If you’ve been wanting to get into herb gardening, you should know that herbs are some of the easiest plants to raise. Even if you don’t think of yourself as having a green thumb, you can be a successful gardener when you grow the following easy herbs that can be used fresh or dried:

Basil: Basil is an annual herb that flourishes in warm weather. It grows well in a number of environments, but for the best flavor, it requires conditions which are hot and dry. The soil should be full of nutrients and somewhat moist, and it should be grown in full sun. It’s important to make sure that basil gets lots of heat and light, and between watering it needs time to dry out.

Chives: Chives are herbs that will grow in practically any conditions and almost any kind of soil. The fact is, they scarcely need any tending. They prefer to have full sun on them, and rich soils make them do better. Chives have a wonderful flavor that is a little like onions, and are great as a topping for baked potatoes. You can use them in many different ways either dried or fresh.

Adding herbs to your garden can truly enhance the beauty of your landscape. Not only are they attractive, they lend a lovely fragrance to your yard. As well, they’re very functional, not only for the flavor they impart during cooking but also for their ability to address certain health problems. There are so many different kinds of herbs to choose from. There are edible varieties such as oregano and basil. There are also certain plants that are used for medicinal purposes like chamomile and lavender. Herb gardening really depends on your personal preferences.

Most herbs are easy to grow and will flourish with very little maintenance. And there are so many varieties that you’ll have no trouble finding one that will be ideal for any location in your yard. They are ideal as edging around a bed of flowers, tucked into a rock garden, or as an aromatic accent to a container garden.

If I buy my fresh Herbs at a Supermarket and use them in my cooking I am mostly disappointed with the quality and the result.

The longer it is between picking the herb from the garden and you using it significantly impacts on the flavor.

The herbs I currently use come from a couple of places, on the deck outside the kitchen and also down the steps in an area behind my workshop.

As its winter here in Sydney Australia, the plants are not too crash hot now, but in summer they can be good. I just use normal soil here.

I have had some great crops using the Hydroponics System I installed about 12 months ago. The Lemon Grass comes from a small pot I got as a gift and the basil is just excellent.

Why is he telling us all of this, you are probably asking?

Leaving the cook bench and going outside to pick some of the great fresh herbs I have, is a real nuisance, So, as you can see – a bit of a defect in the old character.

If you’re a beginner when it comes to herb gardening, you might be worried about which types of herbs you should grow. There are many different herbs available, and some are more difficult to grow than others. There are a few types of herbs that are especially easy to grow for beginners. These are generally more hardy plants that don’t require a lot of fertilizer or special work.

Parsley – Parsley is a relatively hardy annual in zones 2-11. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties are easy to care for and grow very well without a lot of extra care. It can do well in full sun to light shade, and needs rich soil that is well-drained but moist. It doesn’t do particularly well in heat.

Cilantro – Cilantro is used in many Spanish dishes and has a distinct flavor. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You’ll find that it is very easy to care for and it will grow pretty well in just about any type of climate.