annuals - These herbs can’t handle cold, harsh winters.  So for basil, cilantro and other similar herbs you’ll have to plant seeds or small plants every year as they will only last for one growing season.

Biennials - You’ll want to get a rotation of herbs in this category since they only produce once every two years.  During the first year the herbs will focus on maturing and growing leaves, and then finally during the second year they will flower before finally dying.  Herbs in this category include angelica, caraway and parsley; plant in late spring for best results.

Perennials - These herb garden plants will keep coming back year after year all by themselves.  Sage and winter savory are some of these hardy plants that will endure even the harshest of winters.

For any of these varieties of herbs to survive you will need to do the prep work.  First you’ll need the right soil; it needs to have a fine texture that can retain the right amount of water.  Before planting the seeds in very shallow soil add a little bit of water.  Once the seeds have been sowed press the dirt down gently, then if conditions are dry, place a wet newspaper or towel over the top during the germination process.

The second category that herbs can be broken down into includes how they are used.  Some are culinary, aromatic, medicinal or ornamental varieties.  We’ll take a look at each one.

Culinary Herbs - This includes herbs used as a garnish and those used in the cooking process.  They tend to have very strong flavors and are used in small amounts with roasts or chicken recipes.  Some popular herbs in this category are chives, basil, thyme, sage, savory and marjoram.

Aromatic Herbs - These herbs enhance the environment in which they are planted or displayed and they have a long shelf-life.  As you can probably tell from the name of the category these herbs have a pleasant fragrance that can be used in potpourri’s and perfumes.  These herbs include lavender, mint, rosemary and loyage.

Medicinal Herbs - Through the centuries many cultures have discovered certain herbs benefit the body and mind.  There a number of medical studies that also seems to support this.  But before you ingest any medicinal herb make sure you do your homework first.  Some of these herbs, if taken incorrectly, can be harmful.

Ornamental Herbs – With beautiful flowers and leaves these herbs are used as decoration.  The bright blue flowers of the chicory and borage make these ornamental herbs a popular one.

Herb garden plants do come in a wide-variety that serves a multitude of uses.  Mint, for instance, not only makes a great potpourri but can also be used in tea, cooking and pest control.  As you grow your understanding of herbs you’ll be able to choose the perfect herbs to meet your needs.