How to Grow Your Own Herb Garden While Drinking Oregon Wines

What's better than learning to grow your own herb garden? Drinking wine of course! Because wine makes every project a little more fun, right? Straight from the rich, moist soil of Oregon in the vineyards of Willamette Valley comes Rainstorm wines where we grow our grapes. So sip on some Oregon wines and lets learn how to grow an Oregon inspired herb garden. Herbs gardens are a fantastic way to introduce more flavor into your life, and you don’t have to have a green thumb to grow one, either. Here’s how you can start your very own herb garden: 

1. Pour yourself a glass of wine. Since we are getting down to the roots lets unfold and sip on some vino.Oregon wines will make the next steps even more fun, we promise.
2. Decide where to plant the herbs. Herbs can be grown outdoors or inside in pots; they just need enough room to spread out.
3. Make sure the herbs will receive adequate sunlight. Most herbs love the sun. If the temperature regularly climbs above 90 degrees, though, choosing a location that has filtered sunlight or afternoon shade will keep your plants healthy.
4. Prepare your soil. If you’re planting in the ground, prep the soil by using a garden fork or rake to break up compacted dirt. Add a layer of compost if you have it available, or mix in a little bit of fertilizer. A small amount of fertilizer can also be added to indoor potted herbs to promote growth.
5. Choose your herbs. There is a huge variety of herbs available, so think about how you plan to use them. Lavender and rosemary can be used to freshen up a room or even as a hair rinse. Basil, thyme, rosemary, and cilantro are commonly used for cooking, while mint and lemon balm make a delicious tea. Fresh chives, for example, elevate a simple farmer’s market salad into a perfect summer treat. Even more so when you add a glass of dry Pinot Gris.
6. Get your herbs situated in their new home! Use a small shovel or even just your fingers to dig out little spots for your plants, spacing them according to the recommendations on their tag. Carefully remove the plant from its starter container, place into the hole, then add soil to fill in any gaps, pressing it into place.
7. Give them a drink. Herbs don’t like to be kept overly moist, but they do need to be watered when the soil begins to dry out. Water the plants in immediately after planting, then continue to monitor the soil to ensure it doesn’t become too dry.

Once your herbs are stabilized and begin to grow (having reached about 6 to 8 inches in size), you can harvest them as needed. Snip about ⅓ of the stalk or stem, cutting off what you need with a pair of clean shears. Herbs grow best when pruned and harvested frequently, so be sure to cut them back regularly to ensure healthy, productive plants. Now go get started! Herbs are easy to grow, beautiful, fragrant, and can enhance the flavor of even the most basic meals. Here in the PNW, we emphasize using fresh, locally produced foods as much as possible, and these are made even better when homegrown herbs are added.  And when paired with delicious Rainstorm wines, you’ve got a complete flavor profile that will make your palate sing with happiness!