Growing your own herbs in an Italian herb garden provides a huge amount of possibilities. Some of the most famous and tastiest herbs in the world come from Italy.  And herbs have an important role at least in a small way to contributing to popular Italian dishes.

Basil is a well know Italian herb and useful in many Italian recipes. Not only will it add flavor to many menus it is also very useful to other plants in your garden. Planting Basil next to your peppers and tomatoes will actually improve their flavor. Plus, basil will also repel flies and mosquitoes. Click here for more: italian herbs

Parsley, while slightly harder to grow will find it’s way into many Italian recipes as well as other types of cuisine. Many generations ago before their were breath mints it was found that eating fresh, raw parsley after a meal eradicated the bad breath left over from enjoying a flavorful cuisine. So the custom of serving parsley with a dish arose.  That is why today many of us use parsley as a garnish to our food.

Oregano is as decorative as it is flavorful.  The mature plant will show little purple flowers.  Oregano should not be harvested until it has flowered because this is when the plant is most flavorful.

Next is Fennel. whose seeds enhance the zest of many a sauasage.  The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant looses its flavor as it matures. To get the best out of this perennial, every few years it should be divided and replanted to enhance the taste. For more visit our blog: Herb Gardening Blog

Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden.  It grows into a large shrub that spouts pretty little blue flowers. It also finds usefulness in attracting pollinating insects like bees. However, it is sensitive to sharp frosts even though it is a hardy evergreen perrenial.

Garlic is of course one of the most used herbs in Italian cusine. An Italian herb garden would simply be incomplete without this useful herb.  Garlic cloves can be planted and will thrive in just about any garden with very little attention. They can be stored to be used at a later time after they are harvested by freezing them or pickling them to store in the refrigerator.

Another herb used in Italian dishes from salads and meats is Sage. With Sage, it is the new shoots that are the most tasty so it is recommended to trim the plant regularily. Therefore, new shoots will be encouraged to grow.  Sage can be harvested after it blooms.

Although there are so many more herbs that can be included in an Italian herb garden, you really should consider which herbs you will use. This means examining the growing conditions for each type of plant and whether or not it is easy for you to provide them. Yes, Italian herbs add flavor to food but they should also be looked at as more then that. Take their scenic role in landscaping. They can be displayed for color and their aroma.

By planting Italian herbs amongst other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy. It will be like wandering through the Italian countryside. Click here for more: Herb Garden Guide