How to Start a Simple Herb Garden

Cooks have depended on the aroma and flavor of herbs to accent meats, poultry and vegetable dishes for thousands of years. Parsley, oregano, thyme and others are an important part of cuisines around the globe.

Some cooks use dried herbs from jars and tins or bundles of herbs from the produce section of the grocery store. Dried herbs have a mysterious origin and there is no way to know how old they may be. And who knows how much pesticide and other concoctions have been sprayed on the "fresh" herbs before they go pot on your stove.

A simple solution is for cooks to grow their own herbs. While this may seem to be a daunting task, it can be quite simple. Start by deciding what herbs to grow. The herbs used most often and in the largest quantities are your best selections. To make it easy to get started, choose just one.

For example, you choose cilantro. You'll need to purchase some seeds. Your local nursery or the garden section of the larger retailers should have several choices. If you want to get a faster start, you can pick up small cilantro plants. However, this brings into question what these plants have been subjected to prior to you buying them. You will need to purchase a medium-sized pot, 8" to 10" in diameter and 10" to 12" tall. Also, you'll need a small bag of potting soil mix and a small bag of blended compost. If all that are available are large bags, you can always save the extra for your next herb project.

Take your purchases to your work area and start by measuring out equal amounts of the two soil ingredients. Fill your pot ¾ full with the potting soil and pour it into a large trash bag. Next, do the same with the blended compost. Mix the two soils together inside the trash bag. Then, fill the pot to within 1" of the rim. You want to leave room at the top to keep water from overflowing before it soaks into the soil.

Read the seed package directions to find the recommended planting depth. Make a three-hole triangle in the center of the soil at the desired depth. Put one seed in each hole and cover lightly with soil. Water thoroughly and cover tightly with clear plastic wrap. Place the pot in a location where it can receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day and where the temperature won't fall below 60 degrees.

Once the seeds sprout, remove the plastic wrap and place the pot in your preferred spot. Wait for the plants to get 6 inches tall or taller before harvesting. Never trim off more than half of the leaves in one week to allow the plant to recover and remain healthy. Keep giving your plants plenty of sunshine along with an adequate amount of water and you should have quality ingredients for your kitchen.