What to Grow in an Italian Herb Garden

Have you ever bought a bottle of “Italian Herb” Seasoning? Wouldn’t it be great to have your own Italian Herb Garden at your disposal whenever you need to add some spice to your favorite recipe? It’s easier than you may think!

Herbs are wonderful plants that can add beauty to your garden as well as flavor to your favorite dishes. At-home herb gardens are making a come back as more and more people experiment with new flavors in their cooking.

Italian herbs have become some of the more popular for kitchen herb beds. A small sunny garden space can be taken advantage of to create a complete “Lasagna Garden.” Oregano, parsley, basil and sage and rosemary can be grown in any sunny location, including patio pots or a window box for year long use.

What to plant in your Italian Herb Garden:

• Oregano – Oregano tends to take over in the herb bed if it is not contained or at least pruned vigorously. It also does very well as a container plant. Use the fresh leaves sprinkled over meats or in sauces. Oregano is a fantastic addition to Pizza Sauce. For year long use, dry the leaves and store is a glass container.
• Parsley – Parsley is well known as a garnish and for its unique flavor. This biennial herb prefers full sun and will do equally well in patio pots or in the ground. Toss this flavorful herb into a fresh garden salad for a refreshing treat. Basil – Considered a tender annual in many areas of the country, basil grows well in patio pots. A perfect match with tomatoes, basil is used extensively in Italian cooking. Use fresh leaves or freeze for year long enjoyment.
• Sage – A hardy herb that packs a powerful flavor punch, sage grows in nearly any type of soil, but prefers full sun. Use sage to flavor rabbit, pork or poultry. It is also very good as a flavoring for sausage. Leaves may be used fresh or dried and stored for later use.
• Rosemary – A tender perennial, rosemary is best suited to patio pots or indoor window boxes in much of the country. Use rosemary to give meats a gourmet touch. Leaves may be used fresh or dried and stored.

As you experiment with new flavors, you may want to add new varieties of these and other herbs. Additionally you may want to add a Roma Style tomato plant for truly fresh tasting authentic Italian dishes.