Herbs Fact Guide

So like always I'm multitasking, looking over at my son while he is doing his math homework, and watching my daughter during her gymnastics practice...and gathering some fun herb facts to keep handy this gardening season.

Basil 

• Summer growing season
• 12 weeks harvest period
• Popular in Italian dishes
• Pinch basil often to keep the plant bushy
• For tasty plants remove bud as they appear

Chive

• Late spring/Summer growing season
• 16 weeks harvest period
• Chives are part of the onion family
• Snip the tips of leaves to use as garnish for baked potatoes
• Insufficient water can cause brown tip

Cilantro

• Late spring/Summer growing season
• 5 weeks harvest period
• Cilantro tends to look like parsley.
• When cilantro goes to seed it becomes another herb...coriander
• Coriander harvest period is 12 weeks

Mint

• Spring, Summer and Fall growing season
• Its a perennial
• Only needs to be watered weekly
• Use the leaves as a flavoring and sprigs as a garnish
• Mint is invasive and grows out runners that will pop up throughout the garden

Oregano

• Spring, Summer and Fall growing season
• 16 weeks harvest period
• Only needs to be watered weekly
• Oregano is great with tomato and rice...dried and fresh
• The flavor is stronger when dried.