Herbs Spice Up the Garden

Herbs are enjoying unprecedented popularity today. More and more people are using herbs in their cooking, as seasonings and for tea. It's easy to become a gourmet cook by specializing in the cooking herbs ... or a perfumer by growing the fragrant herbs. Or you may choose to grow a selection of them all. Many a busy person has discovered that herb growing is good therapy.

There are only three prerequisites to herb growing: good drainage (except for the mints), sweet (or alkaline) soil and sunshine. Well-drained soil can be sandy, gravelly or even stony, since herbs are not particular. Just add some compost to the soil and lime it once a year, if needed.

Nearly all herbs need at least four hours of sun each day, so plant accordingly. Some herbs, such as the mints, will grow in the shade, but the plants will stretch toward the light. The only difference will be that their taste will probably not be so strong, but still sufficient for cooking purposes.

Mulching during hot summer weather to protect plant roots will help keep herbs healthy. Mulch perennial herbs in the fall for protection from winter thaws and freezing.

Some of the easiest-to-grow, perennial, cooking herbs are mint, thyme, chive and sage. All of these are commonly available as transplants from nurseries or as seeds from catalogs or garden centers.

Other popular, easy-to-grow, culinary herbs include the annuals anise, dill and borage. Anise is used for flavoring cakes and cookies. Dill leaves put a spark in salad dressings and fish dishes. If you want to give your drinks or sauces the flavor of cucumbers, try borage. Its bright, blue flowers will do just that.

Even your cat can benefit from your interest in herbs. If you grow some catnip, a perennial, your favorite feline will love it.

Herbs are great fun to grow and use. They are so popular that the U.S. National Arboretum opened a National Herb Garden several years year ago. You may want to visit it to gain more ideas when you are in the Washington, D.C. area.