Our simple guide to creating a thriving herb garden
By Nikki van Coller
If the garden-to-plate lifestyle is calling you , but you don ’ t know where to begin , start with herbs ! They are by far the easiest plants to grow , are low maintenance , easy to harvest , and can grow in as little or as much space as you give them . They will also provide you with plenty of flavour for your salads , stews , sandwiches , sauces and soups – you can literally eat from your herb garden every day and in every meal .
First , let ’ s look at the definition of a herb – or rather , definitions , since there is no one definition that is universally agreed upon . Herbs can be thought of as a widespread group of plants that are not classified as vegetables , with savoury or aromatic qualities that are used for fragrances , for medicinal purposes , or for flavouring and garnishing food . In the kitchen , herbs are distinguished from spices in that they are the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant , while spices are normally dried and come from other parts of the plant , such as the seeds . In botany , “ herb ” refers to any “ soft ” plant that doesn ’ t produce a woody stem , while “ herbaceous ” refers to the green and soft parts of the plant . By this definition , rosemary , for instance , would not be considered a herb , since it has a woody stem . Another suggested definition of a herb is that it ’ s a plant that is useful to humans , although this definition is also not ideal , since it would include plenty of plants that aren ’ t generally thought of as herbs . One of the best definitions from a culinary perspective is that culinary herbs are leafy plants used in small amounts to provide flavour rather than substance to food .
For the purposes of this guide , we will be focusing on what most of us commonly think of as herbs and looking at two plant families – the mint ( Lamiaceae ) family and the carrot ( Apiaceae ) family .