All across the world people have been cooking with herbs for thousands of years, creating distinctive local dishes and recipes to be handed down through generations.
Growing herbs in the garden is an easy way to bring these exotic flavours and methods into your own kitchen.
Herbs in pots add an attractive feature to a garden, and they are very easy to grow. Using quality potting mix that contains water-saving crystals, wetting agents and fertiliser will almost guarantee success.
Planting herbs in pots means you can control the conditions in which they grow, moving them into direct sun in the cooler months and dappled shade in warmer weather.
They are also ideal for growing on balconies, patios or windowsills.
Choose the pots
Look at the overall style of your yard and select pots to match. Choose between sleek and modern, country rustic or a Mediterranean style.
Terracotta pots suit most garden styles, but rough timber crates lined with plastic, or even an old wheelbarrow can work well. Just ensure there is adequate drainage.
Select the herbs
Next you need to decide what you want to grow in your herb garden.
The ideal grouping for each pot should include a tall feature plant, small bushy plants and a trailing herb to soften the edges.
Herbs need about six hours of sunlight a day to help them thrive and resist disease. Pots dry out quickly so they have to be watered more often.
A diluted liquid fertiliser applied weekly will help the plants flourish. And when you cut your herbs from the pot, that will encourage more abundant, bushy growth.
Potting by cuisine
VIETNAM Lemongrass, lime, mint, coriander and betel leaf.
MEXICO Chillies, coriander, garlic chives and oregano.
INDONESIA Galangal, star anise, caraway, clove and tamarind.
INDIA Mint, cumin, coriander, curry and cardamom.
Spotlight: Thai cuisine
Grow herbs such as chilli, Thai basil, coriander and lemongrass to cultivate the taste of Thai food in your own backyard
Spotlight: French cuisine
The regional cuisines of France take influences from their nearest neighbours. The south-east has hints of Italian, while in the north there’s a British flavour.
A typical French diet is made up of high-quality seasonal ingredients. Sauces are the key feature, prepared with fresh herbs such as thyme, parsley and bay.
Sauces are the key feature in French cooking, prepared with fresh herbs such as thyme, parsley and bay
Spotlight: Italian cuisine
Italy is divided between cuisines of the north and south. In the north, they use more butter and cream in their sauces while southern sauces are more tomato based.
Italians cook simple meals of seasonal vegetables and grains with meat as an accent, using herbs such as oregano, sage, rosemary and basil.
Italians cook simple meals of seasonal vegetables and grains with meat as an accent, using herbs such as oregano, sage, rosemary and basil
