The rich delights of fine Italian cuisine is enjoyed everywhere in the world. The colorful array of flavors that excites the pallet can be largely attributed to the refined blend of herbs that has been grown by this fine nation for centuries in herb gardens.

Almost everyone prepares Italian cuisine at home for their families and many grows the plants in their own garden to keep at hand a fresh and flavorful supply for preparing these wonderful meals. If you wish to start this fine hobby for yourself, this is a list of the 7 most used herbs to assure a complete authentic Italian herb garden.

1. Garlic is probably the most used herb to be grown in the garden and is the basic ingredient in many Italian dishes. One thing is certain, a garden that doesn’t grow garlic cannot be considered an Italian garden. This herb can be planted and will thrive requiring very little attention. Once harvested, they can be frozen or pickled and stored in the refrigerator for later use.

2. Basil is among the most commonly used herb. Its distinctive flavor is the soul of Italian cuisine and it also offer certain benefits to the garden itself. This herb repels flies and mosquitoes in the garden and, if planted nearby, will improve the taste of tomatoes and peppers.

3. Another herb that is widely used to garnish many dishes is parsley and can be eaten fresh and raw. An interesting fact about this herb is that it has the quality of absorbing the odors of ones breath after a tasty meal. This tradition is quite old and is still being practiced nowadays.

4. Oregano is a decorative and has a very distinctive flavor that is strong enough to hold its own in any meal. The herb will deliver the most flavor when harvested only once lovely small purple flowers start to sprout. Be patient, it is definitively worth the wait.

5. Sage is a herb that graces many different Italian recipes ranging from salads to meats. It is strongly advised to keep the plants well trimmed when growing this herb for the new shoots are the most flavorful part of the plant. You should harvest the sage plants only after they have bloomed.

6. Rosemary is a perennial plant that forms a rather big shrub that sprouts beautiful blue flowers. This plant is valuable in the garden for its ability to attract bees, thus keeping them away from other plants. Keep in mind though that rosemary is easily affected by frost.

7. Fennel is used when making Italian sausages that adds a distinctive exciting flavor to the palette. This perennial plant must be divided and replanted every 2-3 years because once the fennel plant has reached maturity there is a noticeable loss of flavor.

With these herbs growing in your Italian herb garden you’ll be able to use fresh basil when preparing a tomato based Italian meal or oregano with fried foods and grilled meats. Sage has a peppery flavor that is magnificent with meat dishes, Italian salads and dressings. It will also be a welcomed addition to stuffing for poultry, pork, lamb or seafood.

Of course there are many other herbs that can be added to the garden that are used for Italian dishes but these 7 herbs described above is a great start and will be sufficient for a large variety of recipes. Of course, you can balance them to your particular taste and needs. Be sure to consider the growing needs of each herb you plant.

There are a number of reasons for you to have a fresh herb garden. Gardening does wonders for the mind and body and research has confirmed this. One study found that cancer patients recovered from treatment more quickly and had a higher rate of remission over those who did not participate in some type of outdoor activity. Growing a fresh herb garden has also been found to benefit those with special needs, is a gentle way to increase range of motion in those with mobility issues, and increases hand-eye coordination.

Cultivating a fresh herb garden is a great way to get the beneficial effects of the sun. While we have been warned for years to stay out of the sun as much as possible, new research has found that our indoor lifestyles, with most of our time spent in front of a computer in the office or the television at home, have lead to a population that is drastically lacking in vitamin D. Vitamin D is responsible for healthy bones, particularly in those who are overweight or post menopausal women. We should still limit the amount of time we spend in the sun to about thirty minutes at a time, and wear sun screen if it will be any longer than that. Sunscreen has been found to inhibit the absorption of vitamin D, so a short period of time outdoors without it is fine.

Working in your fresh herb garden has other physical benefits as well. Instead of going to the gym, spend some time in your fresh herb garden. Imagine the workout you can get from lifting water cans full of water, or a wheelbarrow full of mulch. The bonus here is that not only do you get a workout, but you’ll also end up with some great tasting herbs.

One of the most obvious benefits of growing a fresh herb garden is the fresh herbs you get at the end. Adding fresh herbs to dishes is one of the key tips that every nutritionist and diet expert will suggest because herbs add a lot of flavor without a lot of calories. Things like salt, sugar, and fats add flavor to dishes as well, but they have a whole host of well documented health effects and none of them are good. You can use fresh herbs to flavor a pasta sauce, or if you have a wide variety, you can even use them to make a salad. Some herbs such as Mint, some varieties of Sage, Lemon Balm, and others make a lovely tea as well. The possibilities are endless.

The last benefit of growing a fresh herb garden that I want to touch on is the emotional and spiritual benefit. Many people aren’t aware that the simple act of growing herbs connects them with the nature of the earth. The planet has it’s own natural rhythms and cycles, and growing herbs is a great way to connect with that. Growing fresh herbs is also emotionally uplifting, and has been found to be helpful in treating mild forms of depression.

Whatever your reason for wanting to grow a fresh herb garden, the benefits are many. Give it a shot and see if your mind, body and spirit don’t have a bounty as rich as your garden.

A tea herb garden is a very forgiving introduction to gardening and it is quite an easy way to get started with growing your own herbs. Unlike other kinds of plants, herbs do not require a lot of constant pruning and tending to soil. In fact, herbs prefer soil that is low in nutrients but has some lime. For those looking to start an herb garden, it is recommended to start by replacing the soil with a mixture of even parts potting soil to sand. Add in a couple tablespoons of lime and you are ready to plant. This will keep you from having to measure nutrient and nitrate levels in the soil you have.

Planting your seeds for a tea herb garden is quite an easy process. Your seeds should not be planted too deep in the soil. The best depth to plant at is about a half inch in the soil. A pretty good measure would be to push the seed into the ground until the nail of your index finger is even to the top of the soil. You can then push soil on top of the seed. Do not pack the soil, as it will make it more difficult for the sprout to push through once the seed is germinated. Following a simple planting design, which keeps your seeds spread out, will help them not to get too crowded.

Some tea plants will do better in pots than in your garden. Plants that are invasive are best planted in pots to prevent them from overtaking the rest of your garden. The most invasive plants of a tea herb garden are mint and lavender. The reason these plants take over a garden is because they are perennials. Many plants will contain themselves by dying out every year. Invasive plants spread out as far as they are allowed to because of their root systems. If planting in a regular garden, you will want to use dividers or walls to contain these herbs.

When creating a plan for your tea herb garden, include herbs that have great flowers. One of the most common of these herbs is chamomile. This is also one of the most recognized of the herbal tea plants. The pretty white flowers spruce up any garden. Not only are they attractive to look at, they have a lovely scent. Smelling of floral apple, these flowers are sure to calm you as you tend to your garden. Other great herbal flowers include lavender, rosemary, violets, and jasmine. Having a variety of these flowers will give your garden a wonderful aroma and appearance.

Water is quite an important issue for a tea herb garden. Over watering is one of the most common problems in this type of garden. In order to avoid over watering, check the moisture of the soil at least once a day. The best way to check your soil is by pressing down on it with a finger. It should feel moist to the touch, but not wet. If it does not feel moist, water the plant. Do not water the soil, as the leaves need to absorb moisture as well. Using a watering can that pours water like rain is a great way to water your plants for maximum effect. Sometimes the soil will feel moist, but the leave will look dry. A great way to solve this problem is to mist them with a spray bottle.

Rosemary is a great plant to add to a fresh herb garden. While many people will opt for complete separation of the herb, it is a great herb to grow among other plants because of the look and smell it permeates throughout the garden. If you choose to grow rosemary among other plants, there are certain precautions you can take to keep the plants from spreading too rapidly. Whether you grow the rosemary in a separate area, or with the rest of the garden, you should definitely grow this hearty herb.

Getting started with growing rosemary usually means using a cutting for propagation. While it is possible to grow rosemary from a seed, it is often difficult to germinate the seed in order to grow a strong, healthy plant. It is also fair to expect anything when growing from a seed. When growing from a cutting, you will be able to get about the same plant as the plant the cutting was taken from. This is a good way to grow exactly what you want in your fresh herb garden.

In order to get started with a cutting, cut off about 2 inches from a new growth from a plant in a friend’s garden. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting and dip it into a rooting hormone. The next step is to plant your cutting into a seed starting mix. Make sure the container is put in a warm spot so it will have the chance to grow a strong root system. The usual length of time to develop roots is about 2 – 3 weeks. You will know when you have good roots when the cutting is resistant to any pulling upward. Transfer the rooted plant into a prepared soil bed and pinch of the top of the plant.

If you are planting your rosemary in the same garden as the rest of your plants, use a separator, which digs in to the soil at least six inches. This will prevent the roots from growing in the direction of the rest of the garden and inhibit growth in that direction. You will also need to practice proper pruning techniques in order to control the growth of the plant. It is recommended to reduce the volume of the plant by 1/3 when it is getting too big. This will control the growth, but leave enough leaves on the plant in order to keep growing. Make sure all pruning cuts are made with sharp shears at the stem of the plant.

When growing your rosemary outdoors, there is not much problem with pests attacking the plant. The only problem you may encounter with rosemary is if you decide to remove it from the fresh herb garden and take it inside for the winter. The biggest problem you may encounter is in developing powdery mildew, or being attacked by aphids and spider mites. In order to overcome powdery mildew, use an oscillating fan to create an artificial breeze and allow the soil to be somewhat drier than normal. In order to overcome aphids and spider mites, apply insecticide soap.

Herbs have been used as curatives and flavorings for thousands of years. Early cultures found that their pungent flavors made food more palatable, that some would help heal wounds cleanly, and others ease pain and suffering. They were strewn on the floor to release their scents as people walked on them, or carried to disguise unsanitary smells.

Early Greek doctors compiled and recorded their herbal remedies, and these became the foundations of all western medicine. Ancient Chinese, Indian and Egyptians also recorded and used herbs as medicine. Many of these same herbs are in use today by various cultures as their traditional medicines.

Throughout medieval times, herb gardens became important additions to homes and religious centers. Every housewife knew which herbs to use for home doctoring, preserving and cooking. Herbals were written, describing plants and stressing their virtues, both medicinal and superstitious. It is interesting to note how many of the medicinal herb constituents are part of today’s medicines.

Herbs , as we tend to think of them today, are plants that we use in cooking, for aromatic scents or perhaps to enhance our health. In the last few years, there has been a revival of interest in and appreciation of herbs. More and more people grow them for their beauty as well as their many other uses. Old favorites as well as familiar herbs are more readily available, both fresh or dried, and in plant nurseries devoted to herbs, as well as seed catalogs.

A special garden is not necessary to grow herbs. These accommodating plants grow successfully in pots on windowsills, in tubs on patios and balconies, or in back yards. Most people begin with culinary herbs, for their aromatic and flavorful foliage. If you want a culinary herb area, include some of those also with edible flowers and roots. All culinary herbs can be used fresh or preserved in some way.

Herbs can be perennials, living for several years; biennials which have a two year life cycle; or annuals which grow, reproduce and die in a single year. Some are small and compact plants, others as large as shrubs. Many have beautiful foliage and blossoms, and can be grown interspersed with your landscaping. Most herbs like a sunny location, with well drained soil, and you will find that most resist disease and insect infestations.

If you are just beginning your gardening adventure with herbs, a good way to begin is to purchase starter plants from a reputable nursery. You may only need one or two plants of each herb. You can grow these in containers, or transplant them outdoors to a suitable location. Some of the common cooking herbs should be planted from seed, notably dill, fennel, and coriander. You will generally find herbs quite easy to grow if you take the time to learn the requirements of the plants you decide to grow.