I want to preface this by saying that I rarely keep plants alive. This could be why my husband purchased myself a self-watering herb garden planter. However, this has been my fifth year in a row I’ve planted a thriving herb garden! They are hearty and essentially fool-proof, and I highly recommend starting your own. Even if you are very limited on space, you can start one in pots or in a small planter just like I did!

Typically I plant around Memorial Day, but with this mild Spring we are having, I decided to start my garden a little early on my back deck. It’s so nice just running outside to grab a garnish and having the satisfaction of knowing that I planted my very own tarragon for my lemon tarragon chicken, or basil for a fresh basil tomato salad. This year, I have thyme, chives, rosemary, parsley, dill, basil, tarragon, sage, lemon balm, and mint. I planted my lemon balm, mint, and sage in their own pots, since they become very invasive and can take over planters. I also have a new addition this year! I decided to grow some Nasturtiums, which are edible flowers that can garnish just about anything, including summer cocktails, mocktails, and food!

I have come up with so many ways to use these herbs, beginning with giving them away to my guests who come over for dinner! There’s a new trend of taking metal wire, bending it into a circle, and wrapping fresh herbs around it to make a “herb wreath” to give away to guests who can use them all year long! Rosemary is great in fresh breads, and I have even placed sprigs into pitchers of water! (That tip was taken from a restaurant I recently visited and it’s so refreshing). I love using sage with pork. Just grab a few leaves, throw in the pan with a fresh pork chop, and let it crisp up. Basil, as you know, is great in a salad with some mozzarella and tomatoes and I’ve been chopping up my chives to place in my sour cream and cream cheese. I’m utilizing the dill in my garlic dill pickles that I started to make just last year! Please email cmh08343@gmail.com for the recipe. Mint of course goes great in any mojito.

There was one plant I wasn’t sure what to do with, and it’s the plant I have been using the most. Lemon balm is great for sore throats, and lucky for me, I happen to have a cold from my allergies this season. When making loose tea, add in some sprigs of lemon balm! Lemon balm has so many medicinal purposes as well as tastes great in a fresh cocktail, so be sure to plant it when thinking about an herb garden. As you can see, my herb garden has paid for itself 10 times over! Happy gardening