Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a common flowering herb with lavender-like blue flowers and an aromatic, peppery taste. It’s a member of the carrot family Carpellaceae and grows in North America, Europe, and Asia. The sweet, tangy flavor of Dill can be softened by adding some lemon juice to the leaves. It’s a tough herb to grow; therefore it’s ideal for indoor herb gardening. It’s an evergreen perennial and grows up to two feet tall.
Herb gardens can be as small or as large as you like, but most herbs don’t like to be planted in areas that get too much sun or receive too much fertilizer. Sunlight requirements vary with each variety of herb so check before planting. They do best in bright, sunny spots but could take root in shade or shaded areas if given adequate light and nutrition. They’re fairly drought tolerant, but don’t over-water or waterless their gardens. Fertilizer is unnecessary because they don’t need much to thrive.
When you’re planting herbs like dill, you have a wide variety of herbs to choose from. Which varieties you choose will depend on what your garden needs and the climate in your area. For example, dill requires almost no fertilizer. Fertilizer will add color and keep the foliage healthy, but it will kill the dill seedling when it’s planted. Fertilizer is also unnecessary if you’re growing herbs like basil, marjoram, sage, chives and tarragon.
If you’re planting herbs in your garden for culinary use, you might want to consider growing mint. Mint is used for many dishes, especially in Italy. Mint can be harvested early in the season to help with the flavor of your vegetables and sauces. It doesn’t go well with other kinds of plants, but does well in a large garden. Harvesting mint early also allows you to take advantage of the fresh aroma it brings to your kitchen.
Anise is another herb that’s great to planting herbs like dill in your garden. This herb is a favorite of many people, but anise is very sensitive to frost. It will not grow unless it gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. The best way to provide this is by planting it in a raised bed. Raised beds provide extra space for your herbs to grow and are ideal for growing herbs like anise in containers.
Parsley is another herb you might consider planting in your garden. Parsley adds a lot of flavor to any foods you cook. Parsley is also an important part of parsley oil, which you should use sparingly to add flavor to your cooking. You can purchase this herb at your local nursery or grow it yourself in a pot on your kitchen counter. To get the most out of your parsley garden, you’ll want to pick off the flowers as they come up.
Chives might sound like an herb you want to avoid, but they can actually be planted in your garden as a weed. The best way to plant chives is to dig them up before they sprout their leaves, because their roots will likely kill your plants if they are uprooted too soon. If you’re looking for a dill like plant, look for clover, because it has the same strong flavor as dill. Most people choose dill because it’s easier to grow in the garden, but chives are a safe choice for anyone new to herb gardening.
Fennel can be used both as a spice or a herb. It’s a perennial herb that you can grow in any garden. This herb goes well with cream sauces or soups and is known for its digestive properties. Because fennel is so versatile, you can plant it in almost any area in your garden, making it an easy herb to maintain.