Some of the most famous and tastiest herbs in the world come from Italy. Some of the best cuisines come from Italy and are well known in part for their herbs. Growing your own herbs in an Italian herb garden provides a massive quantity of potential.

Basil is a well know Italian herb and useful in many Italian recipes. Basil will not only add flavor to many Italian cuisines, it is useful in the garden to other plants. Planting basil next to your peppers and tomatoes will actually improve their flavor. Plus, basil will also keep at bay those pesky flies and mosquitoes.

Parsley is a relatively hard herb plant to grow. It is useful not only in Italian dishes but many other types of cuisines. Many generations ago before their were breath mints it was found that eating fresh, raw parsley after a meal eliminated the bad breath left over from enjoying a savory cuisine. The tradition arose to serve parsley on a small dish after the meal. The custom lives today by using parsley as a garnish on an assortment of meals.

Oregano is as decorative as it is flavorful. When it is fully mature it will sprout pretty little purple flowers. Oregano should not be harvested until it has flowered because this is when the plant is at most flavorful.

Fennel is famous for its seeds that grace and enhance the flavors of Italian sausage. The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant looses its flavor as it matures. It is a perennial plant that should be divided and replanted every few years to savor its flavor.

Like basil, Rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden. It grows into a large shrub that spouts pretty little blue flowers. It helps the garden by attracting bees. Although it is a tough evergreen perennial, it is sensitive to frost.

Garlic is probably the herb that is most used in Italian cooking. No Italian herb garden would be complete without this useful herb. Garlic gloves can be planted and will flourish in just about any garden with very little attention. They can be stored to be used at a later date after they are harvested. Freezing them or pickling them to be stored in the refrigerator is some of the methods used.

Sage is used in a variety of Italian dishes from meats to salads. New shoots of the plant contain the most flavors. It is recommended not to let sage plants to get to woody by keeping them trimmed. New shoots will be encouraged to grow if you keep the sage trimmed. Sage can be harvested after it blooms.

There are many more herbs that you can include in your Italian herb garden. You do need to consider what kinds of herbs you wish to use and the growing conditions for the herbs you have selected to put in your garden. Make sure you are able to meet then needs of the herbs you have chosen for your Italian herb garden.

Italian herbs add wonderful flavors to food, but also offer so much more. Italian herbs make and incredible addition to landscaping designs. They can be shown for their spectacular colors and enjoyed for the tantalizing aromas the herbs release. By planting Italian herbs amid other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy.

By: Paul Zeman