The 5 Must Have Herbs for an Italian Herb Garden

Herbs make food come alive, and Italian food is a great example.  What would pesto be without basil?  What about Italian sausage without fennel?  Yes, herbs are the secret ingredient of many dishes.

If you regularly prepare Italian food, a home Italian herb garden is a must have. There are several choices on what to plant for an Italian Herb Garden; however here are the top 5 must have herbs:

1) Basil

Think of Italian cooking and most of us think of basil.  Basil is easy to grow and fresh basil adds a magical dimension to food.  To keep your plant happy, plant basil in full sun and harvest the top leaves first.  Plant basil next to tomatoes and peppers; basil is said to improve their flavor.  Another added bonus of basil:  it repels flies and mosquitoes from your garden.

2) Oregano

A flavorful and decorative herb, oregano is used in marinara sauces and with beef and lamb.  Oregano loves full sun and hot weather. Harvest oregano once the small purple flowers appear, this is when this herb is most flavorful.

3) Fennel

Another full sun lover, fennel is used in Italian sausage and often used in herbal teas. Fennel is a very strong plant that requires well-drained soil.  Be careful not to overwater. Also, fennel loses flavor as it matures, so divide and replant every few years to renew the flavor of this herb.

4) Rosemary

Rosemary is a shrub-like herb with small blue flowers which can grow up to six feet in height.  Rosemary makes an excellent, fragrant hedge.  Best in full sun, Rosemary will also tolerate limited shade. To harvest, cut stems with shape scissors.  For cooking, remove leaves from stems or use whole stems and leaves for flavoring.

5) Sage

Sage is used in many different dishes ranging from meats to salads.  Sage is happiest is sun, but does not like extreme heat. As with most herbs, it requires well-drained soil.  Trim sage plants to keep them from getting too woody.  This will encourage new shoots and the new shoots are the most flavorful.  It will take about a year for Sage to become established, so harvest lightly the first year.

There are many options when planting an Italian herb garden. In addition to having an abundant supply of fresh, delicious herbs at your fingertips, your home will benefit from having these beautiful and fragrant herbs as part of your garden.