Herbs can be a simple and rewarding addition to your garden.

Grown in containers or within your outdoor garden, herbs have many practical uses in your home. Typically used for flavoring food, herbs can also be used to treat illnesses and to fragrance your home.
Here are five types of herbs that will make a flavorful addition to your garden.

Basil

Basil is an annual herb with a flavor that is warm and spicy. This herb can be used as a base in pestos or as an accent with meat and fish. Any tomato dish can also benefit from a sprinkle of fresh basil.

In the late spring, plant basil seeds directly into your garden or near a sunny window. Since this is an annual herb, it will only bloom once.

Chives

These onion flavored herb is a colorful addition to cheese and egg dishes. They are also tasty on baked potatoes, or as garnish on salads and sauces.
These herbs will bloom year after year with the proper care. Plant seeds in the spring or fall in rows about a foot apart. They will need to be divided once they are established.

Coriander

Coriander has a myriad of uses from root to leaves to seed. After drying, the seeds can be ground and sprinkled over ham, pork, or veal. The leaves when first blooming can be cut and used in salsas and Mexican dishes. This part of coriander is more commonly known as cilantro. When chopped, the roots can be an accent to avocados or soups.
This is an annual herb that is best planted in early spring in rows one foot apart. To have a fresh supply of young leaves, plant the seeds every few weeks.

Fennel

Grown for it leaves and seeds, fennel is a perennial herb that will spice up your Italian dishes. Fennel leaves are sweet in flavor but the seeds have a stronger, more distinct taste.
Group seeds and plant in the spring. Groups will need to be about one to one and a half foot apart. This herb will need to be divided after being established.

Mint

Mint comes in a variety of flavors, popular types are Spearmint and Peppermint, with Spearmint being the easiest to cultivate. It is recommended to grow mint in containers since it has a tendency to flourish and overtake other plants. It can be planted in the spring or fall and will bloom annually with proper care. Mint benefits from heavy watering.