The #1 Tip for Elevating Your Culinary Game
Do you want your family to devour the meals you prepare? Well, using fresh herbs in your everyday cooking is a game changer. Garden fresh herbs can elevate the taste of a meal that you’ve made for the millionth time. Herbs also add a pop of color on tacos, soup, pasta or a charcuterie board.
Herbs Are Easy to Grow
Herbs are one of the easiest things to grow in a Houston kitchen garden. They don’t take a lot of care and can grow in both a sunny or partial shady spot. Harvest your herbs often and they will produce all year long in your Houston garden.
Herbs Can Act as a Pest Repellant and Attracts Pollinators
Herbs strong scent can deter pests from the garden. Planting herbs near the border or corners of your kitchen garden looks attractive and helps keep out pests. Plus, herbs provide food and habitat to beneficial insects in your garden and can also attract a variety of pollinators.
Chives
Chives are a hardy perennial and can bloom with a beautiful, edible flower. They grow about 10” to 12” tall and can be planted all year in Houston. Harvest chives like you are giving the plant a haircut.
Favorite Uses: Add chives to a garden salad, scrambled eggs, bowl of chili or make a chive butter.
Oregano
Greek and Italian Oregano are wonderful varieties to have in the Houston kitchen garden. Oregano can grow long stems cascading down your kitchen garden bed. To harvest, cut the stem close and pull off the leaves.
Favorite Uses: A delicious garnish to any pizza or pasta dish
Rosemary
Rosemary is a native Mediterranean plant and enjoys a sunny location with dry, well-drained soil. Rosemary does best with less rather than more watering. Certain varieties can grow tall or have a cascading habit in the garden.
Favorite Uses- Add rosemary to a cocktail, garlic bread or anything roasted- chicken, salmon, potatoes, zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes
Sage
Sage has a distinct flavor and its unique gray-green foliage is a wonderful addition to a kitchen garden. Sage should be planted during the cooler Houston temperatures. Sage can struggle in the heat and humidity of a Houston summer.
Favorite Uses- Use in White Bean Dip or Pasta with Brown Butter and Sage
Thyme
Thyme comes in many varieties. You may find you like creeping thyme, lemon thyme, English Thyme or French Thyme. Thyme is harvested by cutting the stems and removing the leaves. Thyme leaves are one of the daintiest of all the herbs.
Favorite Uses- Add to any white bean soup, steamed fish, shortbread cookies, roasted carrots or potatoes, and sauteed mushrooms or onions
Herbs are a Win, Win in the Kitchen and the Kitchen Garden
Not only do herbs add amazing flavor to any meal, herbs can be a wonderful aesthetic addition to the kitchen garden. Herbs have varying leaf color, leaf shape and height, which adds dimension and beauty to any garden. Have an abundance of herbs? You can dry them, place in a vase or give to your friends.