Even if you have a small garden, you should not miss the opportunity to grow spicy and medicinal herbs in it. Fresh and fragrant plants will always be ready to serve. Moreover, most of them can be dried for the winter, stocking up your “pantry of aromas”.
Each of us has our own preferences for smells and tastes, but almost any gardener grows several of the most popular types of herbs. Today we want to introduce you to the TOP 9 most common fragrant and beneficial herbs for your garden.
fragrant basil
The word «basil» is of ancient Greek origin, which means «royal aroma». And this is true: the smell of the plant is simply divine. Sweet basil is the most popular type in the world. The green leaves of the plant taste slightly reminiscent of cloves. The plant loves bright sunlight and light fertile soils.
Fragrant basil (camphor) is characterized by:
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annual plant;
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height — from 15 to 40 cm;
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tops of shoots, leaves are used for food;
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collection time — all summer;
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flavoring qualities — spicy-sweet.
Tarragon (tarragon)
The culture is unpretentious, in one place it can grow up to 15 years. Tarragon is widely used in cooking and folk medicine. It is a relative of wormwood, but lacks the characteristic bitterness. The plant is rich in essential oils, carotenoids, tannins and vitamins.
Tarragon has the following qualities:
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perennial;
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rapid growth;
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height up to 1-1.5 m;
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collection at the beginning of flowering in dry weather, when the height reaches 20-30 cm;
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the aroma is sweetish, the taste is quite sharp.
Peppermint
It is characterized by a fresh strong aroma, as it contains a large amount of menthol. It is widely used for the preparation of drinks and dishes, as well as in herbal medicine and cosmetology. Choose a landing site illuminated, but with slight shading. The soil is preferably nutritious, loose.
Peppermint has the following characteristics:
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type — perennial;
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reaches a height of 40 cm;
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leaves and shoots are harvested throughout the season;
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taste and aroma — fresh, but without sharpness, with a slight sweetness.
Fennel garden
Fennel belongs to the umbrella family, its flowers are collected in yellow-green inflorescences-umbrellas. The plant includes many useful substances for the body — trace elements, vitamins. On its basis, “dill water” is prepared, which is used for bloating.
Fennel garden includes the following properties:
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annual;
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average height — 60-100 cm;
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collection of leaves — throughout the season;
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collecting seeds — when they begin to acquire a brown tint;
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aroma — refreshing, anise;
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taste — fresh with a touch of lemon.
medicinal sage
Young leaves of sage are used in cooking as a spice, as well as for making tinctures and drinks. In medicine, the plant helps with eating disorders, sweating, during menopause. Sage is a fairly tall plant, although it often “lays down” closer to the ground.
Properties of medicinal sage:
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perennial;
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height — up to 70 cm;
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collection of leaves — 2 or 3 times per season, at the beginning of flowering;
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aroma — spicy, very intense;
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taste is slightly bitter.
Common parsley
Parsley is used in cooking to make broths, soups and meat dishes. The grass is very useful, there is many times more vitamin C here than in lemon, and vitamin A — than in carrots. To plant a plant, choose a sunny area or partial shade.
The characteristics of common parsley are as follows:
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annual;
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height — about 40 cm;
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leaf collection continues throughout the season;
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roots are harvested in autumn;
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taste and aroma — bittersweet, but without harshness.
Proper thyme
Thyme is used to make delicious and healthy tea. Grass includes a huge amount of trace elements and tannins. And the plant is also decorative, during the flowering period it is covered with a carpet of fragrant purple-pink flowers.
Proper thyme has the following properties:
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perennial;
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small height — 20-30 cm;
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leaves and young shoots are harvested all season, at the beginning of flowering;
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spicy taste, with slight bitterness;
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refreshing aroma.
garden marjoram
Marjoram serves as a fragrant seasoning for vegetable and meat dishes, is used for preservation and preparation of drinks. Plant in areas where cabbages, potatoes, or legumes have grown before.
Garden marjoram is distinguished by the following set of characteristics:
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annual plant;
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height — about 30-50 cm;
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collect grass in late June — early July, and shoots — in September;
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aroma — pronounced, strong, reminiscent of oregano and thyme;
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taste — a little bitter.
medicinal rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen plant with needle-like leaves. Differs in the aroma of sea freshness, includes a set of Provence herbs, is considered an excellent seasoning for meat and other second courses. The plant is light and heat-loving, and therefore it is planted in the ground when the threat of frost is gone.
Rosemary officinalis is endowed with the following properties:
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perennial;
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grows up to 50-150 cm;
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grass collection is carried out from May to early autumn;
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strong tart aroma and taste with hints of eucalyptus, camphor, lemon.
Most spices and medicinal herbs look decorative, and at the same time do not require special care. That is why it is not necessary to grow these plants in the beds. Herbs will perfectly fit into the landscape of your garden, filling it with amazing aroma. There are a huge number of options for designing a site with these representatives of the flora.
