Someone once asked me if I thought it would be silly to plant separate small herb gardens with each having the herbs for a specific cuisine, such as Italian, French, Chinese, Greek. Silly? Absolutely not! In fact, I think it is quite a brilliant idea. Most people love fresh herbs when cooking Italian dishes, which means that an herb garden devoted to Italian cuisine is a must.  There are some herbs that are also “musts” for any such Italian herb garden.

Garlic. No self-respecting Italian herb garden would ever be without this staple. Plant the cloves in the very early spring (or even in the fall for an earlier harvest) as soon as you can work the soil. (Garlic can withstand the cold.) Cut back the stalks so more energy can be used for bulb development, but you should use the stalks in your cooking just like chives. Harvest your bulbs about mid-summer when the stalks begin to turn brown and curl.  [For more information about growing this herb, see my article on Garlic.]

Oregano. This perennial herb comes in several varieties. I prefer golden oregano and spicy oregano. It is very easy to grow and will spread. (It is a member of the mint family, after all.)

Sweet Basil. This annual herb is a must for any pesto. Basil loves the sun. Be sure to pinch back the flowers to encourage a bushier growth.

Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley. I do not believe that fresh parsley gets the respect that it deserves. [See my article on Parsley.]  I do not recommend starting parsley from seed. You will have an earlier harvest if you purchase small plants to place in your herb garden.

Rosemary. This perennial can grow into quite a nice bush. Rosemary is perfect when cooked with tomatoes and eggplants.

Tips:

•These are just the basics for an Italian Cuisine Herb Garden. Plant those herbs that you use most often when cooking your Italian dishes.

•Plant annuals near the front of your garden, so you can easily replace them each year.

•You can start many of the herbs indoors during the winter. 

•If you choose to have several different cuisines, label each accordingly. You could also make your own labels featuring a map of the area.