Fresh Herbs

I find fresh herbs to be inspiring.  The way they look, the fragrances, and their pure freshness make me want to create with them, especially at this time of year. 

When the days are gray and daylight rare, it’s easy to get into the doldrums and feel like the entire world is inhospitable.  But hold a bunch of rosemary in your hand, close your eyes and then bruise the leaves – you’ll be transported to a warm and sunny location in the blink of an eye. 

Nearly every grocery store today carries packages of fresh herbs.  Even better, though, are those you grow yourself.  No matter what type of housing you live in, I’ll bet you have an area that could be used for a container or two of herbs! And if you have any type of yard, you are really in luck!

Many people think that herbs are too delicate to be grown outside during the winter but that is a misconception.  Herbs, like other plants, display a whole range of hardiness.  Many herbs are evergreens, some are perennials and others are annuals.  You just need to take a little time to figure out which herbs fall into which category and you can make a planting plan. 

At my house I plant herbs all around the yard but especially in my perennial flower bed.  I use herbs that are evergreen or very hardy perennials so that they provide some interest and color in the flower bed over the winter months.  I have two rosemary bushes that are anything but delicate!  In fact, I prune both of them a couple times a year and normally my prunings from these two plants fill a garbage can!  I will say that for several years I tried to grow rosemary in a pot and had limited luck with that, but I think mostly because I tried to keep the plants too small and because I never really had a place that was sunny enough.  They need lots of sun, drainage and good air circulation. 

But other herbs that I have had great luck with – both in pots and in beds – have been thymes, oregano and marjoram, sages, lavender, verbena, chives and mints.  Thyme comes in a variety of flavors.  I generally have an English thyme, silver thyme and lemon thyme planted somewhere at all times. :-)  Thyme is one of the hardiest varieties and although it will flower and go to seed in late fall, the plants continue to grow slowly all winter long.  Snow will set them back but never kills them.  Oregano and marjoram, which are actually different varieties of the same plant, are a bit more diverse in their hardiness.  I have some types that once they go to seed they will die back during the coldest months but are quick to start sending out new shoots much earlier than you would expect.  I have other varieties that are viable all winter. 

Most sages also seem to be fairly hardy, although I do have a pineapple sage that acts more like a true perennial.  My tri-color and "regular" sage can be used all winter.  Mint is also more of a true perennial, although even the stems have a lot of flavor so they can be used throughout the winter and normally, if I look closely, I’ll find a few leaves starting to push through at the base of the plants.  If you choose to plant any type of mint in a flower bed, be prepared to have it spread everywhere.  Not just in the bed but out into the grass and wherever it can get to.  If you want to keep it contained you must put it in a pot.  I happen to like it popping up here and there and I’ve found that spearmint is a little less invasive than some other types of mint but in general, just know that you can’t contain it.  Chives are also a true perennial but will also start sending up new shoots in late winter. 

All varieties of parsley and basil are annuals.  You can grow them indoors if you have a bright location but I generally just wait until it’s nearly warm enough to set them out and then start the seed indoors.  Parsley actually "volunteers" really well.  So I normally find plants popping up here and there as soon as the weather begins to warm. 

I encourage you to plant a few herbs of your own.  Then on a dreary winter day, step into your yard and pick a bit of sunshine.  You’ll find fresh herbs not only add something to your meal but they also pick up your attitude!