PRIMGHAR, Iowa — If you were to walk into my office, you’d see a table full of tiny seedlings that recently emerged and are rapidly growing. Having this fresh, garden scene to look at while I work has done wonders for my winter weary brain. The seedlings are herb plants that I have started for an upcoming program.
I always try to have herbs in the garden. Some of my favorites are easy to grow herbs that are often referred to as culinary herbs because they are commonly found in the kitchen.
Of course, basil is on the list. I have written about basil before but it’s worth mentioning again. This is a very easy herb to grow. You can direct seed it in the garden after the threat of frost has passed. However, it also grows well in a container, which is how I usually grow most of my herbs. If indoors, make sure the plant receives plenty of light. Frequent trimming will encourage new growth and keep the plant bushy. Keep in mind though that, as an annual, the plant will eventually flower and die so keep a packet of seeds handy for planting another crop. (For more information on growing basil, visit our ISU Extension and Outreach store to download the publication, Growing and Using Basil https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/5744).
Parsley is also one I’m growing. An often-underutilized herb that has long been considered just as a garnish on a dinner plate. But parsley is rich in both flavor and nutrients.
Parsley is a biennial but in our region is treated as an annual. The two most common culinary varieties are the flat-leaf and the curly-leaf. Each is easy to grow by direct seeding into the garden. However, be patient as parsley can be slow to germinate. There’s an old saying that says parsley goes to the devil seven times before it grows. To get quicker germination, it may help to use fresh seeds and to soak the seeds in water overnight before planting. When harvesting, snip stalk close to the soil as this will encourage continued growth.
There is a superstition that it’s bad luck to move parsley from garden to garden. It stems from the fact that parsley can be hard to transplant so it should be sown where it is to grow. But I have had good luck with starting it indoors and transplanting it to a larger pot for the summer. Just be careful not to damage the roots when it’s transplanted.
Sage is another herb I have started. Sage grows easily from seed but, when adding it to the garden in the spring, many gardeners prefer transplants to get a harvestable plant quicker. I enjoy growing sage in a pot along with rosemary and thyme. It makes a pretty and aromatic display. Leaves can be harvested as needed through the season making sage a “cut-and-come-again” plant.
If you’d like to learn more about garden herbs and create your own small herb garden to take home, join us for our Northwest Iowa Annie’s Alumni Gathering on April 2 at the ISU Extension and Outreach O’Brien County office starting at 5:30 p.m. RSVP on line at https://form.jotform.com/4Hregion1/annies-alumni-gathering or by calling the office at 712-957-5045. For more information on this program, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/obrien/news/nw-ia-annies-alumni-women-agriculture-group-meet-april-2.
— Margaret Murphy, Horticulture Educator, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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