Benefits of Growing an Italian Herb Garden

The great thing about growing herbs is that you have multiple categories from which to choose, some being international flavors associated with places like Germany and Italy. We all know that Italian cuisine is rich in unique flavors that come from what you could grow in an Italian herb garden. Interestingly, Italian herbs are among some of the most delicious and respected in the world.

A great example of what you could grow in an Italian herb garden is the wonderful herb of basil. This popular herb is highly versatile, making it a key element in many Italian dishes. In addition to creating fabulous flavors for Italian food, basis offers growing benefits to other garden plants. For instance, if your garden is experiencing problems of mosquitoes or flies, plant basil in various spots and the insects will disappear.

Another favorite Italian herb is parsley. However, even with parsley being a great enhancer for Italian cuisine and other international flavors, it is a relatively difficult plant to grow. Before breath mints were invented, people would simply put a small piece of parsley in their mouth, which eliminated bad breath. This is why today when you dine in a nice restaurant you would likely see a sprig of parsley on the side of the plate. Although parsley is seen more as a garnish, it could easily be chewed on to remove flavors of the meal within the mouth.

Then, oregano serves two purposes – it has a great flavor and it is a decorative herb. In fact, when the oregano plant is allowed to grow to maturity, you would notice beautiful, small purple flowers start to bloom. If you are interested in growing oregano in your herb garden, keep in mind that to get the most flavor, you need to allow the plant to mature and flower.

The seeds of fennel are one of the primary elements associated with making Italian sausage. While some types of Italian herbs become more robust and flavorful as they mature, fennel actually diminishes in flavor the older the plant becomes. If you want to grow fennel in your garden, the plant would need to be separated and then replanted every few years to maintain flavor since this is a perennial plant.

As mentioned, basil is not just delicious it is also beneficial to an Italian garden. Rosemary is another herb that can help your garden become strong. Rosemary grows as a large shrub that upon maturity would sprout tiny blue blooms. The benefit with the rosemary bush is that it is a natural attractant for bees. Now, while rosemary is a perennial with a reputation for being tough, it does not do well with frost.
Of all Italian herbs, the one that wins hands-down is garlic. If you look at all the different dishes associated with the Italian heritage, garlic is at the center. The cloves can be planted in your Italian herb garden where they would grow and thrive without needing much attention. At maturity, garlic could be stored in an airtight container or pickled and stored in the refrigerator for cooking. However, if you want garlic from the garden for a later date, then you could freeze it.

Many Italian dishes are seasoned with sage. This herb is diverse, adding flavor to soups, salads, and meat dishes. Plants with new shoots have the best flavor so to grow the best sage you want to make sure the plants are always well trimmed. This way, new shoots would be prompted to grow and then after blooms appear, the herb would be harvested.

As you can see, the possibilities of herbs that you could grow in an Italian garden are tremendous. You could grow numerous herbs, trying each in recipes or focus only on herbs you know you like. Regardless of the decision you make, be sure you understand the growing conditions for the type of herbs being grown and if you have concern about an outdoor environment, you could always go with an indoor herb garden.

Without doubt, Italian herbs are wonderful, they add unique, rich flavor to dishes of all kinds and some herbs enhance appearance as well. Of course, until the plants are ready to be harvested, many Italian herbs such as the rosemary bush are beautiful, creating interest and color in your yard. As Italian herbs grow, you will be amazed at the wonderful fragrances, giving you the opportunity to dream of being in Italy, walking along rolling, green hills.