When it comes to cooking, nothing adds flavour like freshly grown herbs from the garden. If you’ve ever watched Jamie Oliver cook then you will understand the flavour they add to food. The wonderful thing about herbs is that they can be grown anywhere. As a result, if you don’t have a garden you can still grow herbs on a balcony or a window sill. Beyond a doubt, herbs should be an integral part of our gardens. But what culinary herbs should you have at hand in your garden? Let’s look at the 5 culinary herbs every herb garden needs.
1. BASIL
Basil is an annual plant which needs full sun but can also tolerate semi-shade. You need to plant Basil in rich soil so be sure to add compost before you plant. In the heat of summer the Basil will start flowering. However, it’s best to remove these as soon as you see them as it causes the plant to produce less leaves. Once the stems reach 20cm you ca begin to harvest the leaves.
In terms of cooking, Basil adds incredible flavour to pasta dishes, chicken, salads, and sauces. In addition, it also makes a very tasty pesto.
2. ROSEMARY
Rosemary is a perennial plant. It needs to be planted in an area that receives full sun and must have light, well-drained soil. The plants should be spaced 60 to 90 cm apart. Add some compost when you plant your Rosemary and be sure to add mulch to help the soil retain moisture.
When it comes to cooking Rosemary adds incredible flavour to a variety of dishes including stews, salads and casseroles. In particular it pairs beautifully with roast lamb and beef and adds wonderful flavour to chicken.
3. THYME
Thyme is a perennial plant and should be planted in full sun with well-drained soil. One of the best things about Thyme is that it is drought-resistant and doesn’t need need lots of water. It can be planted near Rosemary as they require similar growing conditions and don’t need much water.
It adds delicious flavour to pasta, stews, chicken, fish, pork and beef dishes.
4. SAGE
Sage is a perennial that requires full sun and the soil needs to be able to drain well. This herb will not thrive in wet, soggy soil. As the plant grows you will need to prune the heavy woody stems every Spring.
You can add sage to a variety of dishes. One way to cook with sage is to add it to butter and then use that to flavour dishes like pasta, chicken and vegetables.
5. PARSLEY
Parsley is a biennial plant that needs full sun and well-draining soil. You need to add compost to the soil. This is important to remember because this herb needs rich, fertile soil.
It can be added to most dishes and enhances the flavour. In particular, it works very well with sauces, salads and soups. And let’s not forget that it makes an excellent garnish for potato salad!
A herb garden is a must for every home. Remember, that once you’ve established your herb garden it doesn’t need much upkeep. It’s a wonderful and essential part of any garden and just keeps giving its rewards. An important consideration to keep in mind is that you will need to water regularly and this can become expensive. Using borehole water is one way to deal with this. As a result, it’s important to consider investing in a borehole.
Let’s look now at the benefits of a borehole:
BENEFITS OF A BOREHOLE
- A borehole increases the value of your property
- It helps you save potable water
- A borehole helps you save money on your water bill
- You can fill your pool with borehole water once treated appropriately
- You can use borehole water for your irrigation system
- It gives you water security
- It allows off-the-grid living
As you can see a borehole has many fantastic benefits. There is an initial financial outlay to have a borehole drilled. However, the long-term benefits you will reap make it a worthwhile investment.
Contact us today for a borehole drilling quote, Cape Town!