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The Italian Herb Garden

You can open up some wonderful opportunities by growing herbs in an Italian herb garden. Italy has some of the best and most well known herbs in the world.  And herbs have an important role at least in a small way to contributing to popular Italian dishes.

Basil is a well know Italian herb and useful in many Italian recipes. Not only will it add flavor to many menus it is also very useful to other plants in your garden. Did you know that planting them beside tomatoes and peppers will improve their flavor?. Plus, basil will also repel flies and mosquitoes. Click here for more: italian spirit herbs

Parsley, while slightly harder to grow will find it’s way into many Italian recipes as well as other types of cuisine. Many generations ago before their were breath mints it was found that eating fresh, raw parsley after a meal eradicated the bad breath left over from enjoying a flavorful cuisine. The tradition arose to serve parsley on a small dish after the meal.  That is why today many of us use parsley as a garnish to our food.

Oregano is as decorative as it is flavorful.  When it is fully mature it will sprout pretty little purple flowers.  Oregano should not be harvested until it has flowered because this is when the plant is most flavorful.

Fennel is famous for its seeds that grace and enhance the flavors of Italian sausage.  Fennel, unlike Oregano, looses its essence with age. It is a perennial plant that should be divided and replanted every few years to savor its flavor. For more visit our blog: Herb Gardens Blog

Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden.  IT sprouts little blue flowers and grows into a large shrub. It also finds usefulness in attracting pollinating insects like bees. Although it is a tough evergreen perennial, it is sensitive to frost.

Probably the most used herb in Italian cuisines is garlic. An Italian herb garden would simply be incomplete without this useful herb.  Garlic cloves can be planted and will thrive in just about any garden with very little attention. They can be stored to be used at a later time after they are harvested by freezing them or pickling them to store in the refrigerator.

Sage is used in a variety of Italian dishes from meats to salads. With Sage, it is the new shoots that are the most tasty so it is recommended to trim the plant regularily. This will encourage new growth.  Harvest Sage after it has bloomed.

While there are many more herbs that canbe put to good use in your Italian herb garden, it is important to think about which ones you will use. Think about the growing conditions each plant needs and consider whether or not you can provide them. Yes, Italian herbs add flavor to food but they should also be looked at as more then that. Take their scenic role in landscaping. They can be particularly useful for their smell and color.

By planting Italian herbs amongst other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy. It will be like taking a stroll on a Italian hill side. Click here for more: Herb Garden Information