All About Herbs

Herbs aren't just for cooking. There is a resurgence of interest in them for cooking, household products, cosmetics and medicine. Georgia Raimondi, author of The Passionate Gardener, shared some uses for herbs from your garden on The Saturday Early Show.

Herbs can be grown in the ground or in pots. They are generally not fussy about soil but they need good drainage and air circulation. Little feeding is necessary. In fact, over-fertilizing can reduce fragrance and flavor. Most need lots of sunlight.

By the end of the summer you should have a garden full of herbs. You may want to dry or freeze some for the fall or winter months.

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To air dry, just bunch and tie them with a rubber band. Then hang the bundle upside down in a dry, warm, dark place. Spreading loose herbs on a wooden clothes-drying rack also works well.

One of the quickest ways to dry herbs is to heat them in the microwave. Place them on a paper plate or paper towel and cook on high for at least 30 seconds and up to two minutes depending on the quantity and type of herb. Let them cool and place them in a glass jar. They will last up to six months and have much more flavor than store-bought herbs.

Remember: potency is enhanced through drying so if a recipe calls for one tablespoon of fresh herbs, use one teaspoon of dried herbs.

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Some delicate herbs, such as parsley, dill, tarragon, chives and fennel do not dry well so freezing is the best way to preserve them. Wash and dry them thoroughly. Place chopped herbs in an ice cube tray. Top them off with spring or mineral water and freeze. You can pop them out and add them to a stew or soup later.

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Lavender is beautiful in a border garden. Although it is a hardy evergreen perennial, if you have very cold temperatures in winter cover it with mulch for protection.

Pick a bunch of lavender, tie it with ribbon and hang it in your linen closet. The flowers will dry slowly over a few weeks but the clean, fresh scent will remain.

To make a tub-tea, place dry lavender in a handkerchief or a piece of muslin cloth. You can drop it into the tub or tie it to your faucet as the water is running. It will infuse the air with a soothing aromatic fragrance.

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Rosemary is a tender shrub that should be sprayed several times a week with a mister. In colder regions, place the plants against a south or southwest-facing wall to maximize their exposure to sunlight.

An old folklore phrase says where rosemary flourishes the woman rules. For many centures it was a custom for brides to wear sprigs of rosemary in their hair as a symbol of fidelity.

When cooking outdoors, place rosemary twigs on the barbecue and they will give off a delicious aroma. Or bind several sprigs together to make a brush you can use to apply butter or sauce to grilled fish.

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Many varieties of mint are invasive in the garden, so the best way to grow them is in pots. Put a pot of mint by a window and it will keep fleas away.

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Parsley is a great breath freshener. Chewed raw, it is an antidote to the smell of garlic.

To make a bouquet garni, a staple of French cooking, tie a bundle of parsley, bay leaves, and thyme with kitchen string and add to a simmering pot of soup, stew or stock. Parsley is a rich source of vitamin C and iron.

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Aloe vera has been used as a healing plant since the Roman era. It thrives in desert-like conditions, so be sure not to over-water it. Allow the soil to dry out almost completely between watering.

Keep a plant in the kitchen for use on minor cuts, burns, and insect bites. Cut off a portion of a leaf and apply the soothing gel directly to the affected area.

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Geraniums are actually highly scented herbs, grown mainly for their handsome aromatic and unusually shaped leaves. Each variety has a different scent in its foliage such as rose, apple, chocolate, mint, nutmeg, rose, even citrus.

Some claim the scents keep mosquitoes and black flies away. Many are used in aroma therapy, with each scent evoking different moods. Rubbing the leaves releases their heady fragrance.

Geraniums should be planted by a windowed seating area or in a walkway so their scent can be enjoyed.