window herb garden!

[rosie_97]

I just started a small window herb garden. I am growing oregano, thyme, and basil. (sweet).
Does anyone have any recipe using these herbs (fresh would be great!) ? Thanks!

[KarenB]

I love the window herb garden. I had one with thyme, rosemary, and sage. I would walk by and brush it with my hand and the aromatherapy scent was incredible. Now I have thyme, parsley and basil. The simpliest thing would be a salad dressing. 4 part olive oil, 1 part lemon or white wine vinegar and add sprigs of herbs. Let sit for about a week. You can also just use olive oil and add the herbs for flavouring. I use a bit of chopped up basil in scrambled eggs. Chicken goes well with thyme. Oregano is good on beef but go easy it can be strong.

[retiired guy]

Live in Ohio so the cold winters mean you must bring your herbs in. Rosemany and basil grew fairly well inside, except for what the cat ate. Have potted more basil along with coriander and Italian parsley. The sage, chives and tarragon are coming up in the outside herb garden. Looking like spring.

[rosie_97]

yes I live in Ontario so it is still pretty chilly here.
No way are those plants going outside for probably about a month.

[CM]

After a long, cold, spring, it looks like the warmer weather has finally arrived. I've been leaving my parsley, celery, oregano, rosemary, lovage, violas and pansies, cabbage and broccoli and lettuce out overnight, but basil, tomatoes, pumpkins and squash are still in the garage under lights. I can probably move them out into the cold frame soon!

There's still time to start some seedlings, like lettuce, bunching onions, chives, endive/escarole, basil, parsley and other herbs, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, beans, etc. Squash, pumpkin and cukes don't like to transplant much, so to avoid setting them back, start them in peat pellets or peat pots. Basically anything that you can plant directly in the ground in another week or two can still be started inside in peat pellets for a head start. Then, when it comes time to plant, just drop it into the garden without worrying about transplant shock.

You can plant shallots and garlic, too, in pots on the windowsill, and use the tops as you would green onions. If you plant them in pots, they won't multiply. If you want shallots or garlic to multiply, plant them in the fall in milder winter areas, or in the spring in places with very cold winters.

This is a good time to start basil because if it's too cold, the seedlings often damp-off (fall over) unless you use a disease-resistant variety like Nufar basil. (I've never really had this problem but my mother always did, so I suspect there was something in her water.) Once the soil warms up, though, any type of basil will work. To get a quick start, soak the basil seed overnight in a warm place. Don't use cold water initially.

I like to put basil in a jar between layers of salt covered with olive oil in the refrigerator at the end of the season. I use fresh herbs in all my cooking during the Summer. They're great in salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsas, cream cheese spreads, dips, drinks (fresh mint), flavored oils and vinegars, and marinades.

[Evelynn]

I don't have recipes but I do have a herb garden!!! LUV<LUV<LUV it!!!!!!!
It is just so handy! I also am going to Thank everyone for replying to Rosie's post! I am using all the answers as well!