Oregano in VS .NET

Make Denso QR Bar Code in VS .NET Oregano

Small fragrant leaves on sprawling 1 to 2-foot stems topped by loose spikes of white to pink flowers give oregano a casual appeal for planting in vegetable and flower gardens or trailing over a wall or basket Choose plants carefully by pinching a leaf to test flavor and pungency Some varieties, such as Aureum Crispum and Compactum are more ornamental than edible It s a hardy perennial in Zones 5 and warmer Planting and care: Start new plants from stem cuttings to guarantee the best flavor Seed-grown plants may lack their parents pungent flavor Any average, well-drained soil in full sun will do Harvest leaves as needed or cut the plant down to a few inches from the ground and hang the sprigs to dry Special uses: The tiny flower clusters attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects The fresh and dried leaves add classic flavor to many Latin American and Mediterranean dishes Some varieties look good in hanging baskets, patio containers, and flower gardens

A common garnish on restaurant plates, parsley is probably the most recognized herb The leaves contain loads of vitamins A and C and help sweeten garlic breath Although both varieties are edible, the flat-leafed variety has stronger flavor while the curly-leafed kind is more commonly used as garnish Plants are biennial, hardy through Zone 5, and bloom only in their second year The 1-foot-tall plants form tidy bright green mounds of ornamental foliage Plant in vegetable and flower gardens or in container gardens Planting and care: Soak seeds overnight before sowing and plant directly in the garden If you start seeds indoors, plant them in peat pots (biodegradable compressed peat moss containers) so that you don t have to disturb their taproot when transplanting them later Give the plants fertile garden soil and a cool, slightly shady spot in hot summer climates Snip fresh leaves as needed or cut the whole plant to a few inches high and dry the leaves on screen Special uses: Use for cooking, especially in Greek and Middle Eastern dishes Makes an attractive ornamental garden plant and serves as food for swallowtail butterfly larvae Flowers attract beneficial insects

Two species of this tender perennial evergreen shrub exist upright and prostrate and both are fragrant and edible The short, needle-like foliage gives off a heady, distinctive aroma when lightly bruised Ornamental varieties include those with golden or variegated leaves, pink or bright blue flowers, and especially sprawling or upright forms Planting and care: Start from rooted stem cuttings and plant in welldrained garden soil Rosemary doesn t tolerate soggy soil or complete drought Although hardy only to Zone 8, you can grow rosemary in a greenhouse or indoors under strong light Plant it in a pot at least 1 foot deep to accommodate its taproot and maintain humidity by setting it over moist pebbles or misting the plant a few times a week Special uses: As an ornamental, rosemary excels in the low shrub border or trailing over a low wall Its aromatic foliage is said to repel flying insects from cabbages and other vegetables Use fresh sprigs in meat stews; use dried rosemary for either culinary use or to scent rooms and linens

In Zones 5 and warmer, sage is a perennial that grows into a shrubby mound of fragrant leaves It can grow up to 2 feet tall The 2- to 3-inch-long leaves are fuzzy and oval and range in color from silver-green, purple, golden to mixed white, green, and pink, depending on the variety Sage is equally at home in the herb garden and amongst the ornaments in a container or flowerbed In late spring, sage has spikes of blue flowers, although some varieties have white flowers A number of different sage species exist and they range in hardiness, pungency, and size A favorite, pineapple sage is only winter hardy to Zone 8, but its soft-textured, fruity pineapple-scented foliage and red flowers make a beautiful addition to a flower garden Planting and care: Starting sage from stem cuttings is easier than starting from seeds Plant in organically rich, well-drained garden soil and give it full sun Avoid soggy soil Prune to keep the growth compact Special uses: The spiky flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects and look great in the garden Use it to scent dresser drawers and to help prevent damaging clothes moths Use the leaves, either fresh or dried, in poultry and meat dishes