8 Must-Have Herbs for Indoor or Outdoor Herb Gardens

Herbs – one word which is common in the worlds of cookery and medicines, as well as fragrances and embellishments. Most of these herbaceous plants can be utilized as culinary essentials especially via their leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots and fruits. They are basically petite packets of huge flavors. Popular among such herbs are basil, coriander, parsley, mint, thyme and so on. Many herbs also tend to contain curative properties such as healing, soothing, and relieving and various other therapeutic qualities. While such culinary and medicinal herbs can be found quite easily in super stores or organic herb shops, a great way to get your hands on such fresh and healthy herbs whenever you want to, while adorning your home or garden with them, is to plant them either indoor or outdoor. This may sound like a lot of hassle but it is actually extremely simple and cost-effective as well. There are a number of herbs that are great for indoor or outdoor herb gardens, and this article will describe the top eight herbs that have proven to be the best for any garden.

1. Basil

Basil, a popular herb which is also called the herb of love, possesses a sweet, spicy flavor that is lemony as well. There are a variety of basils that can be grown, including the common and eminent Genovese basil, Lemon basil and Thai basil. They tend to be different in terms of their taste, appearance and usage. While the Genovese basil adorns itself with bright green round leaves, the lemon basil beautifies itself with oblong leaves and purple flower shoots and the Thai basil titivates itself with light green narrow leaves. Genovese basil possesses a sweet flavor while lemon basil has a lemony flavor (hence, the name) and Thai basil tastes like licorice. Genovese basil is generally used in Italian cuisine, especially in pesto. Lemon basil is typically used in salads and flavored oils. As its name suggests, Thai basil is used in almost all varieties of Thai and spicy Asian cuisines. No matter what variety of basil it is, it needs at least six to eight hours of sunlight along with soft, well-drained soil and frequent watering.

2. Cilantro

Cilantro is a unique herb that is entirely edible. This means you can eat any part of it, including its seeds and flowers. Its seeds, referred to as coriander, can be used to enhance the flavors of casseroles, meat rubs and stews, with the help of its woodsy, cinnamon flavor. Cilantro is hugely popular and widely used in Mexican dishes including fajita, salsas and tortilla soups, as well as in Asian, European and Mediterranean cuisines, such as stir-fry’s, salads, soups, marinades, etc. Cilantro flourishes particularly in places that have access to early morning sunlight and moist, well-drained soil.

3. Dill

Dill is an attractive delicate herb with mild flavor, edible seeds and soft, thin leaves which are dark green in color. Though it can utilized in almost all types of dishes, including as ingredients in baked dishes and desserts, as garnish in fish, as seasoning in sauces, as spices in potato dishes and egg dishes and flavoring in cucumber dishes and salads, as bases in pickles and as dressings in salads, it should be combined to any dish during the last stage and not the initial ones so that its mild flavors remain intact. Dill is able to grow and survive in almost any condition but it thrives when provided full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil.

4. Mint

Mint is a hardy herb that possesses a refreshing, spicy flavor. Mints can be of several types and varieties such as the popular peppermint, spearmint, orange mint and apple mint. Mint leaves can be utilized as garnishes in the form of chopped leaves, crushed leaves or dried leaves. Mint is widely used in Greek and Mediterranean cuisines. It can enhance the flavor of lamb and red meats, can season rice, curries, bean casseroles and yogurt dressings and can garnish iced tea and mint juleps. Mint typically tends to grow and spread at a high rate. thus, it makes sense to plant and grow them in a separate container with access to full sunlight or partial shade and rich slightly acidic soil.

5. Oregano

Oregano is an herb with a mild flavor. There are a number of varieties of oregano. The most common of them are the Greek and Common oregano. While the Greek oregano possesses a robust flavor, the Common oregano possesses a flavor which is sweeter and less pungent. Oregano is typically utilized in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, particularly as a seasoning for pizzas and pasta sauces. It can be infused into butter, oils, or salad dressings and can enhance the flavor of egg casseroles, frittatas, and omelets. It goes well with spicy soups and stews as well. It should be mixed at the later steps of the cooking of the dishes to maintain the flavor. This plant requires full sunlight and sandy, well-drained soil. They also need to be trimmed frequently to promote the growth of more leaves.

6. Parsley

Parsley is a popular mild flavored herb. There are two common types of parsley which are the flat leaf Italian and curly parsley. Parsley cannot only be used as a garnishing element but also to enhance the flavor of meat dishes, seafood, soups and salads. It goes well with steamed clams, mussels, pasta, sauces and pesto. It can be made as infused oils and flavored butters and can also be mixed in with casseroles, mashed potatoes and rice dishes. Parsleys need full sunlight and moist, rich soil.

7. Rosemary

Rosemary is an herb with a pungent flavor. Its leaves look akin to that of pine trees. They contain needles which should be removed before being used in dishes. Rosemary is usually used to flavor meats and stews. Because of its pungent flavor, it should not be used in huge amounts as this may overpower other flavors of the dishes. Just a big spring should be adequate to season a four pound roast. It goes well with egg casseroles, frittatas, omelets, homemade bread, melted butter, vegetables and roasted potatoes. Rosemary can also be used as a delectable dipping for hot bread or crackers. This plant requires full sunlight and alkaline soil which can result in them growing up to heights of around six feet.

8. Thyme

Thyme is a slow-growing herb which has a strong aroma and earthy flavor. It grows very low to the ground and is better to grow in a separate container since it can quickly spread over a garden floor. It is a perennial that returns for three to four years. Thyme is used to for bread, beans, biscuits, casseroles, gravies, marinades, soups, stuffing and stocks. It is usually paired with rosemary and gives a rich, earthy flavor to most dishes. Thyme requires full sunlight and well-drained soil. They can be harvested usually around mid-June through mid-July.