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SewMommy's Herb Garden

Welcome to my Herb Garden. Growing herbs is something that I enjoying doing. There's nothing better than fresh herbs from your own garden to make a recipe perfect. I hope you will find this information helpful! Enjoy your visit!

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Basil

Growing - There are many varieties with Sweet Basil as the favorite. Promote growth and prevent flowering by pinching top leaves when plants are 5 inches tall. Will not tolerate even a light frost. They need full sun.

Harvesting- Pick leaves as the day starts to warm and the dew is evaporated, to get the most oil from leaves.

Cooking - Mix with sundried tomatoes and pasta, layer in between fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Brush with olie oil on bruchetta. Main ingredient in pesto.

Preserving - Wash and towel dry completely. Layer leaves in airtight freezer container such as plastic bag. Thaw as needed. Also preserve in vinegar.

Companion Herb - Oregano

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Chives

Growing - Grows easily in grassy clumps with edible pink spring blossoms. To harves, snip leaves and use fresh as needed. Maintain a winter crop on a sunny windowsill. Needs full sun.

Harvesting - Harvest flowers before they fully open. Snip leaves down to one to two inches above ground level.

Cooking - Perfect for sprinkling on top of cream soups and sauces, with fish, cream cheese and egg dishes, and baked potatoes. Use fresh stalks whole or minced.

Preserving - Bunch into small "cigars" and place in airtight freezer containers; thaw as needed. Also can freeze in butter for herb butter.

Companion Herb - Cilantro

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Cilantro

Growing - Distinct aromatic herb with lacy foliage. Rapid grower, sow seeds directly in garden. Transplants poorly. Needs full sun.

Havesting - Pick tender leaves of young plant. Use fresh or pick flowerheads after seeds ripen.

Cooking - Perfect for Mexican and Asian dishes. Put in sour cream dip, on fish, mix with butter and spread on corn on the cob. Great on pizza and in salads.

Preserving - Seeds, called coriander seeds, hold flavor better than leaves. Hang spent cilantro flowers upside down in paper bag to gather seeds. Ground for cooking.

Companion Herb - Chives

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Dill

Growing - Feathery foliage with umbrella shaped flower heads. Prefers cool weather - quickly goes to seed in hot humid weather. Pinch flowers all summer to increase leaf production and prevent self-sowing. Prefers full sun.

Harvesting - Pick leaves as needed. Remove fronds from stem. Harvest seeds several weeks after plant flowers.

Cooking - Sprinkle freshly chopped leaves on cucumbers and tomatoes or mix with sour cream. Excellent on salmon. Add seeds to rice and fish dishes.

Preserving - Leaves: Freeze whole or in air tight container, or chop for herb butter. Seeds: cut flowers when seeds are brown, then hang in paper bag until seeds drop.

Companion Herb - Taragon

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Mint

Growing - Rampant spreader. Plant in pot then sink in ground to control. Cut back to the ground after flowering to encourage new growth. Divide in spring or fall. Prefers full sun, but partial shade o.k.

Harvesting - Pinch stems as needed.

Cooking - Serve with berries, melon, iced tea. Stir into cucumber soup, and salad dressing. Use in marinade for chicken.

Preserving - Hang in tightly bound bunches upside down in dark, dry location. Can be frozen.

Companion Herb - Lemon Grass.

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Parsley

Growing - Curled parsley often used as garnish. Flat parsley mostly flavorful. Both are excellent for growing on sunny windowsill. Harvest all winter indoors. For most flavor, best to start a new crop each year. Prefers full fun.

Harvesting - Cut whole stems from outside of the clump, an inch or two above the ground.

Cooking - Use fresh as a garnish or add to soups, steaks, rice, salads. Delicious with cold fish and chicken.

Preserving - Place whole stems in airtight freezer container. Chop when ready to use.

Companion Herb - Savory

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Oregano

Growing - Many varieties available, with Greek oregano considerest best tasting. Snip fresh springs all summer long as needed. Pinch freqhently to keep bushy. Divide crowded clumps in early spring.

Harvesting - Cut sprigs as needed and remove leaves for cooking. Remove flowerbuds to maximize leaf production.

Cooking - Use fresh or dried. Main herb for Italian, Greek and Mexican dishes. Add to cheese, vegetables, fish and poultry. Sprinkle on pizza.

Preserving - Hang upside down in small bunches to dry. Protect from dampness and light. Flavor intensifies with drying. Can be frozen.

Companion Herb - Basil

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Sage

Growing - Soft grey-green leaves. Cut plants back one half in spring if they are leggy. To propagate, tkae cuttings from new growth. Dought tolerant. Many varieties.

Harvesting - Snip individual leaves as needed.

Cooking - Best used for poultry stuffing. Add fresh leaves to vinegars and herb utters. Saute with fish and almonds. Add to mushrooms.

Preserving - Cut stems and hang to dry in bunches. Dry slowly to retain most flavor.

Companion Herb - Sorel

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Thyme

Growing - Low growing spreading plant. Grows well as edging. Tiny aromatic leaves can be snipped as needed. Many varieties available. Needs full sun.

Harvesting - Trim tender stem tips, removing no more than one half of current season's growth.

Cooking - Use fresh or dried. Sprinkle on fish and chowder, in sausage and stuffings. Cook with fried eggs and poultry.

Preserving - Drw with leaves on stem; strip and crumble just before using. To freeze, remove leaves first. Either method intensifies flavor.

Companion Herb - Marjoram

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