EASY STEPS TO STARTING YOUR OWN

Easy Steps to Starting an HerbGardenby Ginain Grayes @cookprayslay

There are so many great reasons to start an herb garden. For me, it’s having fresh herbs on hand for everything from creating tasty meals to medicinal purposes. Growing herbs can be great for budgets too. Have you seen the cost of fresh herbs in the grocery store? Let’s just say, they’re not cheap! Thankfully, most herbs grow easily in a variety of conditions, making them ideal for beginners. Looking to start your own herb garden? Here are a few easy tips and a delicious herb-y recipe to get you growing!

Pick a Spot

Pick the location for your herb garden. An ideal location would be a few steps from your kitchen so you have easy access, but any spot that gets about six hours of sun a day is good. Don’t forget about a water source. You want to be able to water your garden with ease. If you have space in front of a kitchen window, plant herbs in small containers for an indoor garden.

Here’s an easy and tasty way to preserve your fresh herbs. These herb bombs come in handy throughout the week as you prepare meals. You can use these in just about any recipe. No more last-minute trips to the store to pick up herbs! Follow my blog, "Cook Pray Slay," for more herb and garden recipes.

Parsley and Garlic Oil Herb Bombs

Skip the Seeds and Get Starter Plants

Ingredients:

Get a head start for your growing journey and purchase starter plants from your local nursery. Beforehand, make a list of the flavors you enjoy and also what you would like to do with them. If cooking is the objective, add herbs ideal for culinary purposes, like Herbes de Provence (rosemary, marjoram, thyme, oregano and savory). Love to craft? Add lavender to your herb garden to dry for wreaths or sachets. ● 2 cups fresh parsley, roughly chopped ● 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced ● 1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil

Plant Your Herbs

Read the plant tag and instructions that come with the plant or seed packs. These instructions are typically spot on as far as how to properly sow your seeds and/or nurture your plant. Instructions:

Add everything to a small bowl and stir to combine. Add the mixture to ice cube trays and freeze until solid. (You can get creative by using other herbs and oils too, such as basil and rosemary.)

Remove from the ice cube tray and store in a freezer storage bag. Use these cubes to drop into a pan when sauteing vegetables and pasta dishes. Or for a quick salad dressing, melt a couple of the cubes and whisk in some lemon juice, salt, pepper and additional oil.

Here are some easy herbs to grow for beginners:

Basil - Sage - Oregano Thyme - Lavender - Rosemary Parsley - Chives - Cilantro

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