A Basic Guide to Herb Garden Plants
Examples of annuals, plants that mature in one year, then die, are basil, cilantro and summer savory. These can be planted from seed or purchased as starter plants yearly. Biennials like parsley, caraway or angelica grow foliage the first season, and next year will bear flowers and seeds. Some examples of perennials are sage, tarragon, thyme and oregano. These return year after year, and most will survive colder temperatures. Many perennial herbs grow quite large, so you may need only one or two plants.
You can start your herbs from seed by sowing them in late winter in flats of fine loose soil or in starter pots. Some, like parsley and cilantro are better planted directly into the garden. Always ensure your soil is moist and fine, as well as loose. Herbs don’t like to be in wet soggy soil. Mix fine seeds with some sand, so they spread out better. Check the seed packages for any specific planting requirements.
We categorize herbs by how they are mainly used. Some herbs will appear in more than one category. Culinary herbs, the most commonly grown ones, are used mainly to add zest to your meals. The most commonly known culinary herbs are parsley, chives, thyme, basil, oregano, savory, rosemary, tarragon and dill.
Another group of herbs that are related to culinary herbs are those grown for teas or tisanes. Many fragrant herbs make wonderful herbal teas, for aiding relaxation, sleep, or even energizing you. Mint is probably the most common tea herb, but others such as sage, thyme, chamomile, bergamot and lemon verbena also make delicious herb teas. These can be used alone or in combinations, fresh or dried. You’ll be guided by personal taste in choosing tea herbs.
Other herbs are grown for their aromatic flowers and foliage. They are used to make fragrant oils, potpourris, and sachets. For example, you can refresh your linen closet or your clothes drawers with sprigs or sachets of dried lavender or mint flowers and leaves. Fragrant herbs such as lemon verbena, rosemary, mint and even rose petals are often used in commercial cosmetics, soaps and toilet waters.
Another group of herbs you may wish to grow are used to enhance health. Many of these have a long history of use in folk medicine. These herbal preparations were once the only medications used, and in some countries, they are still the only available treatments. Many medicines we use today are derived from natural plants. Some commonly recognized medicinal herbs are arnica, calendula, fennel, sage, valerian and echinacea. Before using herbs as curatives, you must familiarize yourself with their properties, and study how to correctly use them.
We also can grow herbs because they are beautiful, and add to our visual enjoyment. Lavender is often grown for its spikes of lavender flowers, echinacea for its bold orange and purple blooms, and varieties of sage for red or blue blossoms and dusty green foliage. Who hasn’t seen creeping blankets of thyme draping over rock gardens, with a blush of tiny purple flower spikes.
Many herbs mentioned will overlap into different groups, since they are grown for different uses. The best example, mint, is used for cooking, tea, cosmetics and pest control. No matter your reason for starting your own home herb garden, by understanding how different plants are used, you will be able to choose the right herbs just for you.
