What to Plant in Your Kitchen Herb Garden
Plant these five herbs for your kitchen whether you have a green thumb or not.
Photo: Leah Klein
It's true, you can go to the supermarket or the farmers market and pick up fresh herbs, but there's nothing quite as satisfying as reaching up to the windowsill or stepping onto the porch to clip fresh herbs from your very own kitchen garden. Plant these five herbs and your meals will be bright and fresh all summer long.
Basil
Basil is great to have on hand to cut into small strips (chiffonade) and sprinkle over cooked fish, grilled chicken, or toss in with a summer salad. However, unless you plan on planting a large pot of basil don't count on enough fresh basil for homemade pesto!
Parsley
Parsley is an undervalued herb; it adds such brightness and flavour to a dish. The most popular parsley tends to be flat leaf Italian parsley, but curly parsley has a stronger, brighter taste. Parsley is great to chop up finely and put into meatballs and hamburgers. It's a great addition to a salad and can be used to make a wonderful salsa verde.
Thyme
Versatile thyme adds a bit of earthiness to a spice rub or marinade for your barbecue chicken, fish, or steak. Thyme is the perfect addition to a vinaigrette for a salad, too. You can even make a thyme syrup to use in cocktails.
Oregano
Oregano is a powerhouse of a spice. Whether you're cooking Italian pizza or Greek roasted potatoes, oregano will transform your dish. It's the perfect herb to pick, bundle, and hang to dry as it keeps its flavour very well once dried. Chop up oregano and sprinkle it on top of a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich, add it to your marinades, and include it in a marinara sauce.
Your Pick
The last herb should be one you want to try or one you love. I love lavender because it smells wonderful! I don't use it much in cooking, but it's just nice to have in the mix. Occasionally the kids and I will pick some lavender and make a syrup for lavender lemonade. It makes a nice little scented sprig for place settings and tables. You can also domint orlemon verbena . Pick one fragrant, floral, or unique herb and play around with it.
