Can Berries and Herbs Live in Harmony?
Berries and Herbs: Adding Herbs to Your Berry Garden
This is a berry site dedicated to berries, so why am I talking about herbs? Because the fact of the matter is that herbs and berries can be great together and growing them together can be twice the fun. If you're interested in adding herbs to your berry garden, I have some tips for you.
The Easiest Herbs to Grow
If you want to grow herbs with your berries, you're probably going to want to start with easy ones. After all, you don't want to take time away from tending to your berries to tend to your herbs. Some of the easiest herbs to grow include chives, basil, parsley and spearmint (yum!).
Chives
I personally grow chives and love adding them to my soups and salads. The best part is that they are very easy to grow, even in harsher climates like the Midwest and all the way up to Canada.
Basil
Basil is another herb that I love and I use it to make my famous homemade pesto sauce. There are numerous varieties of basil, so finding one that suits your palette shouldn't be a problem at all. However, unlike chives, basil doesn't fair well in the cold. Make sure you grow it indoors if you live in harsher climates.
Parsley
Parsley is a bit more difficult to grow than chives and basil, but it is truly a delectable herb. The trick to growing parsley is in understanding that it's a biennial plant so it only grows for two years. However, during the second year, as soon as the flow buds appear, cut them off or you won't get many parsley leaves.
Spearmint
And, of course, we have spearmint. Spearmint is one of the many herbs that can actually be used with berry dishes. I like adding it to my berry salads for extra pizazz. Because spearmint plants thrive in shade, they make the perfect indoor herb.
If you've never considered adding herbs to your berry garden, it's not too late to try it. Try one or more of the above herbs and you might be surprised at how well they match your berry-loving tastes.