subject: You Don't Need To Be a Chef to Have a Culinary Herb Garden [print this page] Author: Pat Mctigue Many people believe that you need to be a chef or at least hire one in order to have a culinary herb garden. However, this is not true. Now everyone can and should have a culinary herb garden and it is not difficult to do. A culinary herb garden is easy to grow whether you've got a small space on your counter top or a huge yard to plant every herb possible. It is important to know just what a culinary herb garden is because it is not as straightforward as you might think. Not all herbs are the same. Some herbs are for culinary use while others are for medicinal use and then there are some that should not be eaten because they are toxic. Some of the plants that should never be included in a culinary herb garden are mistletoe, mandrake, lily of the valley, foxglove, belladonna, and arnica. Most of these are fine for external use like Arnica, which is excellent for many different muscle strains and sprains. Things like Foxglove, however, can be fatal if taken internally. Foxglove is a species of digitalis, which is used for treating cardiac problems. If you dont have heart problems, or you take too much under the prescription of a doctor, it can certainly cause death. So now that we know what plants to avoid, its time to discuss the plants you want to have in your culinary herb garden. Some of the most popular herbs are things like Basil, Thyme, Parsley, and so on. However, other herbs like Cilantro, which is a common ingredient in Mexican and Thai cuisines, is simple to grow and does double duty. When Cilantro starts to flower and starts to seed, you can pick the seeds, dry them and grind them and you'll have cumin, another popular spice in Mexican dishes as well as in Indian Curries. When growing your herbs, the first thing to do is decide if you want your garden inside or outside. The best place in a perfect world for your herb garden is in a solarium near your kitchen. But unless you reside in an old Victorian mansion, the chances of that being the case are pretty small. So short of a big home renovation project, if you are going to grow your herbs inside, try and put them in a sunny spot such as a windowsill or plant window. Be sure to plant your herbs in pots that drain well in a high quality potting mix. This is not the time to skimp on the cheap stuff. Its also important to know the amount of water your herbs require. Some herbs need to dry out completely before you water them again, while others prefer to stay moist. A culinary herb garden is a great way to start gardening and it is also a great way to include lots of flavor to your dishes without adding a lot of unhealthy things like salt, sugar or fat. You can become healthier while punching up the flavor factor in all your favorite meals.About the Author:
Pat McTigue is an herb garden enthusiast. For great information on
