Herbal Gifts That You Can Grow At Home

Having your own herb garden offers the joy of sharing fresh herbs with friends and family. Herbs certainly are a great way to add complexity and an additional layer of flavor to any recipe. Your herb garden can also supply the foundation for unique one-of-a-kind herbal gifts.

1. Growing Herbs

Most herbs will thrive in full sun in cooler climates, or partial shade in hot climates. Herbs are happiest in fertile soil with good drainage, and do well in containers as well as flower beds. For mints, it is best to plant them in containers as they can often take over an entire flower bed. Sow herb seeds in early spring or set out nursery plants when all danger of frost has passed.Water as needed. Do not let the soil dry out completely.
Feed or fertilize once during the growing season with a complete fertilizer. Complete fertilizers will have all three nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the package. Manufacturers list the nutrients as a percentage of weight. When you see a fertilizer listed as a 10-3-1, that indicates 10% nitrogen, 3% phosphorus, and 1% potassium; which is an example of a complete fertilizer.
Start your herb garden with these five easy-to-grow varieties

• Basil
• Lemon thyme
• Mint
• Sage
• Tarragon

2. Making Herbal Vinegars

Herb infused vinegar allows you to extend the benefits of your harvested herbs. Flavored vinegars are simple to make, easy to store, and make a thoughtful gift for any occasion.Experiment and discover the subtly different flavors you can achieve by adding different herbs in varying quantities to cider and wine vinegars.
White wine vinegar with French tarragon is a classic recipe, but many more possibilities are available in your garden. Herbs with a slightly acidic taste make the best flavoring for vinegars. Choose basil, lemon thyme, sage or mint and you can't go wrong.
French Tarragon Vinegar

• Three 3-inch tarragon sprigs
• One pint (16 ounces) of white wine vinegar
• Set in sunlight for 10-14 days

A simple basil vinegar is the perfect choice for summer tomatoes when their flavor is at its peak. Basil vinegar can also be used to deglaze a pan of sautéed chicken for a quick reduction sauce.

3. Getting Started With Flavored Vinegars

Begin with a good quality cider or white wine vinegar and a clean bottle or jar. Place the herbs in a jar, cover with vinegar, and close the lid to seal. Leave the jar in a sunny location such as a windowsill or the outdoors for about 10-14 days. Next, taste the vinegar to be certain the flavor is strong enough. When the vinegar has absorbed the flavor of the herbs, strain the flavored vinegar using a funnel lined with a coffee filter or a piece of cheesecloth. Add a few fresh cuttings of the herb to decorate the final gift bottle.
Interesting glass bottles from 12-16 ounces, with corks, can be found at most housewares stores. Also try recycled glass soda or carbonated water bottles, sometimes affixed with a unique wire and cork closure. These work fine, but must be carefully washed and sterilized.

Important Tips

• Use non-reactive containers; glass, enamel, or stainless steel
• Use high quality cider or wine vinegar
• Start with fresh herbs that have been thoroughly washed and dried
• Strain out solids when the vinegar has reached the flavor that you desire
• Store in a dark place such as a kitchen cabinet
• Discard the unused portion after six months

4. Growing Lavender

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. It is happiest in full sun with little to moderate water, and should be planted in spring and summer. There are many varieties of French or English lavenders available at your local nursery.
The Grosso variety has the classic lavender scent. Growing two and a half feet tall, it produces a violet-blue blossom that doesn't fall off during drying and stays darkest after drying. It also produces a second round of flowers in the late summer. The Provence variety has a smaller light-violet flower and is the sweetest smelling variety.

• Plant in full sun
• Start with gallon sized plants
• Water little to moderate
• Pick wands of flowers in mid-bloom

5. Lavender Sachets

Velvet and satin hearts or pouches filled with lavender make an elegant gift for any woman's dresser or hope chest. They are quick to sew, adding ribbons and lace as needed, and can be as fancy or simple as you desire. If sewing is not your thing, ready-made organza pouches can be found at craft and wedding supply stores. They're available from three by four inches and larger, and are simple to fill and tie.
French lavender is a good choice for filling sachets. The scent lasts months in drawers and small treasure boxes. Other scents to consider are:

• rosemary and sage
• Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (an ancient Gaelic love potion)

Harvest lavender flowers when they are at their peak of bloom, tie in bunches, and hang in a warm dark place for one to two weeks to dry. Cut off the stems and pulse in a food processor for fine textured flowers. Store in a glass container until you have enough for several sachets.Fill the pockets lightly and tack closed with a ribbon. Or, if using pre-made pouches, pull the ribbon tight and tie in a bow. Three to five fresh lavender flowers attached to the front by a ribbon make a wonderful accent to the sachets.
Follow these simple directions for planting, decorating and cooking with herbs, and growing your own herbal gifts can be easy and fun.