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Never buy old herbs and spices
Never buy old herbs and spices because fresh herbs taste better. Drying herbs for later use is easy. And there are lots of other ways to store fresh herbs like freezing them.
When I needed an herb I didn’t have growing I ran to the market to get some from the large selection in the baking isle. I was shocked at the price and wondered what am I buying?
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The FDA has rules for selling herbs and spices just like they have for most foods.
The guidelines where surprising. The guidelines for supermarket herbs and spices are:
Spices
4 years old is acceptable for whole spices
2 years old for ground spices
Herbs
Dried herbs can be up to 3 years old
Herbs and spices loss there flavor in time. Using old herbs and spices will not make you sick, why bother if they don’t have any flavor!
The cost.
I looked at rosemary. A jar of organic rosemary typically come with 1 ounce and is about $7! The jar on the self had an expiration date about 16 months away. Does that mean it has been in a warehouse for a year and a half!

My rosemary plant cost me $3. The plant is super easy to care for and produces more fresh rosemary than I use.
Two bonuses of growing your own are; it is super easy to grow more plants from cuttings so free gifts for all your foodie friends, and the extra has inspired me to try new and tasty recipes.
Here is a list of 12 common herbs and the basics of grow them

Rosemary
Start: easy from cuttings, difficult from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: sandy and dry
Sun: full
For more details about growing rosemary click here
Basil
Start: easy from cuttings, easy from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: rich organic, moist
Sun: full
Thyme
Start: easy from cuttings, moderate from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: sandy and dry
Sun: full
Parsley
Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: moderate
Sun: shade
Sage
Start: easy from cuttings, moderate from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: sandy and dry
Sun: full
Dill
Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: sandy and dry
Sun: shade/some sun

Tarragon
Start: moderate from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: moderate
Sun: full
Marjoram
Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: moderate
Sun: full
Lemon Balm
Start: easy from seeds, easy from cutting, easy to find full plants
Best soil: sandy
Sun: full or shade
Chives
Start: easy from seeds, easy to find full plants
Best soil: rich well drained
Sun: full or shade
Mint
Start: easy from seeds, easy from cutting, easy to find full plants
Best soil: any
Sun: full or shade
Oregano
Start: easy from seeds, easy from cutting, easy to find full plants
Best soil: any
Sun: full
Try these to help you get started

Growing herbs is easy and rewarding. Try it you will be hooked then you will never buy old herbs and spices again
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[…] Check out a list of the 12 best herbs to grow indoors including basic growing instructions. Clink here […]