Herbs offer a wonderful flavor for food and hold many key nutrients. We are happy to offer a large variety of herbs each spring and summer at the garden center. Today, we'd like to share many key benefits of several popular herbs.

Basil

• Use the flowers at the end of the plant for teas

• Basil is heart-healthy

• You can freeze the leaves for Winter: cut them off the plant, wash them, and let the sun dry the leaves. Then put it in an airtight zipped bag and freeze

• Plant Basil near your tomatoes to keep Hornworms away

• Try Basil in your eggs. Basil is also wonderful in roll-ups: Basil, fresh tomato or fresh salsa, and fresh mozzarella.

Catnip

• Use to keep ants away

• Plant in your garden, especially if you have outdoor cats- they love it

• Makes a great calming tea

Chives

• Boosts immunity

• Helps ease digestive discomfort

• Heart-healthy

• Wonderful as a garnish or mixed in sour cream or cream cheese receipes

Chocolate Mint

• Plant it by itself because it will invade

• It makes a great ground cover if you want it to spread

• Plant different mints apart or after awhile they will all taste and smell the same

• Chocolate Mint is wonderful in brownies, freshly brewed coffee, and tea

• Drink mint tea for digestive troubles or if you have no appetite

Cilantro

• Cilantro is difficult to grow in a container because it goes to seed quicker in a pot. Alternatively, plant it directly in the ground

• The flower part is Coriander

• If you start from seed, plant it three weeks apart in your garden for Cilantro all summer

• Make a tea with the leaves for an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory boost

• Great natural insecticide for spider mites. It also keeps aphids away

Dill

• Dill has several important vitamins and minerals, including Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin C, and Potassium

• If you grow it beside your cucumbers, they complement each other beautifully

• Dill is a host for butterflies

• Wonderful cut flower

• The "weed" is the part that has the flavor

Mint

• Best planted in a pot or raised bed as it will spread

• If you aren't concerned about it spreading, you can plant it in the ground as a ground cover

• May help relieve indigestion

• You can eat a mint leaf to quickly freshen your breath

• Mint is used in many Mediterranean dishes

Lavender

• You can plant lavender in pots or directly in the ground. If planting in a pot, plant in a terra-cotta pot as it draws water away from the roots

• Lavender grows best in full sun and light, well-draining soil

• This herb is used medicinally to calm nerves, can help reduce insomnia, as well as in soaps, lotions, teas, baking, and more

Lemongrass

• Lemongrass contains Calcium, Iron, and Vitamin C

• Its flavor is described by many as lemony, minty, with a hint of ginger

• It can be used in soups, salads, and meat dishes

Oregano

• Can help fight inflammation when added to dishes

• It's fine to grow in a pot; it will continue to spread/ grow out of pots. it grows quickly

• Oregano pairs well with almost every vegetable combination

Parsley

• Parsley is a "Balancing Herb". This plant will balance flavors in cooking

• It's hard to start from seed

• Parsley is great added in smoothies to help with allergies

Rosemary

• Rosemary tea will usually take a tension headache away

• Has natural food preservatives to it

• Known as the "Herb of Memory"

• Makes a great pesto with Parsley

• Great in container pots but needs good drainage

• Water every now and then but don't overwater

• Snip Rosemary and place it in the dirt, keep it moist, and another Rosemary plant will grow

Sage

• Great to make a tea from

• Helps lower blood sugar if you drink it on an empty stomach

• Helps with nervousness- drink on an empty stomach before whatever activity

• Can grow in a pot or in the ground in full sun

Stevia

• The one sweet that is good for your teeth- it helps build enamel

• Dry it in the fall- cut it, place in a jar, and label it

• Brew tea and throw a leaf in

• Very sweet; can get bitter if you use too much

  
  

Thyme

• An expectorant (make a tea and drink)

• Use it in Quiche or eggs; delicious. It is also great when making bread and baking

• You can easily grow in a pot or the directly in the ground

• If it browns in the center, add good potting soil in the center and it will rejuvenate

These fifteen herbs are excellent sources to include in your diet and lifestyle. We offer each in spring and they will be available in the coming weeks as the weather continues to warm up. We hope to see you soon at your local nursery.