How to Grow a Kitchen Herb Garden

Do you love fresh herbs in your salad or soup? Starting a kitchen herb garden can give you fresh herbs all summer long. The key is to start your herb garden as close to the kitchen door as possible. Find a small out of the way space, within a few steps of the front door.

Sit down, and make a list of the herbs, and plants you would like to include in your garden. Make a diagram to see how much space you will need, then plot it out. Use a shovel or a tiller to dig out your space. Cover it well with compost, and sphagnum moss, then dig these organic fertilizers in with the shovel. Now you are ready to add the plants. Here is a list of possible plants to add to your kitchen garden. You decide which are your favorites, and worth the precious space in your garden.

1. Basil is a great culinary herb. Use it in soups and stews, and it's also great in dips. Basil is a tender annual, and a good candidate for planting indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost. If you do not want to start your own basil from seed, you can easily find these plants in your local nursery.

2. Dill is another great culinary herb. It is also an annual, but you can sew the seeds directly in the soil in late spring. Dill will re-seed itself, if you put it in a space where the soil will not be overworked the next year.

3. Nasturtiums, Violas, and Calendula are all great additions to your kitchen herb garden. They all have tender edible flowers, which add color and flavor to your summer salads. All of these flowers are annuals, except Violas. Calendula will re-seed itself in your garden if given the chance, but is not invasive. Tuck these small plants in around your herbs.

4. Scented Geraniums are great for their scented leaves, and edible scented flowers. Start your Scented Geraniums indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost. These are great plants to keep in small pots. Set them out in your kitchen herb garden during the summer, then bring them in for the winter. They will reward you with their wonderful scent, and tiny flowers all winter long.