What is food without herbs and spices, no matter where you are in the world the local cuisine will definitely require the addition of fresh herbs and spices. With the popularity of Gourmet Cooking shows on television we are all trying new tastes including dishes from all over the world. As most professional chefs prefer to use fresh herbs in their cooking why should we not follow in their steps and grow our own basic herb garden at home.

It is quite easy to put in a basic herb garden to grow the ones used the most. Most of the common herbs used as spices in cooking can be successfully grown in average soil but some do request rich soil, such as oregano.

Some herbs, such as parsley are bi-annuals and can only be harvested after the plant is one year old. In this case it is suggested that you plant a second crop of parsley after the first year as the first planting comes into season ensuring that you have a constant supply from then on. Naturally there are plenty of other herbs which provide produce in their first year, these will make up the bulk of your basic herb garden..

Most herbs are tolerant of direct sunlight, these herbs are, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano. All they require is minimum amount of water to survive. You can harvest leaves, sprigs and twigs from any of your herbs as they are growing, you don't have to pull up the whole plant. This will provide you with fresh organic herbs for your kitchen.

However, some plants like thyme is a very forgiving plant and if it dries out will likely come back when an appropriate amount of water is given. Since some have different soil requirements and can grow under slightly different conditions, having them separated by variety can help get them started and keep them growing throughout their life.

Plant Herbs Close To Where They Will Be Used

For the sake of time and ease of harvesting planting your basic herb garden close to your kitchen makes a lot of sense. In the case of most herbs the entire growth does not have to be cut and used at once. With the right care, the spices will continue to grow and be usable during the entire season. As the season comes to an end drying or freezing the extra cuttings can possibly supply the herb throughout the winter, often lasting until the next crop produces the following year.

If space is a problem, you can consider companion growing? If you have other plants growing such as tomatoes you can plant your herbs in and amongst these plants. Parsley can grow well with tomatoes, asparagus and among roses. Broccoli and cauliflower also welcome rosemary in their midst. Basil also likes to grow alongside tomatoes too.

When companion planting, be sure not to trample the herbs under foot whilst weeding, pruning etc. Maintaining a basic herb garden is not a full time job and with little work you can easily be self sufficient in your fresh herb requirements throughout the year.