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Welcoming Herbs Into Your Vegetable Garden
By Fran Ott
Many garden books recommend that gardeners plant their herbs
close to the kitchen for quick and easy harvest. While this is
good advice, the reality may be that it isnÂ’t practical to your
particular situation. Perhaps your kitchen exits into the shadiest
part of your yard or into your driveway. Even if you have a sunny
patio adorned with all your favorite potted herbs, putting some herbs
back with the rest of your garden will bring you several rewards. The
first benefit is that when you are in the kitchen cooking and need
some fresh herbs you have an excuse to get back into the garden among
your plants and flowers. For us gardeners, is there a better place to
be? Just donÂ’t get too distracted and forget that pan on the stove.
In addition to their culinary applications, most herbs are attractive
plants that add beauty and fragrance to the garden. Gardeners that
allow some of their herbs to go to flower are rewarded handsomely.
Many herbs produce lovely flowers that add spectacular color to the
various shades of green. In addition to the color, bees and other
beneficial insects are extremely attracted to flowering herbs. You
will find a vibrant "buzz" of activity centered around your herbs.
When planted close to your vegetables, pollination of your crop is
enhanced. Planting herbs is one of the most effective ways to attract
bees to your garden.
Gardeners want to be careful when companion planting herbs and
vegetables. Be aware that most herbs do not require as much water
as vegetables. To alleviate over watering, plant herbs near vegetables
but not directly among them. There are infinite possibilities when it
comes to incorporating herbs into your garden. You are only limited
by your imagination. Remember it is your garden and only has to
please you. Your garden doesnÂ’t have to follow strict symmetrical
angles or conform to some new fad design that is all the rave this
season. I like to give herbs prominence in the garden.
I put them on a pedestal, and make them a focal point.
I like the way herbs and rocks work together. Gather
some rocks and start layering them, like youÂ’re building a stone
wall. You decide the size and shape, just make sure the herbs
will be easily accessible. You may want a ring, a semicircle or
a star design. When you finished with the rocks, fill in with soil.
Raised beds in a corner or two may be all you require. Mound some
soil into small hills and ring the bottom with stones, shells or
driftwood. These informal little herb gardens scattered among your
vegetables will add interest and contrast to the straight rows of
your vegetable garden.
About the Author
Fran Ott is a father, a husband and a gardener, as well as a writer. You can visit
his wife, Heidi, at her crafting website. Together they are a
very creative couple, and we hope to share more of their writing
with you. Visit Heidi at Crafter's Community.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing