Grow your own Italian herb garden

Want to infuse your meals with authentic Italian flavours, then look no further than these essential fresh herbs you can easily grow in your garden or indoors at home!

Having fresh herbs at hand is a game changer, and it’s one of the secrets Italian Mama’s and chefs take advantage of to make their dishes taste out of this world.

Let’s look at the essential varieties you can easily grow in your kitchen.

Basil

Basil tastes great in Italian tomato and pasta dishes and gives off a sweet aroma when crumbled over baked meats or fish. It works really well with garlic, thyme, and oregano.

You can sow basil in a propagator on a windowsill in pots or trays. These thrive at 10-15’c (50-60 ‘F) in good soil.

Cover seeds with a thin layer of compost, and position in a sunny area.

Germination usually takes 2-3 weeks so it won’t take long to get leaves!
Do not allow plants to flower and keep plants bushy by pinching the tips of branches regularly and remove any flowers that start to develop.

Parsley

Parsley brightens flavours, and you can use it to add a bit of bitterness to balance a dish in the same way you would use lemon. It’s super versatile and can turn a boring recipe into a memorable one.

Before planting parsley seeds, soak them in water for 12-24 hours. Soaking the seeds will help to speed up germination.

To grow parsley, sprinkle seeds on top of soil and mist well with water. You can start your pots in a propagator to speed germination, and keep on your windowsill.

Once seeds have sprouted, thin them down to only one or two plants per pot.
Germination can take 14-28 days.

Oregano

Oregano is a signature herb of tasty pizza and pasta dishes, which has an aromatic, warm, and slightly bitter taste.  It’s hearty and assertive and has a slightly peppery bite and a zing. You can use the leaves fresh or dried on a wide range of dishes.

To grow oregano, sow thinly into moist soil at a depth of about 6mm (1/4”)  in a propagator placed in a sunny location at home. Germination typically takes 14-21 days.

Thyme

Thyme has a subtle, dry aroma and a slightly minty flavour. It goes really well with poultry and fish, pairs really nicely with tomato sauce and really adds a nice finish to sauces.

To grow Thyme indoors sow thinly direct into moist soil covering lightly .and place in a propagator until germination on a sunny spot. Germination typically takes 7-21 days.

Both leaves and shoots are aromatic and you can use both use your fresh thyme, or dry your thyme for winter use.