Use tarragon in meats, fish, poultry, butters, soups, salad dressings and sauces.Herbs are easy to grow if you follow some simple rules.
“Almost all herbs require at least five hours of sun a day and well-drained soil,” said Pat Stewart, co-owner of Possum Creek Herb Farms (www.possumcreekherb.com), which sells organic herbs through mail order and at Chattanooga Market.
“Herbs are susceptible to root rot if they are overwatered,” said Stewart, who offers the following tips for growing five popular herbs.
1 Basil. The most popular basils are the pesto varieties Genovese and Sweet Italian. The plants are sun-loving annuals, susceptible to temperatures 40 F or below. They require well-drained soil and should be pruned or used regularly to prevent premature blooming and promote leaf production. A staple of pesto and pasta dishes, basil is also used to flavor soups, stews, vegetables, poultry, meat and vinegar.
2 Rosemary. This sun-loving evergreen perennial is a great shrub in the landscape. The plants are heat-loving, drought-tolerant and require well-drained soil. A good source of fiber, iron and calcium, rosemary is used in chicken, lamb, pork, salmon, tuna, soups and sauces. Rosemary-infused syrups can be used to sweeten lemonade.