The Italian Herb Garden
Starting your own Italian herb garden will provides a huge amount of possibilities. Italy is famous for some of the tastiest herbs in the world. Some of the best cuisines come from Italy and are world famous in part for their herbs.
Basil is the best known Italian herb and is useful in many Italian recipes. Basil will not only add flavor to many Italian dishes, but is useful in the garden to other plants. Did you know that planting basil next to your peppers and tomatoes will actually improve upon their flavor? Plus, basil will also repel mosquitoes and flies.
Parsley is can be a hard herb to grow, but it is useful in not only Italian dishes but many other types of dishes. Long ago, before their were breath mints, it was found that eating fresh, raw parsley after a meal eradicated bad breath left over from flavorful cuisine. The tradition cam about to serve parsley on a small dish after the meal. The tradition lives on today by using parsley as a garnish on a wide variety of dishes.
Oregano is as flavorful as it is decorative. When it is fully mature it will sprout beautiful little purple flowers. Oregano should be harvested after it has flowered because this is when the plant is the most flavorful. A must have addition to your Italian herb garden.
Fennel is famous for the seeds that enhance and grace the flavors of Italian sausage. The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant looses its flavor as it matures. It is a perennial plant and should be divided, then replanted every few years to savor its flavor.
Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial in the garden. It grows into a large shrub that spouts blue flowers. It helps the garden by attracting bees. Although it is a tough evergreen perennial, it is sensitive to frost.
Sage is also used in a variety of Italian dishes including salads and meats. New shoots of the plant will contain the most flavor so it is recommended to not let sage plants get to woody by keeping them trim. Sage can be harvested after it blooms.
This brings us to the most used herb in Italian cuisines, garlic. No Italian herb garden would possibly be complete without this useful herb. Garlic gloves can be directly planted and will thrive in just about any garden with little attention. They can be stored to be used at a later time after harvesting by freezing them. They can also be pickled and stored in the refrigerator.
Although there are many, many more herbs that can be included in an Italian herb garden, consider which herbs you will use by thinking about the growing conditions each plant needs, and consider whether or not it’s possible provide them. Italian herbs add flavor to food but they should also be looked at as more then that. They can also make beautiful additions to landscaped designs. They can also be displayed just for color and their aroma. Be sure to plant Italian herbs along with other plants. Like taking a stroll on a Italian hill side, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy!
