The Italian Herb Garden
Growing your own herbs in an Italian herb garden provides a huge amount of possibilities. Some of the most famous and tastiest herbs in the world come from Italy. Some of the best cuisines come from Italy and are famous in part for their herbs.
One well known Italian herb is Basil and it is useful in many recipes. Basil will not only add flavor to many Italian cuisines, it is useful in the garden to other plants. Did you know that planting them beside tomatoes and peppers will improve their flavor?. Plus, basil will also repel flies and mosquitoes. Click here for more: herbs in italian
Parsley, while slightly harder to grow will find it’s way into many Italian recipes as well as other types of cuisine. Fresh parsley also used to be used for refreshing the breath after an appetizing meal. The tradition arose to serve parsley on a small dish after the meal. The tradition lives today by using parsley as a garnish on a variety of meals.
Equally tasty and appealing is Oregano. When it is fully mature it will sprout pretty little purple flowers. Remember that Oregano should not be freshly used until it has fully blossomed because this is when it is at it’s flavorsome best.
Fennel is famous for its seeds that grace and enhance the flavors of Italian sausage. The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant looses its flavor as it matures. To get the best out of this perennial, every few years it should be divided and replanted to enhance the taste. For more visit our blog: Herb Garden Blog
Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden. IT sprouts little blue flowers and grows into a large shrub. It helps the garden by attracting bees. Although it is a tough evergreen perennial, it is sensitive to frost.
Probably the most used herb in Italian cuisines is garlic. And no Italian herb garden would be complete without garlic. They need little attention once planted and will thrive in most gardens. They can be stored to be used at a later time after they are harvested by freezing them or pickling them to store in the refrigerator.
Sage is used in a variety of Italian dishes from meats to salads. With Sage, it is the new shoots that are the most tasty so it is recommended to trim the plant regularily. This will encourage new growth. Harvest Sage after it has bloomed.
While there are many more herbs that canbe put to good use in your Italian herb garden, it is important to think about which ones you will use. This means examining the growing conditions for each type of plant and whether or not it is easy for you to provide them. So while Italian herbs are essential for cooking they also provide much more than just flavor. Take their scenic role in landscaping. They can be particularly useful for their smell and color.
By planting Italian herbs amongst other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy. It will be like taking a stroll on a Italian hill side. Click here for more: Herb Gardening
