Tag: Herbs

Some dried herbs have better flavor and are worth keeping in your pantry than others. Oregano, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, curry leaf, and fennel seed are all good dried. When using dried rosemary, be sure to chop the tough leaves before adding to a recipe. Which dried herbs are best? Here, 8 dried herbs […]

Your herb is making a flower, then a seed, then it dies back for that season. So, it is best to keep any flowers from forming in the first place. As you see a flower budding, simply pinch the entire thing off. If you find that the herb is persistent, cut back below the flower, […]

Perennial herbs like sage, thyme, lavender, chives and mint do not need to be replanted each year. But annuals like basil and cilantro will not survive an Iowa winter – so they must be replanted each spring. To make matters more confusing, dill, fennel, and a few other annual herbs reseed each year. Do herbs […]

What is Bolting? While plants do not “run away” physically, their growth may run away rapidly, and this is basically what this phrase means in the gardening world. Plants, mostly vegetable or herbs, are said to bolt when their growth goes rapidly from being mostly leaf based to being mostly flower and seed based. What […]

Herb varieties to grow this month include: chives, thyme, oregano, parsley and basil. Get your annual and perennial flowers going by germinating this month so they’ll be ready for spring. What is best to plant in January? It’s also safe to direct sow several vegetables in your garden, including arugula, cabbage, carrots, kale, lettuce, onions, […]

Keep the herbs in a warm, sunny environment. Place the herbs in a south-facing window, if possible. Basil is one exception—it doesn’t like cool weather and will start drooping if the temperature drops. Keep the leaves from touching the glass window to prevent it from getting too hot or too cold. How do you keep […]

Hanging Dry To hang dry herbs, tie sprigs or branches into small bunches (large, dense bunches can develop mold and discolored leaves). Hang the bunches up to dry, leaves downward, wrapped loosely in muslin or thin paper bags to keep out dust and to catch falling leaves or seeds. Where is the best place to […]

Whether we want to eat the tender leaf tips or gaze at the bright dried flowers, the best way to retain color and flavor is to hang the herbs upside down in a cool, dark place. Sunlight and excessive heat can damage volatile oils as well as color, leaving the remaining plant without scent, brown […]

In pots, avoid garden soil, yes you heard correct, avoid garden soils like topsoil or black earth! These soils are heavy and take forever to dry out after a rain. Using a potting soil or ProMix will be lighter and fluffier, perfect for herb growing. Can you use any soil for herbs? Soil will vary […]

Letting herb flowers to go to seed So, ideally, don’t let your herbs flower at all, and if they do, snip off the flowers quickly to stop them from dying. Are herbs still good after flowering? Flowers are pretty and lovely to see on our annuals or perennials, on herbs, they’re normally a sign of […]

Dill. Dill is one of the quickest growing herbs. Sprout to harvest, you’re looking at about 40 days. And while dill isn’t as popular as other herb varieties, it’s surprisingly versatile. What is the easiest herbs to grow? The 10 Easiest Herbs To Grow Basil. Amazon. SHOP AT AMAZON. Thyme. Lazing Bee. $2 AT AMAZON. […]

If you are faced with an abundance of fresh herbs, and don’t know what to do with it, drying the herbs is the surest way to minimize food waste and have herbs on hand that still pack a load of flavor in your favorite recipes. Don’t waste and instead make those excess herbs work for […]

To extend their seasons a bit longer, annuals—such as basil, dill, and cilantro—can be dug out of the ground and potted in containers. Just place them on a sunny windowsill. Depending on your climate zone, perennial herbs, such as lavender, spearmint, oregano, and chives should come back each spring. Do herbs need to be cut […]

Herbs must be completely dry or they mold. Store in a cool, dry, dark area, away from light and heat. Dried herbs keep their flavor and color three months in cupboards and up to one year in refrigerators or freezers. Is freezing herbs better than drying? However, drying doesn’t always capture the flavor as well […]

Herbs that can be cut and regrow include softwood varieties like; Basil, Parsley, Chives, Mint, Lemon Balm, Mustard and Cilantro. All of which will take either cutting down to around two thirds of their full height and then waiting to regrow, or having leaves pinched out at a node to encourage new growth to sprout. […]

Can you plant living herbs outside? Yes. Once your supermarket living herb has been divided, you can pot up the individual clumps to keep as indoor herbs, or transplant them outside in your garden (preferably after a week of hardening off to reduce transplant shock). Can I plant supermarket basil outside? To repot grocery store […]

Always cut your herbs with sharp, clean scissors or clippers. This prevents plant damage and promotes the growth of the plant. If you are pinching with your fingers, clean your hands before starting. Start snipping leaves from annual plants like Basil, cilantro, stevia and dill* as soon as the plant is strong. Do herbs regrow […]

Follow the 1/3 rule when harvesting herbs; make sure to only take 1/3 of the plant each time you harvest. Most herbs should be harvested before flowering, to preserve its unique flavors. Sage – Harvest only lightly during the first year of growth. Second growing season and thereafter, harvest any time year-round. How do you […]

Using a potting soil or ProMix will be lighter and fluffier, perfect for herb growing. Add in an occasional watering (twice a month) with 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer to recharge the nutrients your plants will take from the soil and you’ve made a bed fit for a (herb) king! What is best potting soil for […]

These are some of the best types to harvest at home. MINT. Many experts recommend growing mint but warn against letting it run amok—best to keep it in pots. ROSEMARY. CILANTRO. SAGE. THYME. BASIL. NASTURTIUMS. PARSLEY. Can I plant herbs in the spring? But there are many herbs that can be planted in the spring […]