Putnam County Master Gardeners

Article from website Dave’s Garden

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/a-guide-to-gifting-herbs

A Guide To Gifting Herbs

by Anna Burke (Anna Burke) December 7, 2015

·              

·         

·         

·        Give a gift that keeps on giving this year.

Herbs make the perfect gift choice for gardeners, chefs and even loved ones without a green thumb. These attractive plants are aromatic and practical, offering culinary and medicinal uses for every home. Choosing the right herbal gift can be tricky. Let this herbal gift guide help you make the right choice this holiday season.

Choosing The Perfect Herb For The Gardener

Giving a gardener a plant is a recognition of their passion and shows your appreciation for the friendship you share. Herbs provide tasteful, aromatic plantings for ornamental gardens and offer a culinary treat for the vegetable gardener. Some gardeners enjoy making herbal teas and remedies with their herbs. You might even find yourself the beneficiary of a handmade herbal sachet in future holidays if you gift the right herbs to your gardening friends.

Here are the best herbs to give as gifts for gardeners this year.

11 Herbs For Vegetable Gardeners

Vegetable gardeners appreciate useful herbs. They want herbs that complement their fresh produce, like:

1. Basil
2. Dill
3. Chives
4. Coriander
5. Parsley
6. Mint
7. Thyme
8. Sage
9. Tarragon
10. Oregano
11. Rosemary

Depending on where your gardener friend lives, these plants might need to spend the winter indoors. Take a moment to read up on the herb's cold tolerance. If your climate is too cold for the herb, put in in an attractive pot. That way your friend can keep it indoors or in a greenhouse during the cold months.

12 Herbs For Ornamental Gardeners

Ornamental gardeners appreciate aromatic herbs and herbs that attract beneficial insects. Many of these herbs boast interesting textures and attractive blossoms. Here are 12 herbs that bring subtle beauty to the garden, occupying sometimes difficult to fill niches:

1. Lemon balm
2. Lavender
3. Thyme
4. Chamomile
5. Sage
6. Catmint
7. Sweet cicely
8. Dill
9. Anise hyssop
10. Garlic chives
11. Borage

Try and choose a plant that is suitable for your friend's climate. You can put it in a pot until spring, but the ornamental gardener in your life will want to incorporate your herb into their garden design.

12 Herbs For Container Gardeners

Herbs make excellent container plants. Some, like mint, are best cultivated in containers to prevent the plant from spreading. Your container gardening loved one will appreciate most herbs, but especially those that do well in pots. Consider accompanying your gift with a new herb planter.

Try one of these 12 herbs for container gardeners:

1. Basil
2. Chives
3. Cilantro
4. Rosemary
5. Tarragon
6. Lavender
7. Lemon balm
8. Marjoram
9. Mint
10. Sage
11. Thyme
12. Oregano

Choosing The Perfect Herb For The Chef

Every good chef knows the value of fresh ingredients. Give your chef friends a potted herb to spice up their recipes this year. With any luck, they'll even invite you over for dinner. Here are 10 mouthwatering culinary herbs the chef in your life is guaranteed to love.

1. Basil

Basil is the primary ingredient in every pasta lover's favorite treat - pesto. Basil flourishes year round in a windowsill and is delicious when served as a garnish, slathered in olive oil atop tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese, or ground into pesto.

2. Oregano

Another Italian classic, oregano is a staple in sauces, soups, and seasonings.

3. Chives

Chives add a taste similar to garlic and onions but packaged in crisp, green shoots that bring out the flavors in soups, fish, potatoes, and other vegetables.

4. Cilantro

No Mediterranean dish or salsa is complete without a hint of cilantro. Plus, the plant's seeds, known as coriander, are another culinary seasoning no respectable chef goes long without.

5. Parsley

Parsley is called for in many meat and vegetable dishes. Its subtle flavor complements any dish it is paired with.

6. Peppermint

There is more to peppermint than its role as the key ingredient in a mojito. Peppermint tea and peppermint hot chocolate provide necessary comfort drinks during the cold months. This tried and true perennial favorite pots up nicely for the kitchen windowsill.

7. Rosemary

If there are lamb fans in your circle, rosemary is the gift to give. Rosemary is a primary ingredient in many meat dishes, and it also comes in tasteful Christmas tree shapes this time of year.

8. Sage

Poultry, sausage, and sauces wouldn't be the same without the leaves of this herb. Sage is not only tasty, it is beautiful, making it a decorative accent as well as an essential seasoning.

9. Tarragon

The anise-like flavor of tarragon adds zest to poultry, egg, vegetable and seafood dishes.

10. Thyme

Everyone needs a little more thyme in their lives. Chefs add thyme to soups, stocks, and sauces to add its subtle flavor to the dish.

Giving Herbs To Friends With Black Thumbs

Not everyone has a green thumb. Gardeners tend to forget that some of our beloved family and friends might not share our passion for plants. Giving a living thing as a holiday present comes with a commitment. Your friend will feel obligated to keep the plant alive, and might even feel guilt if it dies.

It is your responsibility to make caring for the herb you give them as easy as possible. There are three ways you can do this:

1. Choose a hardy herb
2. Provide a plant pot
3. Include care instructions

Hardy Herbs

Choose a hardy perennial herb for your black-thumbed loved ones like one of these 6 herbs:

1. Rosemary
2. Sage
3. Thyme
4. Lemon balm
5. Mint
6. Lavender

Plant Pots

Whether its over watering or underwatering, water is usually the cause of a plant's demise. Consider purchasing a self-watering plant pot to accompany your herbal gift to take the pressure off of your friend.

Care Instructions

You don't want to sound condescending, but you do want to give your friend a little "care card." Let them know if the herb likes shade or sun, requires frequent or infrequent waterings, and most importantly, how to harvest clippings.

While you're shopping for herbs, pick a few up for yourself to brighten up your home and garden in the new year.

Mail this article Print this article

·         

·             

·        

Bottom of Form

About Anna Burke

Anna Burke has been farming and gardening for over 6 years. She graduated from Smith College with a degree in English Literature. A few months after graduation she started a small sheep farm in Upstate New York with her partner. Anna enjoys growing vegetables and raising livestock.

Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/a-guide-to-gifting-herbs#ixzz3uVoTmxQd