Saturday 1 October 2011

Herb Garden Information

By Joseph Robertson


Herbs can be followed back into the times of the ancient Egyptians and the traditional Chinese. There also are references in the Bible and medieval documents that show herbs were used by most households. Growing herbs is something that is extraordinarily beneficial to gardeners for a couple of different purposes. Herbs could be used to flavor food, for potpourri, for tea, for medical purposes or to even control pests in the garden. Herb gardens can be specialized towards one of those specific areas or a mix of a few different purposes. They may also be grown in a garden with other species of plants or in containers inside.

Herb gardens can be grown in alternative ways like an indoor herb garden in the kitchen or a tiny plot in the garden. A small plot of four feet by 6 feet is a massive enough area to support a small family. Although a preferred use for herbs are for cooking known as culinary herbs, they also are grown for their aromatic foliage and some for the beauty of their flowers. They can be used dried or fresh. Some herbs are used as garnish for plates or salads while other kinds of herbs can be used to perk up the flavour of a dish.

Like all of the plants herbs grow as annuals, perennials, plants, and trees. When planting herbs, you ought to use well-drained soil. If you notice that your soil is heavy or compressed, you are able to add organic matter to it. Manure is not mandatory either. Most herbs prefer a bright location though 1 or 2 prefer full shade. Many herbs will grow well with afternoon shade. Incredibly, very few diseases or insects attack herbs. Often in dry, hot weather red spider mites can be found on low-growing plants and aphids may attach dill, caraway, anise, or fennel. Rust can also have an effect on mint.

Herbs can be purchased and planted into a home garden or they can be grown from seeds. It's an respect and a joy to be well placed to see a plant be grown from a single seed. You're able to enjoy every step of the process from birth to death in a respect. When growing a plant like an herb from a seed the experience is all the more rewarding because herbs are so handy. Most all herbs can be grown from a seed. Seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in the late winter. Employ a light, well-drained soil to grown your seeds in. Since herbs don't have a deep root base, confirm not to cover the seeds too much with the soil. They should be planted shallow. Follow the rule: the finer the seed, the shallower it should be sown. You can transplant the sprouts to the outdoors in the spring. Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, some herbs do not transplant well. Herbs like dill, fennel, anise, and coriander should be planted right into the garden.

Though growing herbs in a home garden is simple and worthwhile , there's a lot of info you need to know and understand about herbs. This article has given you a lift and now it is time to complete the journey with more information. And you'll find all of the information you need right here! Good Luck!

About the Author:

Wednesday 28 September 2011

The Pleasure And Other Benefits Of Growing Your Own Herbs

By Grahham Greener


Among the many rewards of growing your own herbs is that you can use them to bring out the flavor of food dishes. You can easily use a small section of your garden, or even planting pots, to raise enough herbs to satisfy all your needs - and your neighbourhood garden center or nursery will stock just about everything that's needed for starting out. Indeed herbs have many uses and advantages - let's explore that in some detail.

The most evident selling point of growing herbs is their addition to food preparation, providing flavor and color to food. They truly can be added to all sorts of meals and this can include salads and soups.

There are lots of meat dishes where herbs help to boost the overall taste and if using your own, you will know that these are freshly picked from your garden. When you test out various recipes you will add variety and new tastes to your daily meals.

One more ages-old selling point of herbs is their healing ability, which has been used successfully with many ill-health conditions. You'll find a range of remedies based around herbs if you ever conduct some research.

These herbs are used either fresh or dried out and can be taken internally, such as in drinking teas or tinctures or used externally by being put in to poultices and creams that can be applied to affected areas. Peppermint tea is a superb example of a treatment for an upset stomach and chamomile tea is recognized for its soothing effect and can help to calm you when taken before bedtime to help you gain a restful sleep.

One more popular way of using herbs that you have grown by yourself is to slice them and dry them. Dried herbs can again be used in teas and included in cooking for additional flavor.

The aromatic smell of dried herbs will be able to calm and please at the same time. Get a countryside feeling with dried lavender dangled in bunches from the kitchen ceiling, which will also provide subtle aromatic and visual tones.

It doesn't matter if you just have a small garden, herbs are very easily grown at home even with confined space. The way mint flourishes in pots proves that pots tend to be very good for growing herbs in.

It grows and develops very vigorously and can dominate other plants whenever given the chance. This advancement may be contained effectively when raised in a pot. As with the majority of container gardening you simply must water the pots regularly to prevent them from drying out.

Growing your personal herbs is yet another great way of getting children involved in gardening as it can be cheap and easy to do. This may also get your children interested in cooking by adding the herbs they have grown to dishes and helping them to explore different flavors.

An excellent way to introduce children to cultivating herbs is to help them to sow some cress seeds from a carton and watch them grow on a windowsill. It's easy and quick to grow and can be good fun to cut and delicious to add to their food.

So you'll find a lot of reasons to start growing your own herbs and you will shortly reap the benefits of your efforts.

About the Author:

Saturday 24 September 2011

How does one Grow any Garlic?

By Traci Cartez


Enjoyable Translated Within Actions

If you wish to vamp up your abilities really are a fundamental farmer, then you will find plenty of greens and herbs that you can plant effortlessly. This may not just provide you with hands on experience but will also improve your morale and make you prepared to consider better long term challenges. 1 this kind of herb is garlic, which is extremely simple to develop. In case you don't understand how To Grow Garlic, then there's nothing to fret about, for the procedure is as simple as 1, two and 3. 1, put together a bit of land by digging it up and by getting rid of the stones and other shingles from it. Then include some gentle growth fertilizer to it. Then dig it up and place a clove of garlic at least 5 inches deep. Cover the clove with soil.

It's Easy To do

In the event you are truly intrigued in gardening, then Expanding Garlic can be quite a great deal of fun to do. It occurs to be so since the procedure is relatively simple to work out and may be practiced easily in your own home with out the need to buy any other tools. Initial of all, you should put together a small patch of ground as the seed bed. This can be accomplished using the garden shovel. Clear the soil, rid it of pebbles and combine a little sand and fertilizer to it. Then consider a clove of garlic with its skin on and location it three inches beneath the surface of soil, while covering it with the rest with the soil. When the soil is moist, you don't need to water it, or else, water it lightly.

Starting Your Farming Encounter

Just in case you are planning to start training like a gardener, you then must be aware of the fact that one of the activities you may be intrigued in would be to Grow Garlic. That's simply because growing garlic features a great deal of benefits. Is there a accurate fantastic thing about this unique plant and the associated effects of how to make garlic aioli what the reason why so many people have fun with this. It provides you with the easy start, it makes you develop a herb that you otherwise buy from the marketplace and therefore conserve cash and it doesn't need as upkeep as is needed by flowers along with other vegetation. And the very best thing is, you could even apply in as small a place as a pot. Take a pot and fill it with a bag of development soil, then include a gentle growth fertilizer to it, if that hasn't been carried out already. Then, just consider a mid sized clove of garlic and location it beneath the soil and lightly water with a spray nozzle.


About the Author:

Thursday 22 September 2011

How to Grow Basil Easily

By Neil Mandez


Basil is known as an herb that is certainly well loved by many individuals.
Once you learn about it you may fall in love with it as well. It is among the oldest herbs in the world. Various cultures use it for cooking. It has many uses in the area of medicine. People have even used the scent for making soaps and candles. In addition to all that, growing basil is especially rewarding for those who are just starting out with gardening because it is uncomplicated to grow when you apply a few basics. You can grow basil indoors or outdoors. If you grow indoors you can do so all year long.

Make sure the weather is warm before attempting to grow basil outside. Basil loves warm weather and does not do well in cold weather. Before growing, make sure the weather stays above fifty degrees at night. Make sure the plant gets plenty of sunlight every day. It does not like shade. It is also essential that your soil have good drainage.

To start the plant from seed just put a small amount of seeds randomly on the soil. Ensure the seeds make contact with the soil. Good contact with the soil will cause the germination process to start. Use a little bit of soil to lightly cover the seeds. Water the soil well. Keep your dirt moist, however not too wet, until the seedlings appear. It will take several days for germination to occur.

The plants will need to be thinned after a set or two of leaves appear. Make sure the plants are thinned to be 6 to 12 inches apart. Several weeks before the last frost you can start sowing basil indoors.

A basil plant needs to be watered as often as it will allow without causing standing water. Keep in mind though, if you water too often the roots will not develop as far into the earth and if a drought comes they will not be as resilient. When watering, apply water at the base of the herb and not on the leaves themselves.

If you are intending to use fertilizer you should do that before planting or at the start of the growing season. Herbs should only be fertilized once a season and when doing so, be sure to use a complete fertilizer. Your typical garden fertilizers should be fine but if you are consuming the herb you will want to use it at half normal strength. Also, do not apply it on the leaves directly, but at the base of the plant.

Pruning should occur as often as the herb is needed for cooking or weekly. You can alter the shape of the herb by pruning it in certain ways. Pruning the plant will keep it from entering the flowering stage. When the basil plant begins to flower the leaves start turning bitter and the herb will stop creating new leaves. Pruning a basil plant is simple. Just nip off a stem above a pair of leaves. Once the plant grows several inches it can be pruned. Pruning can occur after the plant is 2-4 inches in height.

Knowing how to grow basil is rewarding and with this informative guide it can be done easily.

About the Author:


Tuesday 20 September 2011

Growing Your Own Herbs Is, In Fact, Fun And Has A Lot Of Benefits

By Gary S. Dimas


Besides imparting flavor to food, herbs grown at home on your own will provide many other benefits. You're going to get everything you need to launch your own herb garden from the garden center or nursery down the road, and then you'll need just a small spot of garden for planting, or even using pots will get great results. Simply herbs have numerous uses and advantages - let's explore that in some detail.

Maximizing the flavor and color of food must be the one use of herbs that most people are familiar with. They actually can be added to all sorts of meals and this can include salads and soups. There are plenty of meat dishes where herbs help to enhance the overall taste and if using your own, you will know that these are freshly picked from your garden. If you ever experiment with various recipes you will add variety and new tastes to your daily meals.

Across the ages an array of illnesses and diseases have been successfully treated with herbs, many of which are credited with curative powers. Several natural remedies are available for various health complaints which are easily obtained with a bit of investigation. Both dried and fresh herbs are utilized, either by imbibing them in the form of teas or tinctures, or perhaps by applying them straight to the affected area in the form of creams or poulltices. If you find it difficult to fall asleep, take camomile to calm and soothe you into a restful slumber, while if an upset stomach is your issue then the way to settle it is with peppermint tea.

Pick or cut your extra herbs, which usually influences further growth, and then dry them for keeping. Use them as you did the fresh variation, in teas and as a culinary flavorant. Another use for dried herbs can be as a decoration and for creating potpourri. The aromatic smell of dried herbs can easily calm and please at the same time. Achieve a countryside feeling with dried lavender strung in bunches from the kitchen ceiling, which will also provide subtle aromatic and visual tones .

It is rather easy to grow your own herbs at home, even if you have a small garden or little space. Believe it or not most herbs grow very well in pots and mint is a good example of this. It grows and develops very vigorously and can take control of other plants if given the chance. If perhaps grown within a pot, however, this tendency is well controlled. Needless to say, herbs, like various other plants grown in containers, do require frequent watering.

It is possible to get youngsters to participate in growing herbs at home, thereby introducing them to the advantages and fun of gardening. You might just promote a fondness for cooking by letting your children to experience the different flavors from adding the various herbs they have grown. An easy but intriguing way to get them started would be to permit them to sow and then watch grow some cress in a windowsill planter. They are sure to be successful at it, after which there's the fun of cutting it to add a tasty bite to their meals.

So there are plenty of reasons to start growing your own herbs and you will quickly reap the benefits of your efforts.

About the Author:


Sunday 18 September 2011

The best way to Be a Effective Gardener in Growing Herbs

By Jillian Abernatha


Growing Rosemary: the particular Definitive Guide

Rosemary is a strong-flavoured herb with pine-like leaves. It is especially scrumptious in mixture with garlic and lemon and complements a wide variety of dishes such as poultry, sport, potatoes, salads and dips. However, despite these wonderful characteristics, growing rosemary requires much interest for it is a fickle plant.

Rosemary germinates poorly and is extremely delicate to soil acidity, temperature and moister. It's best to germinate rosemary indoors and in large quantities (the method requires about six weeks). Once germinated, seedlings will thrive on full sun and little water. Rosemary is extremely sensitive to drying, therefore the soil ought to be moist although not moist. Rosemary vegetation will particularly advantage from periodical washing, as they are extremely delicate to dust and grime. The plant will quickly die in excessively dry or cold climates.

Additionally, the plant is extremely prone to pests. Home-made or industrial pesticides can safeguard the plant. One particularly helpful pesticide is a dilute solution created with 2 cloves of pressed garlic and 1 or two tablespoons of cayenne pepper.

The Effective Gardener: Guidelines to Expanding Rosemary

Rosemary is a delicate perennial and requires a lot attention. If you plan on expanding rosemary, put together yourself to hard work and a few failures along the way. Germinate rosemary seeds indoors by loosely covering them with grime and watering sometimes for six weeks. Rosemary germinates badly, so be sure to start with a good quantity. Utilizing herbs effectively such as other people such as basil how you can grow will increase your cooking competence. Plant the resulting sprouts fairly near to every other because they will remain little to get a year or so. If you choose to bypass the germination stage, you are able to purchase rosemary vegetation from a nursery but be weary of pests.



Fennel Herb 101: Discover the basics

Fennel herb, also referred to as anise plant or sweet anise, is really a fragrant perennial plant with liquorice-like flavour. It's often used in Italian cuisine, but is also used in several German and American dishes. Fennel is especially simple to grow because it can develop in nearly any type of soil and local weather.

Fennel bulbs can be eaten uncooked or steamed and therefore are often featured in seafood dishes, soups and salads. Nevertheless, fennel's distinctive flavour can stand on its own in a easy salad comprised of the bulb, lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil. The leaves can be utilized as garnish in salads, sauces and soup.

Fennel leaves may also be used to steep tea that would deal with nausea and abdomen aches. Simply drop 1 stalk with leaves into a cup of hot h2o, cover and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and consume the tea as required.

The plant can be saved for up to a week within the fridge but can't be frozen.


About the Author:

Friday 16 September 2011

The Enjoyment Along With Other Benefits Of Growing Your Own Herbs

By Ray Dinate

Growing your own herbs is easy to do and can be very enjoyable as many herbs can be added to culinary dishes to enhance the flavor of our food. You're going to get everything you need to start your own herb garden from the garden center or nursery down the road, and then you'll need just a small spot of garden for planting, or even using pots will get great results. Let us take a look at more closely the assortment of applications and the benefits of growing your own herbs.

Improving the flavor and color of food has to be the one use of herbs that a majority of people are familiar with. Herbs are associated with food preparation, and they are used even in the most basic and humble dishes like soups and salads. There may be something thrilling about using ingredients raised and harvested by yourself, and perhaps that helps to explain the lift they bring to the taste of many meat dishes.

A little experimentation is often great fun and results in tasty variations of your everyday meals. Over the ages a variety of illnesses and maladies have been successfully treated with herbs, many of which are credited with curative powers. Many natural remedies are available for various health complaints which are easily obtained with a bit of exploration.

These herbs are employed either fresh or dried and can be taken internally, such as in drinking teas or tinctures or used externally by being added to poultices and creams that can be applied to affected areas. If you struggle to fall asleep, take camomile to calm and soothe you into a peaceful slumber, while if an upset stomach is your problem then the way to settle it is with peppermint tea. One more popular manner of using herbs that you have grown yourself is to chop them and dry them.

Use them as you did the fresh version, in teas and as a culinary flavor. One more use for dried herbs is just as a decoration and for making potpourri. The aromatic smell of dried herbs can easily relax and please at the same time. A handful of dried lavender connected with twine and hung from a kitchen ceiling offers an attractive countryside feel and provides the lovely lavender color and scent.

A small garden or just a little space is enough to fruitfully grow herbs at home. The way mint flourishes in pots goes to show that pots are very good for growing herbs in. Some other plants grown close to mint usually are not advisable, since its active and lusty spreading habit will soon suffocate them. When grown inside a pot, however, this propensity is well controlled.

As with most container gardening you will need to water the pots on a regular basis to prevent them from drying out. Another benefit of growing herbs at home is that it provides an affordable and handy opportunity to present children to gardening. This participation can be extended to cooking, by permitting them to add the herbs they have grown and witness the change in the flavor and aroma of a dish.

An excellent way to expose children to cultivating herbs is to help them to sow some cress seeds from a packet and watch them grow on a windowsill. These are sure to be successful at it, and then there's the fun of cutting it to add a tasty bite to their meals. There are a myriad of good reasons for starting a herb garden, and the quicker you start the sooner you will enjoy the rewards.


About the Author:

Monday 18 July 2011

Herb Garden History

By Joseph Robertson

Herbs can be followed back into the times of the ancient Egyptians and the traditional Chinese. There also are references in the Bible and medieval documents that show herbs were used by most households. Growing herbs is something that is extraordinarily beneficial to gardeners for a couple of different purposes. Herbs could be used to flavor food, for potpourri, for tea, for medical purposes or to even control pests in the garden. Herb gardens can be specialized towards one of those specific areas or a mix of a few different purposes. They may also be grown in a garden with other species of plants or in containers inside.

Herb gardens can be grown in other ways such as an indoor herb garden in the kitchen or a small plot in the garden. A tiny plot of 4 feet by six feet is an enormous enough area to support a tiny family. Though a favored use for herbs are for cooking known as culinary herbs, they're also grown for their savoury foliage and some for the fantastic thing about their flowers. They may be employed fresh or dried. Some herbs are used as garnish for plates or salads while other types of herbs may be employed to liven up the flavor of a dish.

Like all other plants herbs grow as annuals, evergreens, shrubs, and trees. When planting herbs, you need to use well-drained soil. If you realize that your soil is heavy or compacted, you can add organic material to it. Fertilizers are not obligatory either. Most herbs like a sunny location although a few like full shade. Many herbs will grow well with afternoon shade. Surprisingly, few illnesses or insects attack herbs. Infrequently in dry, hot weather red spider mites can be discovered on low-growing plants and aphids may attach dill, caraway, anise, or fennel. Rust can also affect mint.

Herbs can be purchased and planted into a home garden or they can be grown from seeds. It's an respect and a joy to be well placed to see a plant be grown from a single seed. You're able to enjoy every step of the process from birth to death in a respect. When growing a plant like an herb from a seed the experience is all the more rewarding because herbs are so handy. Most all herbs can be grown from a seed. Seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in the late winter. Employ a light, well-drained soil to grown your seeds in. Since herbs don't have a deep root base, confirm not to cover the seeds too much with the soil. They should be planted shallow. Follow the rule: the finer the seed, the shallower it should be sown. You can transplant the sprouts to the outdoors in the spring. Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, some herbs do not transplant well. Herbs like dill, fennel, anise, and coriander should be planted right into the garden.

Though growing herbs in a home garden is simple and worthwhile , there's a lot of info you need to know and understand about herbs. This article has given you a lift and now it is time to complete the journey with more information. And you'll find all of the information you need right here! Good Luck!


About the Author:

Saturday 2 July 2011

Growing Garlic

By Joseph Robertson

Garlic is an excellent spice to include in our indoor herb garden collection. To begin, growing garlic has small cost outside of our standard indoor herb growing set up - that might include a number of growing lights if you are without direct sun for a lot of the day. Other than that, growing garlic is as straightforward as taking a garlic blub, removing the individual cloves and planting those. A note of caution however - corner store garlic tends to be sprayed with chemicals to control the ability of the garlic to sprout, which is not what we'd like! It is recommended that you buy bulbs from a specialist. If you cannot find one, then I would recommend starting off with organic garlic.

There's one main thing to keep in mind with garlic. This is a sub soil growing plant - although it does have leaves above soil, the bulb grows underneath it. That suggests the most vital thing to keep under consideration here is drainage. You do not need your garlic sitting in water, or it'll simply rot. That's one of the reasons indoor growing is so well suited - it is simple to set up a pot with excellent draining for the garlic to grow in.

Re the pot that you're going to use to grow your garlic, there are a few straightforward guidelines to bear in mind. You need your little garlic cloves to be spaced about 3-4 inches apart when you plant them. The diameter of your pot will determine how many you can plant - however you do desire your pot to be 10-12 inches deep. A handy place to start might be a 12" diameter pot that is 12" deep. You would then plant your cloves - pointy side up - about 1.5" under the surface, and 3-4 inches apart from each other.

Most endorse planting garlic in October/November - this is actually for those growing outside. You need to plant before it becomes too cold , but for around a month after planting, you want to keep the pots in a cool place - about 50 degrees F. Ensure you keep the cloves well watered during this time. At that point its simply a matter of watering regularly - again you do not want the cloves sitting in water and therefore rotting, but you do not need the soil getting too dry either.

Follow these steps then approx 10 months later you could have full bulbs prepared to crop. A quick note on harvesting: It could be a small challenging to work out when to crop them. If you harvest the garlic bulbs too early, then they will be tiny. There are two ways you can figure this out - if you dig up a bulb and check the layers, if there are 3 layers on the outside then it is prepared, if there are more then it isn't. On digging up bulbs - don't pull them out by the plant, instead use a spade and fully dig them up. Another way to tell that they are prepared is to hang around for the leaves to start browning. If you planted in October/November, this can be around Aug/September the following year.


About the Author:

Herb Garden Plants

By Joseph Robertson


Herb plants come in annuals, perennials, and biennials like other kinds of plants. There are so many types of herbs and every one is different. If you're fascinated by a particular type of herb, you must research that one to grasp the care it needs and how to use it properly. This article will get you moving in understanding general differing types of herb plants and what they are utilised for.

Annuals like basil, cilantro, and summer savory won't survive a frost. They need to be planted from a seed or a little plant each year. Perennials like sage and winter savory can survive less warm temperatures and will return year by year. Biennial herbs are plants that form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Biennial herbs like parsley, angelica, or caraway should be sown in the late spring directly into the garden. Prepare the soil first by working it to a fine texture and wet it slightly. Plant the seeds in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. Fine seeds can be planted in a mixture of sand which will permit them to spread more uniformly. You can also cover the bed with wet burlap or paper so as to keep the soil moist during germination. Developing an indoor herb garden can be a good solution to weather and seasonal effects on herb growth.

Herbs are also grouped into the families for which they are utilized. Culinary herbs are probably the most handy to herb gardeners. They have a gigantic variety of different uses in cooking. As a result of their robust flavours, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are usually utilized in low amounts to add taste to differing kinds of food. Parsley is an extremely popular herb that is utilized generally as a garnish. Savoury herbs have agreeable smelling flowers or foliage. Oils from redolent herbs like loyage, mint, and rosemary can be used to make different types of scents, toilet water, or other numerous aromas. Parts of aromatic herb plants used could also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. They could also be dried and made into potpourri which should help them to be able to hold onto their aroma for a substantial period of time. Lavender and lemon verbena are great herbs to use for potpourri. Some herbs are also used for medical purposes. For many years herbs have been thought to have the facility to cure the body. Present medical data recognizes that some herbs are beneficial to one's health, others are overrated. Herbs utilized for medical purposes should be used carefully. Some herbs are not dangerous but others can be threatening if eaten.

Some herbs won't be used for their flavour, power to cure or fragrance. Some herbs are also used for their beauty. Decorative herbs have brightly colored flowers and foliage. Many have whitish or diverse light coloured flowers like valerian that has crimson blossoms and borage and chicory which grow gorgeous blue flowers.

While herbs can be categorized into these different categories of uses, many herbs have multiple purposes. For example, mint could be utilized for cooking, tea, and bug control. No matter what the reason you've an interest in herbs, by accepting herb garden plants you are able to pick the herbs that'll be most useful to you.


About the Author:


How to Create Your Own Culinary Herb Garden

By Janette Mae Phillips

You may have heard countless times that fresh herbs give the best flavors. This is largely true as drying them takes a lot of the natural oils and essences out. Having your own herb garden will ensure that you will have fresh herbs every time you cook.

An herb garden is surprisingly easy to make. The following are some suggestions to get you started.

If you do not have sufficient kitchen space for a proper garden, you can also grow herbs in containers indoors. These will need a fair amount of attention but you can still have fresh herbs for your cooking without having to look after a large area or having to bother about space constraints.

Preparation Doing your homework is the first thing you have to do. Know what you need to grow based on your cooking habits. The herbs and spices that you use often should be on your priorities list. Next is know what kind of soil and caring every plant needs. Also know beforehand how big a plant gets. Having something that takes over your entire kitchen is going to be inconvenient.

Choose a good spot for your herb garden, one that gets enough sunlight, and with good soil that drains well.

Prepare the soil for planting. Till it so that it gets loose and also mix in some compost or mulch while you're at it. Stay away from chemical fertilizers as they can affect the taste of your herbs.

All you need to do now is to plant the seeds, water them, an wait for them to sprout and grow. Have patience and you'll be savoring fresh herbs soon enough.

Maintenance As far as looking after your herb garden is concerned, you will need to learn about the plants you are growing so that you understand how to care for them properly. Generally speaking, herbs don't require large amounts of water - you will know they need more moisture when the top soil is dry. Do ensure that excess water has a chance to drain away.

Useful Herbs

If you enjoy herb-flavored teas, you will love growing herbs such as lavender, chamomile and tea. Lavender is also used to flavor other foods, such as meat dishes. Dill, with its pretty leaves, is attractive as well as flavorful.

The usual like parsley is great for garnishing. Cilantro is indispensable if you do a lot of Mexican and Italian cooking, and so is oregano. Basil is an essential do-it-all herb.

Some other herbs that many cooks find useful to create interesting flavors in their food include chives, rosemary, thyme, sweet marjoram, borage, sage, summer savory and lovage.

You can opt to get seedlings from local plant banks or you can get seeds in sachets online. The good thing about going with seed sachets is that you can have the more exotic varieties available to you. There are a lot of flavor to try and you will have lots of fun tasting them all.

About the Author:

Grow Your Very Own Herb Garden

By Janette Mae Phillips

If you watch a lot of cooking shows, you have probably seen your favorite host pluck a sprig of thyme or parsley and used that instead of dried spices from a jar. Chefs are on to something in that this is the best way of using spices as nothing gets lost and adulterated while drying or processing. You too can have this fresh herb garden as it is surprisingly easy to do.

Like any living thing, an herb garden requires a consistent effort from you. Don't be turned off though as this entails a sweet reward that will make your efforts all worth it.

If you don't have any open spaces in which you can grow plants. A little kitchen space set aside for this purpose will be enough. Take small containers or flower pots and you're all set. You will soon enjoy the intense flavor of fresh herbs.

Preparation Doing your homework is the first thing you have to do. Know what you need to grow based on your cooking habits. The herbs and spices that you use often should be on your priorities list. Next is know what kind of soil and caring every plant needs. Also know beforehand how big a plant gets. Having something that takes over your entire kitchen is going to be inconvenient.

Choose a good spot for your herb garden, one that gets enough sunlight, and with good soil that drains well.

Prepare the soil for planting. Till it so that it gets loose and also mix in some compost or mulch while you're at it. Stay away from chemical fertilizers as they can affect the taste of your herbs.

All you need to do now is to plant the seeds, water them, an wait for them to sprout and grow. Have patience and you'll be savoring fresh herbs soon enough.

Upkeep Know beforehand any special care that your herbs may require. Don't group plants that require a lot of water with those that need just a little. Monitor the soil conditions and only water when you see a noticeable dryness to the topsoil. Allow excess water to drain. Mind any insects that may decide to take permanent residence in your herb kitchen.

Useful Herbs

Those who love tea can finally make their own. in addition to the kinds of tea you like, you can grow lavender and chamomile. These two herbs can be used to flavor teas in ways that will either perk you up or calm you down. Dill is also a good candidate because of its interesting appearance. In addition to it being an herb, it can double as a kitchen dcor.

Parsley makes a wonderful garnish, while cilantro is used to flavor many kinds of Asian and Mexican food. Oregano is great for Italian food, and basil can be added to most preparations with good results.

Some other herbs that many cooks find useful to create interesting flavors in their food include chives, rosemary, thyme, sweet marjoram, borage, sage, summer savory and lovage.

You can buy seedlings at your local garden center or buy more exotic plants in the form of seed packets. These can be conveniently bought online and will arrive in envelopes with the sachets containing information on how to grow them. There are literally hundreds of herbs and spices to choose from and you'll have a fun time growing and cooking with all of them.


About the Author:

Saturday 18 June 2011

Fenugreek Is A Great Herb To Grow

By Larry Chandler

Cultivating herbs can be one of the most effective methods to taking good care of your health like absolutely nothing else in the world can do. Nonetheless, the plant that I would like to draw attention to today is one called Fenugreek.

Fenugreek is certainly one of the natural herbs that has been esteemed since antiquity. It was an well-loved herb that the ancient Greeks used in many ways to make their lifestyles significantly better based on archaeological records.The Greeks loved this herb and utilized it in several ways. Even its scientific name, Trigonella foenum-graecum, virtually means "Greek hay". A lot of people believe that this name came about from the alfalfa-like leaves of this herb.

It is incredibly famous in other countries in their cuisine. In India, it is possibly utilized more than any place else in the world as an additive in curry powder. Curry powder is one of the principal spices used to deliver flavor to the Indian diet for otherwise boring foods such as rice. A lot of individuals find curry powder simply delightful.

It is used for beverages all over the world. Fenugreek itself is an fragrant herb which has a taste that resembles maple syrup. Plenty of folks like to brew it to create a wonderfully calming and flavorful tea. It is widely used as a popular coffee substitute in northern Africa.

In herbal medicine, Fenugreek has properties that are very valuable to especially women because it has a number of helpful phytoestrogens. These types of compounds can do everything from inducing labor to helping lactating women produce more milk. It is also thought to improve breast size.

You will find that the seeds may be a bit bitter, but there are ways to de-bitter the seeds with methods such as soaking and roasting the seeds.

Some people love these seeds as sprouts. However, most people don't allow the seed sprouts get to the greening stage due to the fact that the green sprouts begin to get a bitter taste.

If you are considering growing Fenugreek in your herb garden, I advise you to head on over to the Sand Mountain Herbs online store and pick up some seeds and get started. You won't be sorry about trying out the herb of the Greeks!


About the Author:

Herb Garden Information for Growing Herbs in Your Garden

By Jefferson Haynesworth

Your success depends on you getting the right herb garden information on growing a herb garden. Herbs are not just for cooking anymore. Their are many medicinal uses for herbs. You will discover that herbs are not hard to grow. In this article we will share with you some needed information on how to grow herbs in your garden.

There is just a few things herbs need to grow among these are the right soil, a sunny spot, and at least 6 hours or more of sun. Getting the plants to thrive indoor or outside and develop the oils in the stems and foliage is dependent on the amount of light the plants receive. If growing plants indoors, say on your windowsill, pots with drainage holes are preferred. Outside raised beds are preferred because they are easy to maintain.

The PH of the soil should be in the range of 6 to 7.5 and the soil should drain well. Adding amendments to a heavy clay soil will need to be made to enhance its ability to drain. Be careful when adding nutrients to the soil, as it does not take overly rich soil to grow herbs. If you have a nursery near you, you can buy starter plants or seeds.

Starter plants should not be planted deeper than the pot that contains them. Instructions on how far apart they should be planted and how much water they require should accompany most of these plants. If you are using a seed packet follow the instruction on the pack itself on how deep and far apart the seeds need to be planted. To remove the air pockets, pat the soil down.

You should water the plants well after planting and then water as needed. If you used seeds then they may require a little more attention until they sprout. Watering thoroughly to about 8 inches down once a week after the seeds have sprouted may be necessary. Container plants grown outdoors need watered more often, if it is hot they may require water daily.

After a good rain you will have to judge the soils moisture before watering again. The plants should not sit in soggy soil. Indoor plants require watering as the soil dries but care should be take to prevent the soil form becoming to dry and the herb plants wilting.

When growing herbs outdoors the beds should be fertilized once a season. For every 10 feet of plants apply about 3 ounces of 5-10-5 commercial fertilizer. If the plants are not growing well a little more may be applied but care should be taken.The use of a half strength liquid fertilizer applied about every month and half is good for indoor herb plants. Apply this same fertilizer on your outdoor potted plants about once a month.

Mulching can not only hold moisture in but also keep weeds out. Weeds can rob the herbs of nutrients they need to grow. Also the ground will stay warmer in the cooler times if mulch is used. Compost, leaves, straw are good mulches for the winter for any perennial herbs. These mulches can be used other times of the year too.

You can dry them or in some cases freeze them after harvesting. It is always nice to have fresh herbs but this is not always the case when growing them outdoors. To enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs all year long you can try an indoor gardening system. Indoor planting systems are readily available so you can enjoy the taste of fresh herbs all year long.

About the Author:

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Herbs

By Jane Claire

Herbs have been around since time immemorial and served different kinds of purposes. They have been used to treat illness and flavour cooking; they were even believed to have magical powers. Do you want to have your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to establish an herb garden.

Organize your garden

Before doing the actual planting, it is wise to think about the types of herbs that you want to plant or how long do you want to keep them.

Never forget to include the total space for your garden. If you need help in distinguishing the type of plants you want to utilized, go to some bookstores and find a book that can help you with that problem.

Your plan should also include your drawing of your garden. You might as well divide your garden according to annuals, perennials etc. That way, one category will not be affected once you cultivate one area. With regards to the perennials, you can plant them at the border so that they will not be included once you sow other areas of your garden.

To prevent any future chaotic results, harvest the shorter plants at the front side of your garden and the tall plants at the back. Moreover, there should be enough space for each plant as they grow and positioning them properly should also be implemented.

However if you don't want some herbs in your garden, you might as well get herb pots which have at least three outlets per container. To have an accurate result, fill up the first outlet and plant the herbs prior to the filling. Take note that the ones at the bottommost part are the plants needing the most amount of water. Those located on the topmost part require the least amount of water.

Ideas on Designing

A square herb bed can be nice idea for your herbs. Have some divisions on the bed like four by two paths crossing at the middle section of the bed with a measurement of 3 feet. To provide protections from being damaged, stones or bricks can be utilized at the edge. To assist their growing process, you may use a ladder for them to grow between the rungs or a wagon wheel bed which can have a similar role to the ladder.

Plant growing

Of course, different plants have different needs, but many of them require alkaline soil. This is the reason why you have to determine the herbs you want to plant in the planning stage. This can more or less help you find out how you should care for your plants. If you germinate your herbs from seeds, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature.

As long as you provide your herbs with the right amount of water, moisture and soil, taking care of them is simply a walk in the park. Frequent visits to them may even be superfluous provided that you have followed the important guides very well.


About the Author:

Saturday 22 January 2011

How To Get Delightful Results From Your Home Herb Garden

By Michelle Stratford

The following three tips will be of great help to those having the intention of start growing a home herb garden. Being followed keenly can give good returns.

The first thing to do is to thoroughly prepare the soil before you plant on your own home garden herb. Well prepared soil will ensure that you get the best results

Soil preparation is important because it will help the herbs with the required atmosphere for a healthy lash herb harvest. Failure to have the soil well prepared may lead to poor harvest or worst crop failure.

The alkalinity or the acidity of the soil will greatly affect the state your herbs. Herbs do not do well on an acidic soil. An alkaline soil will boost its performance. If your soil is acidic you need not worry because you can make it alkaline by adding wood ashes or calcite limestone to it.

Since light is vital to the herbs, it will help if enough light is allowed in the area chosen to grow the herbs. Some plants require a lot of son while others need less light. Of the plant that need much light are; basil, cilantro and savory while those which do not need much light are; parsley, sweet woodruff and anise Hyssop.

Space is another thing to consider. Though big land is ideal, it is good to know that you don't need a big chunk of land for your home herb. A sizeable piece of land will serve the purpose as well and can give you satisfying results too.

With today's technology one can still produce herbs even on a small piece of land. By using what is known as planters one can still use the space available to an extend of saving some space for other purposes. In fact, the rectangular type of planters placed on shelves can be of good service.

By adhering to these instructions one is assured of good results. In any case such preparation is always a fun and should not be stressing in any way. At the end you will look and know that your labor was not in vain especially when enjoying your cooked herbs.


About the Author:

Domestic Herbal Gardens

By Owen Jones

Every professional chef and every household cook recognizes the value of fresh herbs to their culinary creations. No diner would dispute this either. However, whether you buy your herbs fresh or dried, there are issues. When you buy fresh, you usually have to buy more than you require and they are comparatively expensive, whereas, if you buy them dried, they could be old and dried herbs lose their strength over time.

Why then is it that most home cooks use fresh or dried herbs from the supermarket? Ease, most likely. We lead busy lives and it is easier to get a few boxes of dried herbs at the supermarket along with your groceries than it is to cultivate your own.

Not that it is difficult to grow your own herbs and even spices, but you have to purchase the seeds, plant them and remember to water them. You can minimize the problem of trying to remember to water them very easily, by growing your herbs in a window box or in trays on your patio or deck, so that you notice them every time you take a break on your patio. You will also remember to bring them in if frost looks likely.

If you have children, growing herbs and spices in window boxes or trays can be a good induction to gardening for them. Herbs take very little looking after really, just needing watering every day. They are pretty tough and fertilizer is not necessary as most herbs have a fairly short life. Maybe only a month or two in some cases. Others last a lot longer.

First decide how many varieties you want to grow. How much room do you have for instance? The best way to start is look in your cupboard and see which herbs you use most frequently. Are any of them seeds? You could have a go at sowing these. Look them up in a book or on the Internet.

Sometimes it is better to soak the seeds first before sowing them, others do not require this handling. Second, which herbs have you heard about that you would like to use but never seem to have in the house? Try planting those too.

If all that does not seem like fun, then you can buy small herb plants in the garden nurseries. Most of them stock the most common herbs in Spring. Whichever way you go, read up on how to cultivate the herbs you have selected. I promise you, it will not be a long read, as they really do take care of themselves except for the watering. if you buy seeds rather than seedlings, all the information you need will be on the seed packet and such packets are very cheap to buy.

The advantages of having your own herb garden are manifold, but you will be teaching gardening to your kids or grandkids, you will have fresh herbs for cooking and you will have gorgeous aromas wafting around your patio or deck.


About the Author: