Gardenzilla Herbs
Plant Your Kitchen Containers in the Sun or Shade

Having containers of your favorite culinary herbs close at hand will make cooking or barbequing your summer cuisine a breeze. Bring the garden into your kitchen or as close as the back patio with a container herb garden. Herbs are easy to grow, especially if you group ones with similar needs. Basil, thyme, rosemary and sage all love the sun while lemon balm, tansy and lovage prefer a shadier area. Parsley, oregano and basil only need four hours of sun a day. Herbs will flourish if they're planted in well-draining potting soil. Growing your own herbs is much more economical than buying them in the grocery store and each herb can be used many different ways. A few of the more common herbs include:

• Basil: A staple in Italian cooking, this herb is also a great addition to salads or to garnish fish, chicken and vegetables. When picking fresh basil, carefully pinch off a small spring (stem and all) just above a set of leaves. This will keep the plant healthy and encourage new growth. The flowers are beautiful, edible, and also make a unique garnish.

• Oregano: This herb is native to the Mediterranean but more commonly associated with Italian cooking. Oregano goes well with fresh foods as well as being a companion to tomatoes, tomato sauces and pizza. There are several varieties, but the oregano most often used in cooking is Origanum heracleoticum and goes by the common names Greek oregano, winter sweet marjoram, and Italian oregano.

• Rosemary: A favorite of chefs all over the world, rosemary is one of the most versatile herbs in the garden. Compatible with all meats and fish, this herb combined with a little olive oil is perfect for the summer grill. Rosemary grows best when started from plants, when grown from seed, germination is slow with variable results.

• Thyme: A delicious compliment to an array of foods, thyme is especially fabulous added to your favorite marinade. English thyme is the most common variety, but loved for its scent, lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) is a great plant for both garden and kitchen.

There's nothing better than having fresh herbs close by whenever a recipe needs a little herbal punch. Container herb gardens are delicious, attractive, easy to care for, need little weeding, and are easy to move. The pictured urn is planted with Rosemary, Lemon Thyme, Purple Ruffle Leaf Basil, Purple Sage, Golden Oregano, Chives and Peppermint.