Fresh herbs have the power to liven up any dish, from Italian meals to summer salads - and you don't have to break the bank or even become a master gardener to grow your own this spring.
Les Levenson, an employee of Valley Gardens in Charleston, said there are dozens of herbs that can be grown indoors and outdoors for cooking, ornamental purposes for your garden and even for medicinal use.
Valley Gardens, which is located on Piedmont Road, currently has more than two dozen types of herbs in stock, he said, many of which are difficult to find in your average grocery aisle.
"It's healthy," Levenson said. "Growing your own is cheaper than buying it in the store, and a lot of this stuff that you grow, you can't get at the grocery store, either."
Valley Gardens offers herbs ranging from basil, chives and dill to catnip, Asian lemon grass and tri-color sage.
The first step, Levenson said, is to pick the herbs you wish to plant. Levenson suggests getting a variety of plants, ranging in size, color and your taste preferences.
Once they have their desired plants selected, Levenson said gardeners have to decide if they will be planting their herbs inside or outside. The type of soil used should be the biggest consideration, he said.
"You can grow them in pots, but it's best in-ground. They have certain soil requirements. Mostly, they need well-drained soil, but they do get much larger. They spread easily," Levenson said. "In the pots, it's convenient. You don't have to worry about the type of soil."
Levenson suggested potted herbs should be planted in a clay or plastic pot that is no less than six inches wide. Some herbs could potentially grow up to 3 feet tall, he said, so the larger the pot the better. Smaller pots also tend to dry out more quickly, he said, meaning gardeners would have to water them more often.
Several herbs can even be planted in the same pot, as long as the tallest plant is placed in the center and others are able to hang over the edge of the pot.
For the best success, he suggests putting a thin layer of gravel in the bottom of your pot and then filling the rest with damp soil.
Herbs grown indoors should be placed in front of a window with plenty of sunlight, or under a florescent or grow light. Kitchen windows are often the perfect spot.
For outdoor herb gardens, Levenson suggests planting herbs in well-drained soil that is in full or partial sunlight.
Herbs require four to six hours of sunlight a day, but Levenson warns against high heat or extended sunlight.
"If it's above 90-degrees, they'll burn. They don't do well in the heat and humidity. That's when they get diseases," he said. "It's better in half-day sun. Morning sun would be best."
Whether you plant your herbs indoors or outdoors, Levenson recommends using an organic fertilizer every two weeks to feed your herbs. He recommends a liquid seaweed or worm tea fertilizer, although any organic fertilizer will work, he said.
Plants should be watered only when the soil is dry, Levenson said, being careful not to over-water your herbs. A good test is stick your finger into your pot or the ground down two inches. If the soil is dry, it might be time to water your herbs again.
Herbs can be harvested once they reach eight inches tall. Levenson said once they reach eight inches, gardeners should pinch the plant back just above the first intersection of the leaves. This allows the plant to grow fuller and larger, he said.
Levenson said some of Valley Gardens' most popular herbs include mint, which is often mixed into teas or mojitos and can be used medicinally as an anti-inflammatory; chives, which is often used in salads, soups or as a garnish; sage, which is used in soups, stocks, meat seasonings, pastas and used medicinally to treat loss of appetite, gas stomach pains or heartburn; parsley, which is popularly used as a garnish and can be used medicinally as a source of volatile oils, flavonoids and antioxidants; and basil, which is often used to make pesto sauce or marina sauce, and can be used medicinally as an antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory or an antibacterial.
For information about Valley Gardens, visit http://www.valleygardenswv.com.
Reach Carlee Lammers at Carlee.Lammers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1230 or follow @CarleeLammers on Twitter.