Italian herbs are known for their flavor and aroma, and are quite popular with people who enjoy spicing up their favorite dishes. Instead of buying herbs at the grocery store, they are finding that fresh herbs straight from their home herb garden do a much better job. There are many Italian herbs that you can grow in your garden and we will look at some of them here.
Parsley
Parsley is a very familiar and popular herbal plant. This is basically available in two varieties. The first is the curly blade and the Italian or flat blade. The curly leaf is often used as a garnish. Parsley is frequently used as a companion plant. It tends to attract insects from other plants. Parsley plants can be grown outdoors very easily and require very little care and attention. These plants became very popular after people learned that chewing parsley leaves after eating freshens the breath.
Rosemary
When people think of growing Italian herbs in their garden, one of the first herbs that comes to mind is rosemary. This herb is very popular for its beautiful aroma and also for the color and flavor it brings to dishes. This plant takes a while to grow, but during that time it has pretty blue flowers that will add more beauty and color to your garden. This plant requires a lot of supervision and care. It will not resist frost.
Sage
Sage is another popular herb for your garden and is used primarily with salads, dressings, and Italian meats. Salvia should be pruned as it grows after it blooms to get the best it has to offer. It must be trimmed frequently to allow new shoots to grow. Fresh sage isn’t as bitter as dried sage, but in any case, a little goes a long way. When cooking fresh sage, you should add it to the pot at the beginning rather than at the end like you would other fresh herbs. Sage will withstand long cooking times, so it works well in casseroles or casseroles.
fennel
While most herbal plants are known for their leaves, the fennel plant is known for its seeds. These seeds are used to add more flavor to sausages and other meat dishes. The fennel plant is best when it is young, when it matures it loses flavor. For best results, it is best to repot regularly.
Garlic
An Italian herb garden would not be complete without garlic. Garlic is one of the most used herbs in any kitchen. Garlic should be planted in the fall sometime between September and November. Depending on where you are going to plant. The soil temperature should cool to about 60 degrees F. The roots of the clove will begin to germinate and begin to take hold, thus anchoring the plant. Be sure to use plenty of mulch to protect them over the winter. The soil must be well drained. When the lower leaves start to brown, that would be an indication that it is time to dig them up for use.
