Rosemary is one of the easiest herbs to grow, but without occasional pruning, it can become woody, leggy, and overgrown. Knowing how to prune rosemary, when to do this, and how much to cut back, helps keep plants compact, vibrant, and producing fresh growth. Whether you are shaping a mature rosemary bush, trimming a container…
Rosemary is a great herb to grow in containers. If you have a sunny patio, deck, or indoor windowsill, it’s easy to grow rosemary in pots with the right soil, sunlight, and watering routine. This popular kitchen herb thrives in containers and adapts well to patios, balconies, and small-space gardens. It is also a good…
Start seeds indoors to get a head start on spring gardening. You’ll get healthy, strong plants without spending extra on store-bought seedlings or plants from garden centers. Whether you plan to grow flower or vegetable seeds, knowing when to start seeds indoors is critical. Sow them too early, and they may be ready to plant outdoors…
Many beginning vegetable gardeners make the common mistake of starting too large. If you don’t have a large yard with room for a traditional garden, growing a vegetable garden on a deck is a simple and surprisingly productive alternative. You don’t need acres of space to grow your own food. Choose the right containers, add…
Would you like a list of winter spices to use in Christmas recipes? This Christmas spices list is for you! Whether your tastes run to prime rib or a home-cooked turkey, knowing which Christmas herbs and spices to use is a must. The smell of a typical holiday dinner is a yearly happening that most of…
Would you like to know the best herbs for roasting turkey? Thanksgiving is coming soon, and a roasted turkey is on many menus. If you are cooking turkey for the first time, you may find yourself asking, “What herbs and spices go with turkey?” You can place a turkey in your oven and roast it…
Knowing how to preserve herbs is the key to keeping your garden’s fresh flavors ready to use during the winter months. With a few simple methods, you can dry, freeze, or store herbs to use in recipes long after harvest. The process is quick, practical, and prevents waste when frost hits. Drying, freezing, or turning…
Looking for herb plants that live for more than two years without needing to be replanted? This list of 33 perennial herbs features herbs to use in cooking, for medicinal use, and to add interest to your garden. Each hardy herb in this list includes a description of its key traits—leaf shape, growth habit, scent, and…
Herbs bring fresh flavor to recipes and are easy to grow, but not all herbs have the same life cycle. This list of annual, perennial, and biennial herbs will help you select the perfect herb for your garden. Annual herbs complete their life cycle in one season, biennial herbs take two years to grow, and…
Growing herbs indoors is a great way to keep their fresh flavor at your fingertips all year long. With the right setup, many popular herbs will grow inside, providing a constant supply to use in your recipes. It’s important to choose varieties that adapt well to indoor conditions. Basil, rosemary, parsley, and chives are popular…
Growing herbs for kitchen gardens is so easy to do that any home cook can have a supply of them on hand all the time. Why pay retail prices for herbs? There is nothing quite like growing herbs to add tons of flavor to recipes. They add a fullness of flavor that dried herbs just…
Chives grow well with a variety herbs and vegetables. The list of chive companion plants below will help you decide how to design your vegetable garden in the most efficient way. Growing chives can help protect your crops. Their strong aroma acts as a natural pest control, deterring predatory insects. The flowers of chives will attract pollinators…
Learn everything you need to know about growing chives in pots, including planting instructions, care tips, and pest control. Although you can grow chives in the soil of a vegetable garden, growing potted chives is a great option if you live in an apartment, want to grow herbs indoors, or prefer having an outdoor deck garden….
Oregano grows well with a variety of vegetables and herbs. The list of oregano companion plants below can help you decide how to organize your vegetable garden in the most efficient way. Pairing oregano with the right plants can protect your crops, improve growth, and make better use of your garden space. Oregano’s strong aroma acts…
If you want to add flavor to your cooking try growing oregano. This perennial herb is easy to care for, even for beginners. Oregano is a fast growing herb with a long producing season. You can use the fresh leaves in recipes, or preserve them for later by freezing and drying them. Learn everything you need…
Did you know that May 19 is Plant Something Day? The weather is warming up and gardeners are itching to get growing! Do you remember those days from years ago when May baskets were added to a friend’s doorway on May Day, the First of May? I remember those days, fondly, and it saddens me…
Get a head start on spring gardening by starting seeds indoors with Jiffy Peat Pellets. These handy peat pots have the perfect soil for seedlings and they can be transplanted right into the ground as soon as the weather is warm enough. Some plants need a long time to mature. Others, like bell peppers, need…
Let’s have a look at cooking with bay leaves. These little green leaves pack quite a punch when it comes to adding flavor and aroma to your recipes. Bay leaves are commonly used in soups and stews, sauces, and marinades, where they simmer alongside other ingredients. Whole bay leaves are most commonly used due to…
Welcome to our guide for how to dry bay leaves from your own backyard bay laurel plant. It is so much easier than you might think! Dried bay leaves are sold at most supermarkets, but if you have your own plant, you can easily dry the leaves to use in your recipes (and the flavor…
It is coming to the end of the herb growing season for many of us. Did you know that you can freeze herbs to make them last longer? When summer turns to fall, the thought of losing those fresh herb flavors in your recipes because of the cold can be disheartening. Fortunately for us, there…
This visual guide to herb identification makes identifying herbs a snap. How well do you know the names of the fresh herbs? Many herbs look quite similar, so it’s easy to be confused. Do you often ask yourself – “What herb is this?” I can’t tell you how many times I have come back from…
Bay Leaf plants are slow growing trees with leaves that are used as seasoning in cooking. It is also known as bay laurel, sweet bay and simply laurel. If you enjoy growing herbs, this is a great one to try, since it has a very aromatic flavor. Bay leaf plants are a member of the…
The flavor dried dill just can’t compete with that of the fresh herb. Let’s check out some tips for growing dill. Fresh dill is a very popular kitchen herb. It is highly aromatic and really easy to grow. Fresh herbs are something that I grow year round, both indoors and outside, either in pots or…
Tarragon is a perennial herb with an anise-licorice flavor that is often used in French cuisine. Follow these tips for growing tarragon in your kitchen herb garden. This herb comes in several varieties, depending on the region that it is grown. I find French tarragon the hardest to find for sale. It is worth sourcing…
These tips for sage plant care will help you get the most out of this popular garden herb plant. Garden sage is a culinary herb that is often used around the holidays to flavor your stuffing, but I use it all year round as a flavor component for chicken dishes. Sage is not just for…
Growing Cilantro is quite easy as long as you take care to keep it away from the hottest heat. Love it or hate it, cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is still one of the most popular herbs for kitchen gardens . Cilantro is a staple of Mexican and Asian cooking. It makes a great garnish and is best served…