| Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala
It’s easy to grow your own herbs and add spice to life. Yes, you can! But, wait! What’s the difference between herbs and spices? Herbs are the green part of the plant and spices come from the other parts of the plant, like the seeds, bark and roots. Cinnamon is from the bark, cardamom is a seed pod and cloves are dried flower buds. Herbs can be dried or fresh whereas spices are used dried.
No matter how much room you have, you can add herbs to your life. You can use them in foods, medicines and or for spiritual and aromatic use. However you’d like to use herbs, they make a wonderful addition to your windowsill, container garden or your veggie/butterfly garden.
Most herbs like a neutral to alkaline, well-drained soil with very little feeding. Sunlight aids great herb flavor, so creating reflective areas like pebbles or concrete around them help reflect sunlight and create warmth on chilly nights.
Here are some easy and useful herbs to add to whatever version of a garden you have! Some of these die back each year and some are perennials, which will die back this year and come back next growing season.
Food herbs
Basil (so many different tasty varieties) contains antioxidants and aids against low blood sugar. Pinch off the top leaf (between the Y) to encourage bushy growth.
Bay leaves are good in hearty stews and simmering dishes. Easy to grow/dry.
Chives are good source of beta carotene and Vitamin C. Bees love it!
Cilantro/coriander is great in Mexican, Chinese, Asian and Indian foods, garnish. Doesn’t like it too warm, grow in a cool spot. Try culantro, cilantro’s cousin.
Dill aids in digestion and bad breath. Is an annual and super easy to grow.
Mint/Peppermint is easy to grow and dry for teas. Be careful and plant in containers as mint likes to spread out.
Oregano (many tasty varieties) is easy to grow and dry. Freeze fresh leaves in olive oil in an old ice tray and throw into recipes! Basil does well with this, too.
Parsley aids in digestion and is a good source of vitamins A and C. Stays green all winter in mild climates.
Sage (very aromatic, so use sparingly) is believed to relieve inflammation and help with memory issues. Easy to grow and bees love it!
Medicinal herbs
Aloe vera is very soothing on burns or sunburns. It is a succulent and is easy to grow in warm sunny climates. They like sunny windowsills, too. AloeVera can get large, so cut back or repot to keep looking its best!
Lavender, though this can be used in foods, it's lovely for aromatherapy and is known to soothe headaches. This doesn’t usually die back each year and loves full sun.
Lemongrass is used as a defense against cancer and eye inflammation because it has antioxidants. Brew this in tea or use as an herb seasoning. It gets tall in the garden, but makes a great container plant. Trim often and share with friends!
St. John’s wort is known to alleviate symptoms of depression. St. John’s Wort can also be used as a ground cover as it is drought tolerant.
Storing and cooking with herbs
If you want to use your herbs soon, you can put many (that have stems) in a small glass of water for a few days or wrap in a damp paper towel and store in the veggie drawer in the fridge. Otherwise, you can lay them out on paper towels to dry for a few days, then store in airtight jars, Tupperware, or bags.
When cooking with herbs, use dried herbs early and fresh herbs right before serving.
— Donna Paget is a member of the Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala and president of the Daffodil Circle
The Link LonkNovember 01, 2020 at 06:05PM
https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2020/11/01/add-spice-your-life-fresh-herbs/6053847002/
Add spice to your life with fresh herbs - Ocala
https://news.google.com/search?q=fresh&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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