Wednesday 28 March 2012

Raising Your Own Herbs Is, In Fact, Fun And Has Numerous Benefits

By Edna Manista

Cultivating your own herbs is not difficult to do and can be very gratifying as many herbs can be added to culinary dishes to enhance the flavor of our food. There is only the need for small patches of garden or simple pots to grow a variety of herbs and most of what you need to get started can be found at your local garden center or nursery. Let's quickly look at some of the benefits of growing herbs and the many uses for them.

Most likely the most well-known use of herbs is in cooking, primarily to add taste but sometimes also color. Herbs are identified with food preparation, and they are used even in the most basic and humble dishes like soups and salads. There are plenty of meat dishes where herbs help you to improve the overall taste and if using your own, you will know that these are freshly picked from your garden. Quality recipes can be modified to bring new culinary satisfaction to meals that were becoming a little mundane and everyday.

Over the ages an array of illnesses and ailments have been successfully treated with herbs, many of which are credited with curative powers. A little research will provide you with many natural remedies to aid in various ways. A lot of these herbs are employed either fresh or dehydrated 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. If you struggle to fall asleep, take camomile to calm and soothe you into a restful slumber, while if an upset stomach is your trouble then the way to settle it is with peppermint tea.

Pick or slice your surplus herbs, which usually stimulates further growth, and then dry them for keeping. Dried herbs can once more be used in teas and put into cooking for additional flavor. One more use for dried herbs is just as a decoration and for preparing potpourri. Dried herbs release a scent that's very pleasing to the senses. Take a bunch of dried lavender, resplendent with delicate grey-green stalks and purple blossoms, tie it with twine and suspend it from the ceiling or a crossbeam to give your kitchen a rustic atmosphere.

A little garden or just a little space will fruitfully grow herbs at home. Actually the majority of herbs grow very well in pots and mint is a good illustration of this. Provide it with half a chance and it will quickly cover other plants with its energetic growth. Growing mint in a plant container will limit this growth pattern nicely. Never forget to water your potted herbs frequently, like every other plant.

Another benefit of growing herbs at home is actually that it offers an affordable and handy opportunity to introduce children to gardening. This kind of participation can be extended to cooking, by allowing them to add the herbs they have grown and witness the transformation in the flavor and aroma of a dish. A simple but interesting way to get them started is to permit them to sow and then watch grow some cress in a windowsill planter. They're certain to be successful at it, after which there's the fun of cutting it to add a tasty bite to their meals.

So you will find lots of reasons to start growing your own herbs and you will soon reap the benefits of your efforts.

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Friday 23 March 2012

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.


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Tuesday 13 March 2012

Your Own Private Herb Garden Produces Plenty Of Rewards

By Cody Crescenti

Cultivating your own herbs is simple to do and can be very gratifying 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 launch your own herb garden from the garden center or nursery down the road, and then you'll need just a small patch of garden for planting, or even using pots will get great results. Simply herbs have numerous uses and positive aspects - let's explore that in some detail.

The most apparent selling point of growing herbs is their addition to cooking, providing flavor and color to food. Herbs are synonymous with cooking, and they are used even in the most basic and humble dishes like soups and salads. There's something exciting about using ingredients cultivated and harvested by yourself, and perhaps that helps to explain the lift they bring to the taste of many meat dishes. When you try out various recipes you'll add variety and new tastes to your daily meals.

Over the ages a range of illnesses and diseases have been successfully treated with herbs, many of which are credited with curative powers. You will uncover a range of remedies based around herbs when you conduct some research. All 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. Peppermint tea is a superb example of a remedy for an upset stomach and chamomile tea is acknowledged for its soothing effect and can help to calm you when taken before bedtime to help you gain a restful sleep.

Another popular method of using herbs which you have grown by yourself is to slice them and dry them. Utilize them as you did the fresh variation, in teas and as a culinary flavorant. They might also be stored when dry and used as adornment, such as adding to potpourri. The primary perk of this is the pleasant aromatic aroma of the dried herbs. A bunch of dried lavender connected with twine and strung from a kitchen ceiling offers an attractive countryside feel and provides the lovely lavender color and scent.

It is rather easy to grow your own herbs in your own home, even if you have a small garden or little space. In fact most herbs grow very well in pots and mint is a good example of this. It grows and spreads very vigorously and can take over other plants whenever given the chance. Cultivating mint in a container will constrict this growth pattern nicely. Don't forget to water your potted herbs on a regular basis, as with any other plant.

Another benefit of growing herbs at home is actually that it offers an affordable and handy opportunity to introduce children to gardening. This kind of participation can be extended to cooking, by allowing them to add the herbs they have grown and witness the transformation in the flavor and aroma of a dish. A simple but interesting way to get them started is to permit them to sow and then watch grow some cress in a windowsill planter. They're certain to be successful at it, after which there's the fun of cutting it to add a tasty bite to their meals.

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

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Wednesday 7 March 2012

Growing Fresh Herbs - What You Need To Know

Do you want to provide your family with wholesome food and save money in the process? Well growing fresh herbs is the way to create a tasty meal and nutritious meal. The effort is well worth it as it takes very little effort on your behalf in growing the fresh herbs and the rewards of growing culinary herbs in food cannot be beaten.

Growing Fresh Herbs - Your Choice

Start by choosing the herbs you plan to use often if you’re growing fresh herbs for the first time. For example, if Italian cooking is your strong point then oregano would be a good first choice as it complements tomato based recipes. Other herbs to consider would be caraway, parsley and chervil that go well with soups salads and stews. Basil, marjoram and tarragon work with meat dishes while cilantro adds zest to soups and beans. Rosemary and sage add savory flavor to stuffing and chamomile and sweet woodruff make fragrant teas.

Options for Growing Fresh Herbs

Depending on how much time you have and the garden space will dictate what herbs you will want to plant and harvest in your garden. But here are several options for growing fresh herbs.

Your Traditional Garden

If you have space in your back garden for a conventional garden and you have an assortment of different herb plants to grow, then creating a traditional patch in your backyard would be the best way. For convenience sake try and keep the herb garden close to the house so you can step outside and quickly cut some herbs. Make sure the plot is in an area that has direct sunlight and is well-drained.

The Indoor Garden

If you lack space then growing fresh herbs, in an indoor environment, can work well. For an indoor garden you will only be able to grow a few herbs. Make sure that you select a sunny window and a stable windowsill to place them on. Check for pests and water occasionally and the plants should flourish and produce flavorful herbs

The Container Garden

The container garden gives you the option of having a larger quantity of herbs that can be placed outside. The containers only requirement is that they can provide good drainage. This type of garden is considered transportable as the containers used for growing fresh herbs can be moved at any time required. Container gardens are convenient for anyone who does not have the time to keep an actual garden but desires to grow a large amount of herbs.

For more on herbs and herb gardens visit: http://www.nametheherb.com

Saturday 3 March 2012

What Different Types Of Herbs Can Be Produced At Home

By Sara Stanley

Food prices can make a substantial dent in any budget. Making sure that you are ability to prepare the meals you like to enjoy in the comfort of your own home can be a great way to find some savings from the cost of keeping yourself fed. When you discover types of herbs that can be grown in your own home, then you can learn how to give yourself a leg up on your grocery bill.

With fresh ingredients available to you, any dish that you are in a position to prepare can benefit from your forethought. Finding out more about what this entails is the first step towards enjoying delicious meals that can benefit from fresh and flavorful ingredients. The first thing that you need to consider is what will be easy to care for and in a position to flourish in the environment that you offer.

Mint can be the perfect starter plant if you have had no experience. Able to grow with ease in many different types of environments, and typically with little effort to care for, this might be a great jumping off point if you are considering a place to get started. Uses for mint can be found in a number of dishes, but where it really comes into it's own is when it's used for a beverage.

From iced tea to high end cocktails there are no end of drinks that can be punched up with the addition of a little fresh mint. Not having to pay for the cost of purchasing it is really just a bonus once you consider the amount of flavor it can offer your culinary efforts. If you are looking for a good test plant this would be a really good choice to consider further.

If you are looking for something more advanced, you might want to consider a basil plant. A little harder to care for then mint, it is none the less just as useful. Lending itself more to cooking then to beverages this plant can be the perfect addition to any number of dishes. A great addition to pasta or chicken can be found right on your counter, or porch.

Knowing more about each plant makes them easier to care for. Making the decision to take care of all research ahead of time means that you won't encounter any unwelcome surprises in your attempts. Spending money on a plant only to discover that it is hard to care for or won't grow in your home environment is not a smart way to save on cost.

Once you know more you can make better choices on what to start with. After that, your only remaining step will be to start cooking. With fresh ingredients at arms reach you might be surprised at what you are able to create.

So if you cook even a little, you would do well to learn about the type of herbs that you can grow yourself. Having access to them might be worth more to you then you might expect. Taking this opportunity to get started might be a great decision to make.


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