Herb Gardening - Greenhouse Herbs

Most herbs are very hardy, surviving winter well and thriving in relatively poor soil. But people and plants may find it more comfortable to carry out their actions inside the greenhouse. Fortunately, there are several herbs that take to that environment readily.

CHAMOMILE

A variety of Chamomile called Roman Chamomile is an excellent choice. With its apple scented leaves and delicate flowers, it can be used as part of a potpourri or make a wonderful tea. Growing it inside the greenhouse in a large container is easy. Just make sure the soil drains well and that it gets plenty of sunshine. Before long you'll have a plant 2-3 feet high.


CHIVES

Chives are another perennial that do extremely well in a greenhouse setting. It comes in many varieties, all of which do well in the same conditions. The ordinary or Common Chive has a mild onion flavor that is perfect for soups or salads. The Curly type looks great in a greenhouse rock garden, but it's not good for cooking. The Garlic style makes for a perfect seasoning, though, where it gives a tangy garlic-onion tone.


PARSLEY

Ordinary, everyday Parsley is a great greenhouse herb. It can grow well in partial shade, but also thrives in full sunshine. Plant some seeds in a healthy soil and watch the thick green foliage sprout up. Take care not to water excessively. Most herbs prefer a slightly dryer soil.


BASIL

Basil is another common herb, and for good reason - it adds a great flavor to all those Italian dishes you want to try. Enjoying full sun several hours per day, it will grow in winter too. Just make sure the soil drains well and you'll have stems that reach 5-7 inches in no time. Once they flower, dry the stems well after harvesting and you'll have an intense Basil to add to your recipe.


CATNIP

Another common perennial, this time one that your cat will enjoy. The Common variety does indeed make them a little woozy, but it also makes for an interesting tea for humans. The Greek variety has a smaller, more gray-green colored leaf. Sometimes called Catmint, it resists insects well and makes for a fine greenhouse addition.


CORIANDER

This herb is the base for Cilantro, where it has been used in cooking and medicines from Mexico to Southeast Asia. The tangy taste from its seeds is perfect in curry, too. The Vietnamese variety is a perennial, while the common type is annual.


GERANIUMS

Commonly thought of as a simple flowering plant, it is sometimes classified as an herb. In some technical dictionaries, an herb is a plant whose stems are non-woody, and decay with the coming of winter. Perennial varieties will regrow the stem every year. The dried leaves and flowers are perfect for a sachet or potpourri, thanks to the delicate scent.

There are two dozen or more varieties. The Apricot has a pungent scent and produces lovely light pink flowers, while the Chocolate Mint type has a flavor that matches its name. The French Vanilla has a wonderful vanilla scent that is perfect for potpourri.

Let your herbs in the greenhouse sit around the edge or in the center, wherever they'll get lots of heat and sunshine. Keep the soil moist but not wet and go easy on the fertilizer. Then sit down and enjoy the many wonderful aromas from these perfect greenhouse plants.