How to Grow Herbs in a Vertical Garden

By Jo Christiansen

Fresh herbs can make a big difference in the flavor of your dishes, however, they can get pricey to get at the supermarket on a regular basis. One way to reap the benefits without wasting great deals of cash is to make your own natural herb garden. You can have fresh natural herbs on hand whenever you want them, and you simply clip off the amount you need without having a leftover bunch that gets wasted.

Even if you don't consider yourself a green thumb gardener, you can still grow herbs in your home without a great deal of work. Lots of typical plants don't cost a lot money at your local gardening store, so you do not have to worry about starting from seeds.

Finding a Location for Your Herb Planter

Nonetheless, it can be a challenge to discover a hassle-free location to grow your spices. You also have to have sunshine for your spices to grow well. The ideal place to position your container is in a warm place and near your cooking area. This can be indoors or outside, depending on your environment and light available.

Preferably, you do not want your spice garden to be in the way of other activities or take up valuable counter space. Not everybody has an optional window sill alongside their kitchen sink, and additional counter area might not be available.

Why Vertical Containers are Great for Herbs

This is where an upright herb garden is useful. Rather than setting it on a table, counter or floor, a vertical container can be hung out of the way on a wall. Furthermore, a higher place tends to receive even more sunshine, which will help your plants grow better and remain healthy.

Vertical planting containers can also be surprisingly compact. This means that you can grow more seasonings and have the ability to use a larger amount of seasonings without taking up an entire wall.

Herbs are a perfect option for vertical planters due to the fact that most varieties stay small and require a minimal amount of soil. You do not need a huge container, plus the container will not get exceedingly heavy.

Container Kits You Can Purchase

You can buy affordable upright garden kits that let you plant and hang your garden immediately without a great deal of trouble. Numerous kits have compartments that slide out or can be easily refilled with new plants. For herbs that are annuals, this will make your yearly herb changing job simple and quick.

Building Your Own Vertical Garden

Alternatively, if you are handy or creative, you can make your very own vertical planter that meets your certain requirements for size and shape. Some containers are built from recycled containers like shipping pallets. Others can be made from easy supplies such as gutters from your regional home improvement shop.

Seasonings to Grow

You can begin your plants from seed, but many people discover that buying young plants at the neighborhood nursery is much simpler and less trouble. Some varieties that grow well in vertical planters include parsley, cilantro, thyme, oregano, chives, stevia, marjoram, sage and tarragon. Rosemary and lavender often get to large for a little garden, but that does not imply that you can't attempt.

About the Author:

To Get ideas and tips on how to get vertical gardening kits or build your own, visit this site

Grow Healthy Herbs on Your Own

By Jennie Mills

If you're not the kind of person that desires to invest their time taking care of an elegant fruit or veggie garden, you might consider planting and also keeping an herb yard. While the goods might not seem to be as significant, you'll still get a kick out of the consistent availability of fresh, great tasting herbs to flavor your meals with.

First you'll desire to decide on the herbs that you'll grow. You may have a challenging time doing this because of the substantial span of herbs obtainable. Yet the greatest way to choose is to do exactly what I did; simply check out what you have in your kitchen area. By growing your personal assortment of these herbs, you could save cash on buying them from the grocery outlet while having the included benefit of freshness. Several of the herbs you might just start with feature rosemary, sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley amongst others.

When selecting a feature to put your natural herb garden, you need to keep in mind that the soil must have incredibly good drainage. If the dirt receives watered as well as stays entirely saturated, you have no chance of ever increasing a healthy plant. One of the most effective means to correct the water drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and placed a level of smashed rocks down in the past replacing all the ground. This may allow all that water to escape, thus conserving your plants.

When you are prepared to start growing herbs, you could be lured to get the much more costly plants from the outlet. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with additional plants. As a result you can easily conserve a package of money by sticking with seed packages. Some herbs increase at a dangerously rapid cost. As an example, if you plant a mint plant in an open room then it will certainly take over your whole entire yard in an issue of days. The most reliable way to avoid this issue is to grow the even more aggressive plants in flower pots (with holes in the bottom to let drainage, of class).

When it comes time to gather the herbs you have actually labored therefore hard over, it is able to be deadly to your plant to blast off as well much. If your plant really isn't well established, it isn't healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks like it's not utilizing them. You must stand by till your plant has actually been well established for at least several months before setting off any kind of leaves. This wait may undoubtedly be worth it, since by expanding unabated your plant will certainly produce healthily for years to come.

Once you've collected your great tasting property grown herbs, you'll would like to utilize them in cooking. Why else would certainly you have increased them? Well to start with the process begins with drying them out. This is quickly attained by positioning them on a cookie bed sheet and also baking them 170 levels Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hrs. After they're adequately dried out to be made use of in cooking, you can check with the closest cooking manual for guides on utilizing them to efficiently flavor a course.

If you desire to save your herbs for later usage, you ought to maintain them in a plastic or glass compartment. Paper or cardboard may not function, since it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the initial couple days of storage space, you need to on a regular basis examine the container and view if any sort of dampness has actually gathered. If it has, you will need to take out all the herbs as well as re-dry them. If moisture content is left from the first drying procedure, it may promote mold while you save your herbs. Nobody prefers mold.

If you savor herbs or gardening, or both, and then you need to quite possibly take into account establishing up an all natural herb garden. It may require a tad of work at very first to determine it up for the very best drainage, and choose just what herbs you would like to increase. But after the preliminary headache, it's simply a matter of harvesting as well as drying out all your desired herbs.

About the Author:

Celery seed extract benefits - take a look at this site now to uncover more valuable tips.

The Enjoyment As Well As Other Benefits Of Raising Your Own Herbs

By Robert Wilson

Growing your own herbs is simple to do and can be very rewarding as many herbs can be added to culinary dishes to enhance the flavor of our food. You can use a small portion of your garden, or maybe 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. Let's quickly check out some of the primary advantages of growing herbs and the many uses for them.

Almost certainly the most well-known use of herbs is in cooking, chiefly to add taste but sometimes also color. There isn't really a meal, including salads and soups, that they can't be added to. There are lots 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. When you try out various recipes you'll add variety and new tastes to your daily meals.

Over 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 can be found for various health complaints which are easily obtained with a bit of research. All these herbs are put to use either fresh or dried out and can be taken internally, such as in drinking teas or tinctures or used externally by being applied to poultices and creams that can be applied to affected areas. If you find it difficult to fall asleep, take camomile to calm and soothe you into a peaceful slumber, while if an upset stomach is your trouble then the way to settle it is with peppermint tea.

Another popular way of using herbs which you have grown on your own is to chop them and dry them. Employ them as you did the fresh variation, in teas and as a culinary flavorant. They could also be put away when dry and used as decoration, such as adding to potpourri. Dried herbs exude a aroma that's very agreeable to the senses. A bouquet of dried lavender tied up with twine and installed from a kitchen ceiling offers an attractive countryside feel and provides the lovely lavender color and scent.

It does not matter if you only have a small garden, herbs are very easily grown at home even with limited space. Believe it or not most herbs grow very well in pots and mint is a good model of this. Some other plants grown near mint are not recommended, since its active and lusty spreading habit will soon suffocate them. This development is usually contained effectively when cultivated in a pot. As with most container gardening you will need to water the pots on a regular basis to prevent them from drying out.

Growing your personal herbs is also a great way of getting children involved in gardening as it can be cheap and easy to do. You may just kindle a fondness for cooking by letting your children to experience the different flavors obtained from adding the various herbs they have grown. For an introduction, let your children to sow some cress seeds inside a pot on a windowsill - observing the growth process will fascinate them. Apart from the ease with which it grows, cress boasts the fun and tasty benefit that it can be cut and added to their food.

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:

If this Section 21 Notice Requiring Possession article was helpful, find more goodies at Section 21 Notice Rent Arrears.

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

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:

Joseph Robertson has always loved the convenience and freshness of growing basil. On his website, you can find info on indoor herb gardens including growing basil!

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:

For more tips on sowing basil seeds outdoors and other articles on how to grow basil indoors, please check out these highly recommended links. Happy growing and good luck!

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:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Larry Chandler, owner of SandMountainHerbs.com, wants to help you have the perfect herb garden! Sign up for his newsletter at http://www.sandmountainherbs.com/newsletter.htm for more information on herbs like fenugreek and have the ability to read more on fenugreek benefits.

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:

Learn more about Enjoying A Herb Garden. Stop by Jefferson Haynesworth's site where you can find out all about Herb Garden Information and what it can do for you.

Simple Herbs to Grow in Your New Herb Garden

If you're a beginner when it comes to herb gardening, you might be worried about which types of herbs you should grow. There are many different herbs available, and some are more difficult to grow than others. However, there are a few varieties that are especially easy for beginners. These are generally more hardy plants that don't require a lot of fertilizer or special work.

Parsley - Parsley is a relatively hardy annual in zones 2-11. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties are easy to care for and grow very well without a lot of extra care. It can do well in full sun to light shade, and needs rich soil that is well-drained but moist. It doesn't do particularly well in heat.

Cilantro - Another simple herb to grow is cilantro. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You'll find that it is very easy to care for and it will do pretty well in just about any type of climate.

Chives - Chives are herbs that will grow in just about any conditions and almost any type of soil. In fact, they barely need any tending to grow. They prefer to have full sun on them, and rich soils make them do better; however, they survive just about anywhere. They have a wonderful flavor that is a bit like onions and they are tasty on baked potatoes.

Oregano - Oregano is a staple in most Italian cooking and is easy to grow. The leaves can be dried or they can be used fresh in any tomato dish. It is one of the easiest herbs to grow and can be grown in just about any area inside or outside. It should have soil that is well drained and also likes full sun, but it will even grow in soil that is rocky and poor.

Thyme - Thyme is a perennial herb. It is hardy in zones 4-6. It's a small, shrub-like herb that requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is quite hardy in its standard zones, and doesn't require much care at all.

Basil - Basil in a warm-weather annual herb. It is hardy in most zones, but it requires hot, dry conditions to reach peak flavor. It needs full sun, and very rich, moist soil. The only major issues with growing basil are slugs and cool conditions. As long as basil has enough light and heat, and its soil is allowed to dry out between waterings, it usually requires little additional care.

Bay - While this is actually a shrub, bay is a great herb to start out with in your herb garden. It is a very hardy herb and does well in many zones. It needs soil that is rich and not overly wet. However, it does fairly well in most conditions. The best flavor from this herb comes when the leaves have been dried. So, you'll want to dry the leaves before you decide to use them.

Remember to be careful about the zones. Although many of these herbs are hardy, they do much better when kept to their hardiness zones. As long as you grow them in the zones in which they do best, most of these herbs will be very easy to care for, and shouldn't need a whole lot of extra work to take care of them. Herbs make a wonderful addition to any vegetable garden.

How to Grow An Herbal Garden

If you like to cook, even occasionally, having a few organic, fresh and flavorful herbs growing in your kitchen is a real plus. And, it saves money. Fresh herbs in a small packet from the grocery store can cost several dollars. And usually, unless you really like the taste of certain herbs in your food, most of the packet wilts or gets dried out. There is a way to have great and really fresh herbs right in your kitchen.

Pick two of your favorite or useful herbs - basil and flat leaf (also called Italian) parsley are very common. Buy two packages only of organic seeds - these will grow and last you all summer. If they don't, you can always buy a few more packets. If you have some clay pots you aren't using (quite small), you can put a bit of soil in those and put the pots in a plastic tray in your kitchen window. Small pots dry out quickly in a sunny window so be sure and keep them watered, and check daily for moisture content. Too dry and the herbs won't grow, or they'll die. Too moist and you'll have soggy roots and then the plants will also die. And probably smell bad, as well.

A fantastic and eco-friendly way to go here is to rinse out vegetable cans, make sure the lips are smooth, punch holes in the bottom with a screwdriver and hammer, then fill with soil. After you line them up on the drip tray, in your window by a light source, moisten the soil and plant the herb seeds. Seed germination varies so don't worry of your parsley grows before your basil or vice versa. Let children help as they love this sort of thing and it shows them how to recycle in a very practical way.

If you have an outdoor garden as well and even one tomato plant (you know how prolific they are) you can make a fantastic and super simple pasta sauce by using your own organic tomatoes and your own organic herbs. If you grow them, you know where your vegetables have been - and if you pick them immediately to cook or eat - how incredibly fresh is that, and tasteful, and not wasteful because you only pick what you are going to use right away. Cook a flavorful wheat or non-wheat pasta, and sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese on top (if you eat animal products) and the kids will be clamoring for more.

Eat well and be safe.

Fay Porinsky is a retail saleswoman who has 20 years of experience buying and selling cutting edge health products. She has particular experience helping her customers stay healthy with the aid of an herbal Vaporizer, and is an avid user of the Volcano Vaporizer herself.

Simple Herbs to Grow in Your New Herb Garden

If you're a beginner when it comes to herb gardening, you might be worried about which types of herbs you should grow. There are many different herbs available, and some are more difficult to grow than others. However, there are a few varieties that are especially easy for beginners. These are generally more hardy plants that don't require a lot of fertilizer or special work.

Parsley - Parsley is easy to grow and has many uses. While it is a popular garnish found in many dishes, it is also excellent for curing bad breath. You can grow curly leaf and flat leaf parsley easily, and they grow wonderfully without you having to give them a whole lot of care. They do well in light shade and full sun, and they prefer moist, rich soil. Parsley doesn't do overly well in the heat, however.

Cilantro - Another simple herb to grow is cilantro. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You'll find that it is very easy to care for and it will do pretty well in just about any type of climate.

Chives - Chives are herbs that will grow in just about any conditions and almost any type of soil. In fact, they barely need any tending to grow. They prefer to have full sun on them, and rich soils make them do better. Chives have a wonderful flavor that is a bit like onions, and are excellent as a topping for baked potatoes. You can use them in a variety of different ways either dried or fresh.

Oregano - Oregano is a staple in most Italian cooking and is easy to grow. The leaves can be dried or they can be used fresh in any tomato dish. It is one of the easiest herbs to grow and can be grown in just about any area inside or outside. It should have soil that is well drained and also likes full sun, but it will even grow in soil that is rocky and poor.

Thyme - This is an herb that is perennial. It is very hardy and grows into a plant that is much like a shrub. It requires soil that is well drained but moist and prefers to be in the full sun. There is very little care to worry about when growing thyme.

Basil - Basil is another annual herb that does well in warm weather. It grows well in many places, but for the best flavor, it needs to have conditions that are hot and dry. The soil should be very rich and a bit moist and it should be kept in full sun. It's important that you make sure that basil gets plenty of heat and light and between watering it the basil should have time to dry out.

Bay - Although it is a type of shrub, this is actually a very good herb for beginners to grow. It's hardy in zones 8-11, and is remarkably hardy in those zones. It needs full sun to light shade, and rich, well-drained soil. It will tolerate variations in conditions rather well. Just remember, bay leaves reach their full flavor when dry, so be sure to press them between layers of paper towels inside heavy books for a few weeks before you use them.

Herbs are not difficult to grow, and they can be a great addition to your vegetable garden. Start with one or two easy herbs and gradually build up your herb garden. Make sure you pay attention to the climate they prefer. While they may be hardy and grow in a variety of places, they'll do the best when you keep them in a suitable climate. Once you have tried fresh herbs in your food, you will wonder how you ever got along without them.

Simple Herbs to Grow in Your New Herb Garden

By Sarah Duke

Article: If you're a beginner when it comes to herb gardening, you might be worried about which types of herbs you should grow. There are many different herbs available, and some are more difficult to grow than others. There are a few types of herbs that are especially easy to grow for beginners. These are generally more hardy plants that don't require a lot of fertilizer or special work.

Parsley - Parsley is easy to grow and has many uses. While it is a popular garnish found in many dishes, it is also excellent for curing bad breath. You can grow curly leaf and flat leaf parsley easily, and they grow wonderfully without you having to give them a whole lot of care. They do well in light shade and full sun, and they prefer moist, rich soil. Parsley doesn't do overly well in the heat, however.

Cilantro - Another simple herb to grow is cilantro. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You'll find that it is very easy to care for and it will do pretty well in just about any type of climate.

Chives - Chives are herbs that will grow in just about any conditions and almost any type of soil. In fact, they barely need any tending to grow. They prefer to have full sun on them, and rich soils make them do better; however, they survive just about anywhere. They have a wonderful flavor that is a bit like onions and they are tasty on baked potatoes.

Oregano - Oregano is a staple in most Italian cooking and is easy to grow. The leaves can be dried or they can be used fresh in any tomato dish. It is one of the easiest herbs to grow and can be grown in just about any area inside or outside. It should have soil that is well drained and also likes full sun, but it will even grow in soil that is rocky and poor.

Thyme - This is an herb that is perennial and easy to care for. It is very hardy and grows into a plant that is much like a shrub. It prefers a lot of sun and a warm climate to grow well, along with well drained but moist soil. If you are growing thyme in the house, you should make sure that you put the plant near the window so it gets the most sunlight.

Basil - Basil is another annual herb that does well in warm weather. It grows well in many places, but for the best flavor, it needs to have conditions that are hot and dry. The soil should be very rich and a bit moist and it should be kept in full sun. It's important that you make sure that basil gets plenty of heat and light and between watering it the basil should have time to dry out.

Bay - Although it is a type of shrub, this is actually a very good herb for beginners to grow. It's hardy in zones 8-11, and is remarkably hardy in those zones. It needs full sun to light shade, and rich, well-drained soil. It will tolerate variations in conditions rather well. Just remember, bay leaves reach their full flavor when dry, so be sure to press them between layers of paper towels inside heavy books for a few weeks before you use them.

Remember to be careful about the zones. Although many of these herbs are hardy, they do much better when kept to their hardiness zones. As long as you grow them in the zones in which they do best, most of these herbs will be very easy to care for, and shouldn't need a whole lot of extra work to take care of them.

The benefits of a vegetable garden can't be beat. Fresh produce and exercise too! Visit The Vegetable Patch for advice on getting started with a vegetable garden.

An Herbal Gardening How To Guide

by Rachel Ray

Herbs have been around forever it seems and serve different kinds of purposes. Herbs have been used to treat illness, maladies, and flavor cooking as well as being used in many craft type projects. Interested in starting your own herb garden? Here are a few pointers on how to start an herb garden.

Plan your garden. Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials? Are you wanting certain plants for cooking, or another purpose?

How much space will they occupy when they are full grown? You can purchase a book or go to the library that can give you the right information on what specific plant's requirements for each variety. You can also check out a gardening book or catalog or the nursery you purchase plants from to give you that information. You'll want to look at sunlight needs as well.

Time to draw out your plan on paper. Some suggestions would be to separate the annuals from the perennials. The reason for this is at the end of the season you can easily pull up the annuals without disturbing the perennials and make planting annuals next season easier. Sometimes you can plant the perennials on the perimeter of the garden, or in a section by their lonesome.

Another factor to consider is to plant the tall ones towards the back and the shorter ones in front. Give your plants plenty of space to grow and also find out their sunlight requirements and make adjustments accordingly. Properly positioning will help you in this department.

If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole. Use a great quality potting soil and make sure it has proper drainage.

You can design your garden in a creative manner. Try using a wooden ladder or wagon wheel and lay on top of the garden. Then plant your plants in between the sections for a square or circular division and interesting look.

It's important to factor in the needs of each variety of plant. Many need alkaline soil conditions, so if you need to add any special additives you'll already have that information on hand. If you start your own seeds, be sure to read the packet on the seeds as to water, temperature requirements, as well as when it's safe to plant them in the spring.

Herbs can be very easy to grow on your own. Give each plant it's basic requirements in regards to sunlight, proper drainage, moisture and fertile soil and you're bound to get a great harvest.

You'll also want to consider what you plan to do with the harvest. Will you cook them fresh? Freeze or preserve them in some other way? You'll discover that you have some favorites each year and which ones didn't perform as you would have hoped.

About the Author:

By Rachel Ray who loves planting and gardening .and finds it so soothing to the soul. Visit her site dedicated to making life more comfortable and lessening stress.

Growing Your Own Herbs-Start A Herb Garden

If you're not the type of person that wants to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, you might consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. While the product might not seem as significant, you'll still enjoy the constant availability of fresh, delicious herbs to flavor your meals with.

First you'll want to choose the herbs that you'll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. But the best way to choose is to do what I did; just look at what you have in your kitchen.

By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with include rosemary, sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others.

When choosing an area to put your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant.

One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all the soil. This will allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants.

When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants.

Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets. Some herbs grow at a dangerously fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space then it will take over your entire garden in a matter of days.

The best way to prevent this problem is to plant the more aggressive plants in pots (with holes in the bottom to allow drainage, of course).

When it comes time to harvest the herbs you have labored so hard over, it can be fatal to your plant to take off too much. If your plant isn't well established, it isn't healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks like its not using them.

You should wait until your plant has been well established for at least several months before taking off any leaves. This wait will definitely be worth it, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for years to come.

Once you've harvested your delicious home grown herbs, you'll want to use them in cooking. Why else would you have grown them? Well first the process begins with drying them out.

This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking hem 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hours. After they're sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you can consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavor a dish.

If you want to store your herbs for later usage, you should keep them in a plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard will not work, because it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the first few days of storage, you should regularly check the container and see if any moisture has accumulated.

If it has, you must remove all the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left from the first drying process, it will encourage mildew while you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew.

So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, it's just a matter of harvesting and drying all your favorite herbs.

You can learn how to grow herbs and how to plant herbs. Starting your own herb garden is easy.

How To Grow Herbs Outdoors or in Container Gardens

by Thomas Fryd

Whether you are growing herbs outdoors or in a container garden, good soil is one of the most fundamental conditions for encouraging healthy plants. While the sun is important for the energy they need for growth and reproduction, these chemical reactions can only occur with components from the soil. For this reason, it is important to grow your herbs in soil which provides all the necessary nutrients.

Water content, nitrogen and phosphorus content, alkalinity, and acidity, are all factors controlled by the soil in which your herbs are planted. Keeping all of these at the right level is one of the most important things you can do to help your herbs thrive. You should do some research on your herbs to find out the necessary soil levels.

In container gardens, all of these levels are up to you to completely control. In outdoor settings, nature provides some help, but you should still monitor these levels to ensure optimum herb growth.

Different herbs have different requirements. For example, lavender grows best in dry, alkaline soil with good drainage. Sage can get root rot if you keep the soil too moist. Nurseries or garden centers can help you determine your herbs' needs and find soil that will help your herbs achieve maximum growth.

Soil is usually categorized as sandy, clay-like, or somewhere in between. Soil with a clay component retains water, while sandy soil provides good drainage. Most herbs require something in the middle of these two extremes. The addition of good compost can help you achieve the right balance, but you should understand your herbs' specific requirements to choose the right soil.

When growing herbs, you also need to watch for pests. These include flying bugs as well as bugs in the soil, which is yet another reason to monitor your soil conditions. However, herbs can also help keep some pests from attacking your other plants. For example, planting herbs can help deter aphids that may be attracted to the scent of roses and certain vegetables. Chives, mint, basil, and cilantro also help control pests. For example, basil can keep tomato hornworm from ruining your tomatoes.

However, you should be aware that some herbs attract pests. Dill and yarrow can attract wasps, but keep some species of beetles away. Tomato hornworms attack dill, but this can keep them away from your tomatoes.

If you are growing herbs but want to avoid pests, you may want to consider a neem oil as a natural pesticide or insecticide. However, keep in mind that if you plan to use your herbs for culinary uses, you should avoid pesticides if possible.

Growing herbs does not have to be difficult. However, if you want healthy plants, watch for pests and provide the right soil type for your herbs.

About the Author:

We've created an outstanding resource for you on the topic of neem oil insecticide. Join us http://www.plant-care.com/pest-control-without-pesticides.html.

How to Dry Herbs and Retain Their Quality

By Manuel Wiggins

No doubt that, herbs are considered compliment to most of recipes. Purchasing herbs from the shelves of supermarkets means getting products of lower quality that are stored for a long term. Consequently, knowing how to dry herbs from your own garden is to get the best quality.

Considering there are many ways of drying herbs, the best of them is to dry them in absolute air. This way assists in maintaining the basic contents of herbs like natural oil. This way of drying is advised also for some herbs that have not high moisture content, such as bay, oregano and thyme.

Best Way to Air Dry Herbs

Herbs can be cut in the mid morning when the dew has dried. Leaves can be removed if shows insect damage or disease. It may be rinsed under cool water along with. Small bundles can be made of herbs, and tied with a rubber band. To do the final step, hanging the herb bundles in a warm place is favored.

To use paper bags in drying herbs is a good method. The paper may be punched firstly. Put the small bundles of herbs into the paper bags and hang them. A couple of weeks later, you can check your herbs and see that they are dried completely.

Way of Drying Herbs with a Dehydrator

If a food dehydrator or freezing are used, drying of herbs including more moisture will be best. A dehydrator is a best way of drying. It is quicker and easiest way that maintains the herbs' high quality and control of air circulating and temperature as well. Drying times are varied according to moisture contents. Also leaves' thickness and quantities of drying per a time are reasons of different times of drying. As soon as the leaves are crisp, and stems brittle herbs can be dried.

How to Store Dry Herbs

Store herbs after having dried, is important in order to maintain their freshness. There are many methods to store herbs, such as small plastic bags or jars. It must avoid light and heat. As soon as learning the ways of drying herbs, it will be considered as the first step towards being skillful cookers.

Manuel Wiggins has information and resources on his website about Herbs , and you can read more about Herb Gardens

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

Spice Up Your Cooking With Fresh Culinary Herbs From The Garden

By Jeff Glasser

Nothing can make a difference in a meal like adding fresh herbs instead of dried herbs. You can get fresh herbs at your grocery store but they do not store for very long and they can be expensive. Creating your own culinary herb garden is one alternative. Most herbs are easy to grow and maintain and can continue to provide for you throughout the course of the year.

With small pots and a few packages of seeds you can begin growing your own culinary herb garden right in your own kitchen. If you would prefer to keep your plants outside you will have no problem creating a culinary herb garden there either.

Plant Different Types Of Culinary Herbs In Your Garden

It is fun to create a culinary herbal garden that features multiple types of plants. One popular herb plant that should certainly be in a culinary garden is sweet basil. Basil smells wonderful when it's growing and brings so much additional flavor to meals when added fresh. Dried basil is generally unable to capture the true taste of basil. If you like to make your own pesto now you can have your own fresh basil to use in it.

Growing rosemary in your garden serves two purposes. Today it is predominantly used in a culinary fashion. Foods in the Mediterranean region are commonly seasoned with Rosemary. As an added bonus rosemary is a source of iron and calcium. Rosemary can also be used in a medicinal form as well.

You might want to make sure you have some Thyme planted in your culinary herb garden if you enjoy Greek, French, or even Spanish cooking. This herb is used to add flavor to a variety of meats and adds a little flavor kick to eggs. Thyme also has antiseptic qualities that have been used for centuries.

Sage makes another great addition to a culinary herb garden and has the added bonus of producing beautiful flowers. Sage is said to have numerous medicinal benefits as well.

Whatever you decide to plant, do not forget to have a little fun with your garden. With the different varieties of plants you have selected create a unique herb garden design. Organize them according to how they are used. Just make sure wherever your herb plants are located they are meeting the requirements they need to grow and have the appropriate amount of space. Otherwise your hard work will be wasted and you will be forced to start all over again.

Nothing can make a difference in a meal like adding fresh herbs. With tiny pots and a some packages of seeds you can start cultivating your own culinary herb garden right in your own kitchen

Get The Family Involved With A Chia Herb Garden

By Jeff Glasser

With the new chia herb garden growing your herbs has never been easier. Everything you need to grow your herbs comes packaged with this set. With the chia herb garden, growing herbs is so easy it offers a great way to get children involved in the fun. Everyone can have their own herb to take care of as each kit comes with multiple pots and seeds. From seed to in your food, this kit will provide your family with a lot of fun as you grow your own herb garden for the kitchen.

What Comes With A Chia Herb Garden

Four small terra cotta pots with matching saucers comes with each chia herb garden kit. Saucer liners are also included which will help prevent water from leaking through the terra cotta saucer. Their simple decorative design will look great in your kitchen.

You have a little bit of a choice as to what you want to plant in the terra cotta pots as six different types of seed packets are provided. The varieties of seeds included with your chia herb garden are dill, sweet basil, curled parsley, chives, cilantro, and sweet marjoram.

A plant marker for each of the six varieties of herbs can be used to identify which pot contains which herb.

Also, packaged in the set are four specially designed chia growing sponges. These will provide the medium in which your seeds will grow.

The most important piece of your chia herb garden kit is going to be the directions. In the direction booklet you will find everything you need to know about growing and maintaining your herbs from seed to maturity. Also included in the direction booklet are a number of recipes that incorporate the fresh herbs you are growing in your chia herb garden.

How Do I Grow My Chia Herb Garden

You can easily plant your chia herb garden in a few simple steps. The first thing you will need to do is moisten the chia growing sponges for each of the pots. Drop one into each of the four pots once they have taken form.

After you have chosen your four seed varieties take the first package and distribute the seeds on top of the chia growing sponge. Continue the same process for the other three seed packages.

You will begin to see your seeds sprout with regular watering. Once they reach a certain size you will be able to transplant them to an outdoor garden if you wish too. The instruction book covers transplanting if you decide to do it.

Growing your herbs has never been easier with the new chia herb garden. This set comes packaged with everything you need to grow your herbs...Browse more no cost articles at www.organicgardening.jsgenterprises.com.

So You Want To Plant A Herb Garden?

by Rachel Ray

Herbs have been around for a very long time and served different kinds of purposes. They have been used to treat sickness and season cooking as well as being used in many craft projects. Interested in starting your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to begin an herb garden.

Plan your garden. Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials? Are you wanting certain plants for cooking, or another purpose?
How much space will they occupy when they are full grown? You can purchase a book or go to the library that can give you the right information on what specific plant's requirements for each variety. You can also check out a gardening book or catalog or the nursery you purchase plants from to give you that information. You'll want to look at sunlight needs as well.

Make your garden plan on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden they won't be in danger of getting dug up, or try to place them in an area of the garden all their own.

Another thing to remember is that you should plant the tall ones at the back and the shorter ones in front. Provide your plants with enough space to grow and also consider their sunlight requirements. Proper position shall help you in this area.

If you would rather keep herbs out of your garden (and some are quite invasive) you could have herb pots. These are large containers with three or more outlets for the herbs. Fill the pot up to the first outlet and plant it before continuing on with the filling and planting process. Usually, the herb that requires the most water is planted in the bottom hole, while the variety that requires the least, goes in the highest hole. Use a great quality potting soil and make sure it has proper drainage.

You can design your garden in a creative manner. Try using a wooden ladder or wagon wheel and lay on top of the garden. Then plant your plants in between the sections for a square or circular division and interesting look.

Different plants have various requirements, but many of them need alkaline soil. This is the reason why it's important to discover your plants needs before you begin the planting process. If you germinate your herbs from seeds on your own, remember to follow the directions on the packet for soil, watering and temperature and when it's safe to plant them in the spring.

Herbs can be very easy to grow on your own. Give each plant it's basic requirements in regards to sunlight, proper drainage, moisture and fertile soil and you're bound to get a great harvest.

Think about harvest time as well. What will you do with them? Eat or cook them fresh? Freeze or otherwise preserve them? You'll discover after your first year which ones you really liked and were useful to you, and which didn't work out as you would have liked. So next year your herb garden can be even better with more experience under your belt.

About the Author:

By Rachel Ray an avid gardener who loves getting out there in the clean air. Drop by her site for resources dedicated to assisting family and career life be more comfortable .

Check out these other gardening ideas