Basil-
There are many kinds of basil, and Shepherd's favorite is "Genovese," which requires cool sun and consistent day/night temperatures in the 50s. "Don't start ... more
Basil-
There are many kinds of basil, and Shepherd's favorite is "Genovese," which requires cool sun and consistent day/night temperatures in the 50s. "Don't start it too early," she cautions. Find a sunny spot for it, and harvest it often. She suggests two plantings a month apart to guarantee a steady supply. Shepherd always plants several kinds of basil in a big, deep pot to use them in salads and sautés. "Late in summer, when they start to flower, I enjoy them as fragrant ornamental edibles," she says.
Recipes to try: Basil-Arugula Pesto, Basil Oil
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For thousands of years, herbs have been used in myriad ways. Their taste, smell, and healing properties have made them integral to the home, whether they are used in beauty products, taken to fight illness, or simply added to enhance the flavor of food. While shakers of the dried variety will do in a, er, pinch, there's nothing quite like fresh herbs to add character and flavor to recipes. Luckily, growing your own herbs is easy, and you can test your green thumb whether you live on acres in the country or six flights up in a city building.
So where do you start? We put that question to Renée Shepherd, owner of Renée's Garden Seeds company and author of two kitchen garden cookbooks, Recipes from a Kitchen Garden and More Recipes from a Kitchen Garden.
"The key is to have your herb garden close to where you're cooking," she says. "Even though I grow an extensive backyard herb garden, I still plant my favorites for everyday use in four or five pots set outside the kitchen patio so I can get to them quickly whenever a recipe needs a little herbal zing." She recommends pots with a diameter of 12 or 18 inches. While they will fit snugly on a fire escape or in a window, she cautions that it's crucial to make sure there's enough sun and also exposure to light in general. Another plus for growing herbs in containers is that they need little weeding and can be moved easily and brought inside if the weather turns chilly.
For a simple how-to guide on growing and maintaining a windowsill or backyard herb garden, including recipes for ten different herbs and extra tips, read on.
