How to Use Anise as a Spice

A close up horizontal image of a pile of anise (Pimpinella anisum) seeds on a wooden surface.

Anise is more than a decorative annual herb. It heats up the palate with a warm black licorice flavor. This article covers all the culinary secrets of anise including history, where to buy, harvesting, and storing. Learn about the flavor profile, which foods and spices to pair it with, and some fun recipes to try.

How to Use Anise as Herbal Medicine

A closeup horizontal image of a sunlight-dappled bed of anise seeds, with a wooden spoon full of the seeds to the right.

Explore the many benefits of anise as an herbal medicine. Learn about its traditional and modern uses and prepare your own remedies. Whether you’re looking to ease digestive issues, relieve coughs and colds, promote relaxation, and more, anise offers a versatile and natural way to support your well-being.

19 of the Best Types of Cilantro

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Cilantro is a zesty-flavored fresh herb that can brighten up many a meal – and when you grow your own crop of this delicious, multipurpose, aromatic plant, you can choose from a surprising variety of different cultivars. Read more now to discover 19 different types of cilantro to grow in your backyard garden.

Harvest Time: How and When to Pick Carrots

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When’s the best time to harvest homegrown carrots, and what’s the best way to do it? Harvesting carrots involves following several important steps – and making sure to pick these vegetables at just the right moment, for the sweetest crop. To learn everything you need to know about harvesting carrots, read more now.

How To Grow and Care for Cumin in Your Garden

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If you enjoy aromatic cumin in your kitchen, why not try growing your own? These easy to care for plants will attract beneficial insects to your garden and provide you with a harvest of fresh seeds. With a few handy tips you can grow cumin at home and add some excitement to your meals with this versatile spice.

How to Grow Carrots in Containers

A close up of freshly harvested carrots with dark soil on the roots and the green tops still attached, set on dark earth in a blue container in bright sunshine.

Short on garden space but still want to enjoy the taste of sweet, crunchy homegrown carrots? With a container, some soil, and a packet of seeds, you can grow these flavorful root vegetables on a sunny balcony, patio, or even a front step. Learn how to plant and grow carrots in containers. Get the growing guide now.

How to Blanch Celery in the Garden (And Why You Should!)

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Do you want to grow crisp and flavorful celery that’s perfect for adding to soups, salads, and smoothies? Our guide to blanching celery in the garden will teach you three of the best methods to grow your own crop that isn’t bitter, with a satisfying crunch. You don’t want to skip this step! Read more now.

How to Plant and Grow Cilantro

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For those of us who love cilantro, it can be a divine experience to grow this herb in the garden. This multipurpose plant provides a delicious garnish for many types of meals, attracts pollinators to its flowers, and even produces edible seeds. Keep reading to learn how to grow your own supply of fresh coriander.

Growing Lovage: An Uncommon Herb with Many Uses

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Lovage doesn’t get the attention in the home garden that it deserves. Its flavor is fresh and herbal, and cultivation is fuss-free. It self seeds without being invasive and attracts beneficial insects. It also has some medicinal properties. What’s not to love? Read more now to learn how to grow and care for lovage.

How to Plant and Grow Parsnips

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Hardy parsnips, a root crop similar to carrots, can be harvested throughout fall and winter. Slightly sweet and rich in flavor, they’ll liven up soups, stews, and casseroles. To find out everything you need to know to grow this delicious but underutilized vegetable in your garden, read more now on Gardener’s Path.

How to Grow and Care for Queen Anne’s Lace

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Queen Anne’s lace, also known as bird’s nest, is the ancestor of delicious carrots. A common wildflower that adds texture and frilly white color to both gardens and cut flower bouquets, it attracts pollinators and beneficial insects as well. Learn how to grow this easy-care biennial in our guide. Read more now.

How to Grow Celery, a Marshland Plant Turned Tasty Veggie

A close up of celery plants growing in the garden in bright sunlight. The bright green leaves contrast with the brown soil seen below and in between them.

Have you tried to grow celery? Lots of gardeners balk at the idea. But here’s a secret: by following a few important tips, you’ll get a celery crop that’s flavorful, smooth, and irresistibly crunchy. You can use your homegrown celery for everything from afternoon snacks to hearty vegetable stocks. Read more now.

How to Grow Chervil

A close up of the leaves of Anthriscus cerefolium, common chervil, growing in the garden in light sunshine.

Chervil is parsley’s sophisticated cousin, and its complex, delicate flavor deserves a more prominent place in the kitchen. It’s not difficult to cultivate in a cool, moist area, and it can fill those shady spots in the garden where other plants won’t grow. Read more about planting and caring for this unique herb now.

How to Grow and Care for Angelica

A close up of the large green umbels of A. archangelica, contrasting with the dark red stems, and surrounded by foliage. In the background is a garden scene with a pond.

Looking to add some depth to your garden this season? Try angelica. This long-cultivated biennial herb has a history of medicinal use, with edible roots, leaves, and stalks. Growing to a towering eight feet tall, these plants have an aromatic scent and impressive stature. Discover how to add angelica to your garden now.

How to Use Anise as a Pest Repellent

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If you’re looking for a multipurpose garden superstar, check out aniseed. This pretty plant attracts many of the beneficial pests we love and repels a lot of the bad ones. For instance, bad nematodes and common aphids can’t stand anise. Bees and butterflies adore it. Learn all about companion planting with anise now.

How to Plant and Grow Carrots in the Garden

A close up of carrots in the ground, almost ready for harvest with their orange root tops showing. Green foliage attached and rich dark soil around them.

Carrots may be the ultimate health food. The only way to make them healthier and more delicious is to grow them yourself! Add these beauties to the vegetable patch, and you can enjoy them in all the shades of the rainbow. And you’ll get the freshest root vegetables you’ve ever tasted. Keep reading to learn more.

How to Plant and Grow Dill

A garden scene with large, mature dill weed plants (Anethum graveolens) growing in bright sunshine with trees in soft focus in the background.

Dill is an easy-going herb that can double as a spice. This cool-weather annual can brighten up nearly any homecooked meal, so having a fresh supply is a must in any kitchen garden. Whether you plant dill for its leaves, seeds, or as an ornamental, this aromatic plant is a delight in the garden and the kitchen.

How to Grow Asafetida

A close up horizontal image of an asafetida (Ferula assa-foetida) plant in bloom in a dry garden.

Asafetida is known as both the devil’s dung and the food of the Gods. The stinky plant isn’t common in home gardens, but it should be. Resistant to pests and diseases, one plant provides ample spice for months or years of cooking, plus you can eat the leaves and stems, too. It’s also a useful medicinal herb.

Troubleshooting and Preventing Carrot Growing Problems

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Carrots are popular in the vegetable garden, but these root crops are quite particular about their growing conditions. Development problems can occur due to a variety of factors, from moisture management to temperature troubles. Learn how to troubleshoot and prevent carrot growing problems in this guide. Read more.

Why Carrots Crack: Tips for Preventing Split Roots

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Whether you’re a home gardener or you hope to sell your harvest, growing “pretty produce” is hard. Many root vegetables may crack. But split carrots, while edible and usually delicious, are some of the worst offenders. Thankfully, this is easy to prevent through better moisture management and by making other changes.

How to Identify and Control Carrot Weevils

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Carrot weevils are small snout-nosed beetles that lay eggs in the plant, and the larvae chew down into the root. The result: young plants may wilt and die, and any roots you do harvest may be cracked and full of black tunnels. This guide has everything you need to know about these pests, including control options.

How to Identify and Control Carrot Rust Fly

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Carrot rust flies are sneaky pests that dig into a crop undetected underground until the plants wilt, or worse – you pull the roots, hoping to have a bountiful harvest, and discover the damage. Learn everything you need to know about these tiny flies and munching maggots, including methods for prevention and control.

How to Identify and Control Carrot Pests

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There is nothing more disappointing than finding your long-awaited, carefully cultivated carrot roots chewed, distorted, or stunted thanks to a variety of pest insects and other creepy crawlies. Check out this guide to read up on everything you need to know about the most common carrot pests and how to deal with them.

How to Grow Parsley in Containers

A close up horizontal image of parsley growing in a large terra cotta pot set on a wooden deck.

Parsley is a nutritious, highly aromatic, and richly flavored herb, with tasty leaves that are used in a wide variety of savory dishes to brighten and balance flavors. The pretty foliage is a must-have for convenient kitchen gardens and is easily grown in pots. Learn how to grow parsley in containers in this guide.

13 of the Best Carrot Varieties to Grow at Home

Different varieties and colors of fresh carrots in a wicker basket.

Carrots – whether roasted, raw, tossed up in a stir fry, cooked in a cake, or used to create a snowman’s nose, everyone loves this popular and versatile veggie. From your standard orange variety, to purple and even rainbow carrots, read on to find out about the best varieties to grow at home now!

How to Grow Parsley from Seed

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Parsley may be known for slow and sporadic germination, but this certainly doesn’t have to be the case. With a bit of patience and adherence to a few simple instructions, this popular garden herb is easy to start from seed. Learn how to successfully propagate parsley plants from seed in this guide. Read more now.

Can You Regrow Parsnips from Kitchen Scraps?

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Is it really possible to regrow parsnips and other root vegetables from scraps, or is it just a bunch of internet hype? While you may be able to grow fresh foliage from leftover tops, don’t expect the plant to produce new roots. Continue reading to learn more about growing parsnips from kitchen scraps.

How to Plant and Grow Celery Root (Celeriac)

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If you’ve never tried celeriac, you’re in for a treat. This crisp cousin to celery is the perfect root vegetable for making soups and fries, or for eating raw in a salad. But is it hard to grow? Is it just like growing celery? Learn everything you need to know to grow your own celery root in our guide. Read more now.

How to Grow and Harvest a Winter Parsnip Crop

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There aren’t many veggies you can harvest fresh from the soil in the dead of winter. For the most part, the growing season is long gone. But parsnips can survive even the bitter cold and they taste better for it. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out when to plant and how to harvest this underappreciated root crop.

7 Reasons Why Homegrown Celery May Be Skinny

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Celery is not the easiest plant to grow. The seeds are tiny and have to sit on top of loose, organically-rich soil to germinate in sunlight. And sometimes, the crunchy ribs you’ve been waiting for turn out to be thin and dry instead of plump and juicy. Read on for 7 reasons for skinny celery and how you can avoid it.

How to Grow Parsnips From Seed

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Parsnip seeds have a reputation for being hard to germinate. Lots of gardeners complain that they’re a challenge to tease out of the ground. The truth is, you just need to know the right steps for making it happen and you can find reliable success. Fresh seeds, a good soak, and some patience will have you on your way.

Tips for Growing Parsnips in Containers

A close up horizontal image of parsnips set on a rustic wooden surface in the garden.

Parsnips are earthy, tasty, often overlooked root vegetables that shine in a variety of dishes. If you want to grow this cousin to carrots and parsley, you might wonder if you have space in the garden. But you don’t need it! You can grow parsnips in containers instead. Learn everything you need to know in our guide.

No Peeling Required: How to Grow Nantes Carrots

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‘Nantes’ could become your new favorite carrot to grow in the garden. It’s tender and sweet, bright orange, and virtually coreless. And you can eat this variety without peeling it first. This guide covers how to sow and care for this crop, and enjoy the haul. Zoodles, carrot cake, and roasted roots are all on the menu.

How to Harvest Parsnips

A close up horizontal image of a pile of freshly harvested and cleaned parsnips.

If you have ever grown parsnips, you know how disappointing it can be to wait all season only to discover that your crop is tasteless, stringy, and tough. It’s time to try again. Read on for all you need to know to harvest this nutritious root vegetable at the peak of flavor, for a sweet and tender harvest every time.

How to Plant and Grow Anise

A close up horizontal image of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) growing in the garden.

Anise is versatile in the kitchen, and you can use both the leaves and the seeds in a variety of recipes. It’s also valuable in the garden, attracting beneficial insects and driving away the bad ones. This guide has all the details you need to succeed at growing this uncommon, unfussy, totally wonderful herb.

Tips for Growing Caraway in Containers

A close up horizontal image of Carum carvi with small white flowers.

Don’t let a little thing like a lack of garden space prevent you from growing nutritious, delicious caraway plants. Carum carvi grows incredibly well in containers, so you don’t have to go without, even if you only have a little corner of a balcony available for your gardening. Read our guide to learn more.

Crisp, Sweet, and Red to the Core: How to Grow Chantenay Carrots

A close up horizontal image of Chantenay carrots growing in the garden ready for harvest.

Red to the core and just right for raised beds, ‘Chantenay’ carrots grow five inches long. They thrive in garden plots and planters, too. Sow in spring or fall for fresh eating, juicing, freezing, or cooking in muffins, stews, or soups. But first, learn all the carrot hacks for the best yields and avoiding pests.

A Heavy Soil Hero: How to Grow Danvers Carrots

A close up horizontal image of 'Danvers' carrots with the tops still attached set on a wooden surface.

A bright orange heirloom, the ‘Danvers’ carrot is great for gardeners with heavy soil. Plant it in the spring and again in fall for an easy-pull storage crop. You can’t beat that homegrown carrot taste, and ‘Danvers’ produces high yields – even in areas with clay soil and shorter growing seasons. Read more now.

How to Grow and Care for Fennel

A close up photo of a row a bulb type fennel growing in garden soil.

Sweet fennel is aromatic and delicious, especially when you harvest it fresh from your own garden. Choose from bulb and bulb-less varieties, and enjoy bulbs, foliage, and seeds for nutritious and tasty additions to your menus. In this guide, you’ll learn how to grow fennel plus we share some favorite recipe ideas.

Health Benefits of Parsnips

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Root vegetables bring a touch of earthy sweetness to meals, and the parsnip is no exception. Plus, this nutritious veggie offers several potential health benefits! If you’re looking for a sign to plant more root veggies in your garden, this is it. Learn more about the nutrition that parsnips have to offer.

When and How to Harvest Celery

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If you are growing celery in your garden, you might be feeling a bit confused about how and when to pick the crunchy stalks. How soon can you harvest them? Do you harvest the entire plant at once? Discover when and how to harvest celery in this guide. Plus, we share some bonus recipe ideas! Read more now.

5 Reasons Why Your Celery Tastes Bitter (And What to Do About It)

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If you’re growing celery, you might be wondering how to keep it from becoming too bitter. Or maybe you harvested stalks that you can barely eat, they’re so acrid. Discover why your celery is bitter and what you can do to fix it in this guide. Plus, we share favorite recipes for even the bitterest celery. Read more now.

9 of the Best Celery Cultivars for Your Garden

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If you want to grow your own celery, you may not know that there are several different varieties available, including self-blanching types, bolt-resistant varieties, and even a unique cultivar with purple stems! Discover 9 of the best celery cultivars to grow at home and choose your favorite now. Read more.

Health Benefits of Caraway Seeds

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Caraway seed brings a lot to the table, adding unique flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. But did you know it also boasts several health benefits? Spice up your meals without adding too much extra salt or sugar. Learn more about caraway’s culinary uses, nutritional composition, and potential health benefits!

13 of the Best Dill Varieties for Your Herb Garden

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Dill is a popular addition to the herb garden. Its feathery, fragrant foliage adds interest to the landscape and livens up many a homecooked meal. There are a number of different cultvars available, that vary in size, flavor, and time to maturity. Learn about 13 of the best dill varieties and find your favorites now.

How to Harvest Angelica

A large angelica plant with green foliage, purple stems, and large flower heads pictured growing on the side of a lake with mountains in soft focus in the background.

If you are growing angelica in your garden, you may not know that all parts of the plant are edible. With a rich history of use in food and medicine, this fragrant herb has a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. Discover how to harvest and use the leaves, stems, and roots of your angelica plant. Read more now.

How to Propagate Angelica

A large patch of Angelica archangelica with purple stems and bright green umbels growing in the garden with trees in the background.

Angelica is a beautiful biennial herb that has been grown for centuries for its aromatic edible stems, medicinal roots, and large bold foliage. This majestic plant can be propagated in a number of different ways and is easy to grow once you know how to get it started. Read on to learn how to propagate angelica.

How to Grow Parsley in Your Home Herb Garden

Use curly leaf parsley as an accent plant in your landscape | GardenersPath.com

Parsley has a rich and storied history, and its substantial health properties and usefulness as a garden herb are timeless. Easy to grow and propagate, this attractive herb is a welcome addition to veggie patches and flower containers, and storage of surplus stock is simple as well. Get all the details on how to grow and enjoy parsley – read more now on Gardener’s Path.

How to Harvest and Store Carrot Seeds

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Saving seeds from your homegrown carrots now can ensure a bounty of garden vegetables in future seasons. If left to flower, each plant produces over a thousand seeds, so saving them is a no-brainer in terms of cheap food production. Learn how to harvest and store your own carrot seeds with this guide. Read more now.

Tips for Growing Carrots Indoors

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If you love the taste of homegrown carrots but haven’t had much success with them in your garden, why not try growing them indoors? An indoor garden can provide you with a year-round harvest of fresh, sweet, and tasty roots – and it’s easy when you know how to grow them successfully. Read more now to get our tips.

The Best Companion Plants to Grow with Dill

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Gardeners appreciate dill’s attractive, feathery leaves and its commanding presence in the landscape. But before you add this herb to your garden, carefully consider what you plant nearby – there are good partners out there as well as potential foes. Learn more about the best and worst companion plants for dill now.

How to Grow Parsley in Winter

A close up of a small parsley plant growing in dark rich soil with bright green curly leaves in soft sunlight.

If you mourn the loss of garden-fresh herbs with the arrival of cold weather, take heart. There are a few that still continue to produce leaves in winter, and parsley’s one of them – so you can enjoy their fresh taste in your favorite recipes all year. Join us as we dish the dirt on how to grow parsley in winter.

How to Store Carrots In the Ground

A close up of freshly harvested carrots, the wet soil still on the roots. The background is the green foliage of the tops which are still attached.

When it’s time to harvest your crops, have you ever wondered what to do with an overabundance of root vegetables? What if your homegrown carrots could be left in the soil for the winter? Leaving carrots in the ground is a great way to keep them fresh during the winter months – given the right conditions. Read more now.

When and How to Harvest Caraway Seed

Close up of a caraway flower head with mature seeds ready for harvest.

Caraway is an aromatic herb that is entirely edible. Usually grown as a biennial, flowers yield to fruit in the second year. We call this fruit seed, and use it to flavor foods like classic rye bread. Read on and learn when and how to harvest the pungent seed for recipes and future crops, right here on Gardener’s Path.

How to Plant and Grow Caraway

Close up of the blooms of the caraway plant or meridian fennel or Persian cumin or Carum carvi.

Caraway is a biennial herb for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10. In the first year, enjoy its tender leaves in salads. And in the second, reap an abundance of seeds for use in breads, slaws, and savory dishes. Learn all you need to know to cultivate this edible plant in your garden this year,