Rosemary

Rosemary is an amazing herb that was held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has been used for the treatment of digestive problems, liver and gall bladder complaints, wounds, toothaches and depressive moods. It can be used in a tea, gargled, baths and of course is a wonderful culinary herb. I love to wrap it around a roast pork or beef when slow cooking. It is also wonderful in roasted potatoes and makes a super seasoner on any grilled meats or fish.
It is an evergreen shrub with dark green narrow leaves and can grow up to 5ft tall. It prefers nutrient rich soil and is very sensitive to frost. If you grow rosemary outdoors be sure to pot it and move it inside before the frost hits.

Many Faceted Mint

Mint is an herb with a variety of species. It can grow up to 20 inches in height and generally has violet coloured flowers. It can be used as a tea and has been used for things such as loss of appetite, gastro-enteric disorders, nausea, colic, gas, cramps, dizziness and colds. It should not be used by infants and children or persons with serious liver or gall bladder diseases. Also, this herb should not be used during pregnancy. It is usually used as a tea or inhaled in a steam bath.
For culinary purposes, mint makes a great garnish in the drink "Mojito" and also may garnish ice tea or any other sweet drink. It can be used in sauces and desserts also.
It is easy to grow and prefers a wet to moist location. Do to it's height, it makes a better outdoor herb than indoor. It is known to spread so plant it where you don't mind it taking up space or plant it below ground in a pot to prevent it from spreading too far.

Culinary Herb Sweet Basil

Sometimes called the "king of herbs", Basil is not only a great culinary herb but also has been known for its healing properties. Basil is best used in it's fresh form as drying can cause it to lose many of it's vital ingredients. Basil can grow up to 20 inches in height with busy dark green leaves. It has a musty, aromatic scent. It is an annual that must be grown in warm rich soil as it is very sensitive to cold. It's leaves have been used to treat digestive problems, gas, nausea, vomiting, skin inflammations, headaches and coughs. It can be used in a tea form or salve. For it's culinary uses it can be used fresh in salads, soups, Italian or Meditteranean cuisine and in many meat dishes. It is almost impossible to prepare a tomato dish without the use of Basil. When the outdoor season ends uproot a few plants and bring them inside to keep on the windowsill so you may have fresh basil all year long.

Must Grow Culinary Herbs

If you're like me, you love the taste that fresh herbs provide in your cooking or baking. Some of the essential culinary herbs in my garden include the following: Basil, Oregano, Summer Savory, Thyme, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley, Chives, Dill and Cilantro. If you have all or most of these herbs growing in your outdoor garden or inside your home you will be well equipped to prepare some amazing dishes or wonderful teas. From time to time I will be focussing on a single culinary herb and it's various uses. I will also discuss the best way to dry this herb for future use. Stay tuned...

Best time to cut fresh herbs

The best time to cut fresh herbs to dry or use in cooking, teas/infusions etc. is in the morning after the dew has dried off the plants or in the evenings. Never cut them in the midday heat. When harvesting your herbs cut them an inch or two above the soil level.