Common Herbs
Five Common Herbs for Container Gardening
Container gardening for herbs is a popular choice for people with little space, and there are common herbs that are used for this type of gardening. With just a little knowledge, you can have an herb container garden of your own.
The advantage of herbs that are grown in pots or containers is that they can be kept in small areas such as decks, patios or porches. Growing them in this manner adds beauty and interest to the space, keeps your herb selections close at hand for snipping and also keeps the herbs to a manageable size. The most popular and common herbs to be grown are usually the most utilized in the kitchen, and consist of chives, rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano.
Chives are a member of the onion family, and have a mild to strong flavor. Growing in an upright manner, chives are included in the five common herbs for container gardening because they take up little space, are easy to maintain, and are easy to use. Chives are best used freshly snipped, although they can also be dried or frozen and stored for later use. They are commonly associated with a baked potato, but there are many uses for this versatile herb. Soups, stews, vegetable dishes, omelets and salads are all enhanced through the addition of chives.
A fragrant and lovely plant, rosemary is a welcome addition to a container garden. Not only is the plant itself delicious and attractive, it is also beneficial to one’s health. Rosemary is one of the common herbs used in cooking since it is so versatile; it can be used to season meats, vegetables and also used in desserts. The plant will form small flowers in white, blue or pink, and can live for well over 10 years if properly maintained.
Another of the common herbs to be used in container gardening is thyme. Its compact size and shape, easy care attitude makes it a perfect candidate, and its pretty flowers complement the color varieties found within the container. Using it in the kitchen couldn’t be easier for the cook; it can be added to dishes in fresh, dried or frozen form with equally successful results. Dishes of fish, beef, chicken, pork, seafood and soups are great ways to use your thyme.
Basil is a well loved herb, earning its place in the common herbs category. Delicious with tomato and pasta dishes of any kind, the sweet flavor is a favorite with many cooks. It is also incredibly easy to grow and harvest, making it an ideal candidate for container gardening as well as a bonus for any cook.
A necessary component to any container garden is oregano; another of the common herbs. Pizza gets a great deal of its flavor and aroma from oregano, and who doesn’t love pizza? Any dish featuring tomato as an ingredient will benefit from adding oregano. This is a plant that needs to be pruned back, but since it will also be widely used in kitchens, that fact never poses a problem.